Fallon small business forum examines community needs

A forum attended by state and local leaders as well as community members recently looked at the needs facing small businesses in Churchill County and Nevada.

Hosted by the Nevada Lieutenant Governor’s Office and the Office of Small Business Advocacy, the Aug. 21 forum at the Fallon Convention Center discussed issues shaping Churchill County and the challenges of small businesses.

Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony said one of his goals is to help businesses grow and prosper in the Silver State. Another area of concern, he mentioned, is eliminating obstacles so new businesses can open.

State Sen. Robin Titus from District 17 represents six rural counties, including Churchill.

“I take to heart the rural issues,” she said. “They are important to me.”

Titus said the forum is allowing elected leaders to listen to their constituents’ concerns and how they can assist the small businesses.

Likewise, Assemblyman Greg Koenig of Fallon is a small business owner who can relate to his constituents’ concerns. Other local representatives included Churchill County Commission Chairman Myles Getto, whose family owns several businesses, and Fallon Councilwoman Kelly Frost.

“I’m proud of the city,” she said. “We’re trying to ‘make doing business’ easy for business owners.”

Attendees asked questions regarding a wide variety of concerns. The owner of the Cold Springs Station 60 miles east of Fallon on U.S. Highway 50 said his cost for insurance keeps rising, now bordering $50,000.

“Liability insurance has gone up $4,000 to $14,000,” he said. “It’s a big hit on our budget.”

Koenig said there are concerns statewide. Titus said one of the big issues facing business owners is fire insurance companies moving out of Nevada.

“We need to look at the issues through the lens of business owners,” added Francisco “Cisco” Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state.

Anthony said the state needs a constant review of regulations at all levels to ensure they’re relevant. The forum looked at other issues facing smaller businesses, especially licensing or working with business owners more effectively.

Getto said the process is fairly easy in Churchill County, while Frost said the city offers a one-stop shop.

“We can do everything at once and meet face-to-face with our staff members,” she said.

Kelli Kelly, and Agriculture & Food Systems Business adviser with the Nevada Small Business Development Center, said some focus statewide needs to be provided to owners who have mobile businesses.

Anthony then noted Nevada has a labor shortage.

“The small businesses tell me they can’t find employees,” he said, adding farms are also having a difficult time finding help from those who irrigate the crops to skilled workers.

Ava Case, E.S.D manager for the Fallon office of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, said her agency can offer training for people looking for employment.

“It’s extremely hard to get people to work … they all want online,” she said.

Case said some employees want $25 an hour which is a challenge for many rural Nevada employers.

In the professional sector, Rochelle Tisdale, principal at Oasis Academy, said schools are facing a teacher shortage, and she said license reciprocity between states is needed.

Although the veterans’ community wasn’t represented at the forum, one of the top concerns expressed by veterans’ organizations including Nevada’s United Veterans Legislative Council (UVLC) is developing reciprocity among states for many fields.

Titus, though, said reciprocity differs in the different fields of professional careers.

“I hate the bureaucracy,” Aguilar said.

Christopher Sewell, director of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), said his agency has eliminated may of the regulations and has also looked at educational requirements. He said students from previous generations were encouraged to attend college and receive a degree.

That’s no longer the norm.

“Parents need to say college may not be for you,” Sewell said.

The DETR director said workforce development is the same as economic development.

“They go hand in hand,” he said.

Sewell said DETR has programs that can help businesses with financial assistance, especially for training. He said DETR is one of the best kept secrets for small businesses.