GOED board approves two tax abatements for Reno data center and North Las Vegas manufacturer; minutes approved

The Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development board approved meeting minutes and granted two tax abatement packages during its Feb. 6, 2025 meeting in Carson City and by remote participation.

The board approved the Nov. 16, 2024 meeting minutes by voice vote after a motion and second; Jay Barrett recorded an abstention because he was not present at the earlier meeting.

The board then approved a sales-and-use and personal property tax abatement package for CADC Reno 265 LLC (Centra Digital Interconnect), a proposed downtown Reno colocation data center. Amanda Berry, director of business development for EDON, presented the application and said Centra planned more than $58,000,000 in investment and to hire 11 employees within two years at an average wage of $35.72 per hour. Chris Wiesler, chief executive officer of Centra Digital Interconnect, described the project as a “neutral modern interconnection hub” that would support local businesses, educational institutions and carriers. Lieutenant Governor Anthony moved to approve the abatements and Wilton Havens seconded; the motion carried.

The board later approved a standard abatement package for Findlay Machine & Tool LLC, which is doing business as Create, a plastics design-and-manufacturing company that said it would invest about $11,500,000 in capital equipment, create roughly 30.8 jobs in the first 24 months and grow to as many as 60 jobs within five years at an average hourly wage of $32.62. Mitch Keenan of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and Dave Feldman, Create’s chief business officer, presented the project and said the company sources more than 75% of its resin from recycled material. Douglas Anthony moved to approve the package; the motion was seconded and carried. Governor Joe Lombardo publicly recused himself from the Create vote because he said a family member was involved in leasing the facility.

Board members raised a separate legal question during consideration of the abatements about the scope of the board’s discretion to reject applications that meet statutory thresholds. Secretary of State Francisco “Cisco” Aguilar asked whether a member may vote against an application that meets the statutory criteria. David Newton (deputy attorney general) said board members may exercise their judgment and vote in the negative based on the materials provided. The board asked staff to submit a written request to the deputy attorney general clarifying the precise legal question; Newton said he would circulate his findings in advance of the next meeting. The chair directed the board to proceed with votes pending that legal clarification.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of Nov. 16, 2024 board minutes — Outcome: approved; recorded abstention: Jay Barrett (said he was not present at the earlier meeting). - CADC Reno 265 LLC (Centra Digital Interconnect) — Motion: approve sales-and-use tax and personal property tax abatement; Mover: Lieutenant Governor Anthony; Seconder: Wilton Havens; Outcome: approved. - Findlay Machine & Tool LLC (doing business as Create) — Motion: approve sales-and-use tax, modified business tax and personal property tax abatements; Mover: Douglas Anthony; Seconder: (recorded) Yolanda King; Outcome: approved; Note: Governor Joe Lombardo recused himself from the Create vote.

Board actions recorded in the meeting transcript and the staff presentation files will be posted with the meeting record.