Small counties heard from

Most of the attention given during the 2013 Nevada Legislature to the tie between higher education and economic development has involved the urban areas. But rural Nevada is also speaking up.

“The latest legislative funding proposals for Nevada's rural community colleges will do serious harm to the economic development work now employed through a partnership between Northern Nevada Development Authority and Western Nevada College,” said a statement from NNDA.

“Nevada cannot ignore the opportunity to respond to the needs of our business community.”

NNDA executive director Rob Hooper added, “Regional employers have been demanding a skilled workforce and to slow down the engine that creates them is sending the train backwards.”