Nevada and Canada share a significant trade relationship and an international partnership that strengthens the strategic development of economic opportunities in both regions.
Recently, Humboldt County Economic Development Officer Michelle Hammond-Allen joined Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s trade mission to Canada along with his Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Tom Burns, other members of his delegation, and numerous other companies, organizations, and business leaders.
During the regular meeting of the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners, Hammond-Allen was able to give a very positive update to the Board about the trip and explained some of the opportunities that the trade mission helped foster. Commission Chairman Ken Tipton was present online and Vice chairman Jesse Hill led the meeting.
Acting as a representative for the region as Co-Director of the Nevada 95-80 Regional Development Authority, Hammond-Allen visited Montreal and Toronto with Lombardo’s administration, then went on to Sudbury, Ontario to meet with Cambrian College and a business that is a training center for mining and entrepreneurs, and helped open the Toronto Stock Exchange—which several Nevada companies trade on.
The Governor also signed a sister state agreement with Ontario and a commerce agreement with Quebec, paving the way for development projects related to critical minerals and green energy in Nevada.
“This agreement is based on our region’s strong mining sectors,” said Governor Lombardo. “It is in the mutual best interests of Nevada and Ontario to cooperate and work together to expand our economic partnership. Working together we can maximize emerging export opportunities.”
“Nevada is the only U.S. state that encompasses every facet of the Lithium-ion battery economy and life cycle,” Burns said. “Deepening our ties and forming this alliance is in the best interest of both Nevada and Québec.”
Hammond-Allen said in an email after the meeting that “The goal in participating on this trade mission was to ensure that our Nevada 95-80 region that covers Humboldt and Pershing Counties was at the table and actively participating in conversations that affect our industries and way of life. Like the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, our rural economies are hubs of mining in the critical mineral space, including gold, silver, copper, and lithium. As we partner with other regions, companies, and educational institutions, our rural Nevada voices are vital in the continued success of industry and speaking to the importance of community development and input. Meeting people where they are, face-to-face, and having value-added conversations, contribute to purposeful growth and meeting the needs of our region.”
Sitting down one-on-one with Governor Lombardo during the trip, Hammond- Allen said that she “felt heard” about many of the difficulties that rural Nevada is facing accessing federal funding for growth, renewable energy and solar developments, public lands issues, the need for a formal process of community engagement between rural communities and large companies, and being selective about large companies that are brought into Nevada because of the state’s valuable resources.
The industrial networking aspects of the mission and the interactions with rural Nevada’s state officials encouraged many “value added” conversations and steps towards action on behalf of Humboldt County.
According to Hammond-Allen’s agenda request to the Board, “A goal of the Lombardo
administration is to Electrify Nevada by creating opportunities for economic development in the mining, battery/electric vehicle (BEV) markets to create new, high-paying jobs for Nevadans. In alignment with federal reshoring efforts in the critical mineral and BEV supply chain, there is immense potential for leveraging international partnerships to promote the robust mining and manufacturing sectors of Nevada’s economy.”
In other Commission news:
• The Commission announced the resignation of a Humboldt General Hospital Board member, which will leave a vacancy that the Commission will be responsible for filling to serve the rest of the term.
Officials said that the position will be advertised through multiple means and the interested candidates will be interviewed by the Commissioners.
• The Humboldt County Liquor Board convened to approve licenses for the third annual Orovada Trade or Pay Party and the Golconda Firefighter Appreciation BBQ.
• The Board approved a request to buy a used Diamond C tilt trailer by the Facility Operations Department to replace one that was stolen from County property in June and then recovered shortly after by local law enforcement severely damaged.
Humboldt County Facility Operations Manager Joaquin Padilla assured the Board that new lighting has been installed in the area for better surveillance of the area and the Board also instructed Padilla to take other precautions to secure the area to prevent any suture theft as well.
• The Board approved a request by the Ag District #3 Board to purchase a used water truck to be used at the Fairgrounds.
• The Commission approved a settlement with Masters
Pharmaceutical, LLC through the One Nevada Agreement regarding the ongoing opioids litigation throughout the State of Nevada.
According to officials, the one-time net allocation will be $6,130.84 after attorney fees and is just one of the allocations that Humboldt County has been receiving and will be receiving from various defendants including drug manufacturers, wholesale distributors, detailers, pharmacies, health care providers, and other unnamed defendants.
• The Board set an appeal for actions taken by the Humboldt County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) regarding the placement of a 30’ high self-supporting tower equipped to function as an internet broadcast tower for residential and commercial use to public hearing, as the request was denied by the RPC for health and safety assessment of electromagnetic fields emitted by 5.8 GHz technology.