3 Questions for Tom Burns, GOED

Data Centers, housing and Nevada’s next chapter

Tom Burns, executive director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), will speak to LVR members on September 10 about Nevada’s economic development strategy.

We asked Burns for a preview of what he plans to discuss with LVR members.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

What do you look forward to discussing with LVR members?

"The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) leads Nevada’s charge to diversify our state’s economy and bring high-wage jobs to Nevadans. I’m looking forward to walking LVR members through where that growth is headed and what that means for business.

Every employer GOED and our Regional Development Authority’s bring to Nevada needs homes for its workers, which makes realtors essential partners to our state’s success.”

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

What can be done to address housing affordability in Nevada?<br/>
"It’s a supply problem, and supply starts with land. The federal government controls roughly 85% of Nevada and about 90% of Clark County. Layer in rapid population growth, construction costs and interest rates and Southern Nevada is now short an estimated 80,000 - 90,000 housing units.

Economic development and housing rise or fall together, you can’t recruit employers to a market where their workers can’t afford to live in."

DATA CENTERS

Where do data centers fit into Nevada’s broader economic development strategy?<br/>
"Done right, they diversify our economy and position our state as a national technology leader, but only on our terms. Companies need to bring their own water and power solutions and never burden ratepayers, or our resources. Through GOED’s abatement process, only projects that deliver real economic benefit move forward and the payoff is significant: skilled-trade jobs, long-term careers and tax revenue that can transform an entire county."

EVENT DETAILS

Please join us at LVR HQ as we host guest speaker Tom Burns.

• Tom Burns, Executive Director
• September 10, 2026
• 10 a.m.
• LVR HQ, Classroom A
• Free