Sarah -

There's no better time to explore the unique treasures our beautiful state has to offer. I'm excited to share some incredible travel and stargazing opportunities, as well as exciting investments in off-the-beaten-path destinations that are sure to inspire you to hit the road and discover the heart of Nevada.

In June, I had the opportunity to travel Nevada's Cowboy Corridor, a hidden gem that stretches along Interstate 80 from the western edge of our state to the eastern border. This route offers travelers a fun glimpse into Nevada's cowboy heritage, our vibrant small towns, and stunning landscapes. As you travel the Cowboy Corridor, you'll experience the authentic spirit of the American West and the hospitality of our rural communities.

In a few weeks, don't miss the chance to look up and witness one of nature's most spectacular events—the 🌠Perseid Meteor Shower. 🌠 Nevada's clear, dark skies provide some of the best stargazing opportunities in the country. Whether you're camping in Great Basin National Park, exploring the Black Rock Desert, or simply setting up a blanket in your backyard, this promises to be a breathtaking celestial show. Peak viewing is expected around August 12th, so mark your calendars and get ready for a night under the stars.

In this newsletter, you'll also read about some of the grant money that will boost tourism and economic development in Nevada's rural towns. These funds will support local small businesses, improve infrastructure, and create new attractions that highlight the unique culture and history of our state's rural areas. This investment will not only enhance the travel experience for visitors but also strengthen the local economies and improve the quality of life for residents.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to making Nevada a wonderful place to live, work, and explore. Safe travels and happy stargazing!

PS - If you know of someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please forward it to them using this link.

NDOT Crews Use Snow Plows to Clear Droves of Mormon Crickets From State Highways

Snowplows are used on roads to clear winter snows, but they also come in handy in the summer to deal with another nuisance on northeast Nevada roads—hordes of Mormon crickets.

Seasonal cricket swarms near the Elko area are covering some highways, leading to dangerous driving conditions along affected stretches, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. Rain can add to the problem because crickets on wet roads create slick driving conditions.

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$2.9 Million Announced for Rural Community Development

A U.S. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $2.9 million will go towards infrastructure improvement in rural Nevada.

The CDBG program enables local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide affordable housing, and create economic opportunities for persons of low and moderate income. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development oversees the program, and the Rural Community Development Division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) administers the program for the State of Nevada.

“The CDBG program provides federal funding for critical infrastructure projects in rural Nevada communities. These projects support rural economic development and have sustainable benefits to rural communities and the state of Nevada.”

Jessica Sanders, CDBG program administrator at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Learn More and View the Awardees

Nevada Wins Silver Shovel Award

Work from GOED helped the Silver State win a 2024 Silver Shovel Award, an annual award program put on by Area Development which recognizes states for attracting high-value investment projects that will create significant new jobs in their communities.

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International Companies Announce Investment in Nevada

As Nevada positions itself as a global hub for innovation, international companies are seizing on unique opportunities to contribute to our vibrant economy.

During the 2024 Select USA Investment Summit, five international companies announced intentions to expand business development to Nevada. These companies are focused on key strategic sectors, including battery technology, sustainable mining and research services, and other energy-efficient manufacturing.

The companies’ visions align with Nevada’s five-year economic development strategy to realize Nevada’s electric, innovative, and connected future.

Read about these five companies.

For the entire month of July, Reno isn’t just an art town – it becomes Artown. Widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the entire country by the National Endowment for the Arts, Artown continues to dazzle the community with a month-long celebration of arts and culture that offers nearly 500 events, more than 100 workshops, and over 30 performances. 

From Massacre Rim and Great Basin National Park to Tonopah, and beyond, Nevada boasts some of the darkest skies in the country. Even though countless stars, constellations, planets, and galaxies are visible to the naked eye year-round here, one of our favorite astronomical events is the Perseid Meteor Shower, where 150-200 meteors streak through the sky every hour. Best yet, this spectacular show happens every summer—right in the middle of Nevada’s prime-time Milky Way viewing season. Load up the whole family for a trek into some of the best stargazing conditions in the United States.

This year, peak viewing is expected August 9 - 13, with most sources calling out August 12.

Some of the best places to see the Perseid Meteor Show include Lamoille Canyon & the Ruby Mountains, the Tonopah Stargazing Park, Lunar Crater, Massacre Rim and the Black Rock Desert, Basin and Range National Monument, and both Great Basin National Park and Death Valley National Park—both of which are International Dark Sky Parks with Dark Sky Ranger-led programs happening year round. 

Pure Country, Pure Farmland. Pure Nevada.

What first began as a Yerington-area fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club has grown into one of the biggest country music festivals in the West. In addition to some of America’s top performers and various stages throughout the venue, ticket holders can access Full Moon Saloon, Extreme Bull Riding and other rodeo acts, mud volleyball, and more.

This year’s lineup features country stars Randy Houser, Neal McCoy, Riley Green, Chase Rice, and Bailey Zimmerman, among others.

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This is one of the Silver State’s great foodie events!

This farm-to-table festival celebrates the Hearts of Gold cantaloupe—an award-winning melon grown right in the heart of “The Oasis of Nevada” ... Fallon!

Fallon is an agricultural hot spot producing everything from organic produce to grain-to-glass spirits. At the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair, you’ll get a taste of the award-winning, always-flavorful Hearts of Gold cantaloupe. From ice cream and shakes to daiquiris and juicy slices topped with decadent toppings, cantaloupe will be infused into a wide variety of treats.

The fair also includes live music, a rodeo, the “Cutest Little Cowboy & Cowgirl Contest,” a pageant crowning the Cantaloupe King & Queen, quilt raffle, car show, and tons more!

The Nevada Advisory Board on Outdoor Recreation, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Anthony, took place in historic Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City.

The team took it outside and explored Virginia City, the Galena Creek Visitors Center at Mount Rose, and hiked a trail at Tahoe Meadows. Meeting details and recordings are available at ndor.nv.gov.

Lieutenant Governor Anthony attended the 106th annual Reno Rodeo, “the wildest, richest rodeo in the West."

More than 140,000 rodeo fans descended upon the Biggest Little City in the World to watch ropers, riders, and racers go head-to-head in a series of action-packed events at one of Nevada’s largest and oldest rodeos.

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Few road trips brim with as much Western heritage as Nevada’s Cowboy Corridor. Speed limits hit 80 mph out here, but when you hit a town, you’ll definitely want to slow down. Beyond those off-ramps, you’ll discover lively communities full of history and attractions, with museums, art galleries, poetry and music festivals, and even beers highlighting the confluence of buckaroo, Basque, and American Indian traditions that have shaped the Silver State.

Lieutenant Governor Anthony recently headed out on an adventure along Nevada's Cowboy Corridor where he enjoyed the rugged beauty of Rye Patch Recreation Center; received a warm welcome in Elko County; and learned about Basque culture and mammoths at the Humboldt Museum in Winnemucca.

🎵 Heading out on the Cowboy Corridor? 🎵

Stream this A+ Curated Playlist from Travel Nevada

Lieutenant Governor Anthony spoke at the Elko Mining Expo, one of the oldest and most respected mining expos in the United States. Afterward, he visited Lithium Americas' Thacker Pass. Thacker Pass is predicted to become one of North American’s largest sources of lithium, a mineral listed as critical by the United States Department of Defense.

The mine will provide hundreds of good paying jobs and marks advancement toward the long-term objective of securing Nevada’s economic infrastructure.

Read Lieutenant Governor Anthony’s Reno Gazette Journal article about Nevada’s Lithium Loop here.

The Lieutenant Governor's Office of Small Business Advocacy hosted a Veterans Community Chat at the Pinecrest Academy of Sloan Canyon in Henderson. This dynamic discussion focused on issues concerning Nevada Veterans and the challenges impacting Veteran-owned businesses.

We’re grateful for the participation of Baron Bybee, Las Vegas Metro Police Officer and Homeless Outreach Team member; Rudy Pamintuan, Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony; Danielle Gallant, Nevada Assemblywoman; Byron Brooks, Nevada System of Higher Education Regent; Colonel Mary Divine, Nevada Department of Veteran Services; and Charles Ramey, Department of Veterans Affairs’ Southern Nevada Healthcare System.

Lieutenant Governor Anthony met the Consul-General of Japan-San Francisco Osumi Yo and his staff to talk about tourism, transportation, and economic development opportunities between Japan and Nevada.

Lieutenant Governor Anthony and Governor Joe Lombardo waved to crowds celebrating Independence Day at the 30th annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade.

Nevada’s onerous and burdensome occupational licensing regulations for low- and moderate-income professions are some of the worst in the country. These laws sometimes require people to pay enormous fees, submit to long and difficult examinations, and even work for free before they can enter into gainful employment.

Contractors in Nevada face particularly burdensome regulations, time-intensive and strict application requirements, and hefty fees.

• To get licensed, Nevada’s landscape contractors must pay a national-high annual $1,215 licensing fee, have four years of experience and submit to two exams.
• Both a residential painting and a door repair contractor must pay $1,040, have four years of experience, and take two exams before they can become licensed.

Click below to read more about these regulations and how the Lieutenant Governor's Office of Small Business Advocacy is fighting to make it easier for Nevadans to start, run, and grow their businesses in the Silver State.

Isabella Smith, a soft-spoken 9-year-old from Boulder City, started BMX racing at the age of three. She was recently crowned world champion in her age division in Rockhill, S.C.

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Las Vegas ranks as the second-nerdiest city in America, according to research done by Solitaire Bliss.

“Whether you want to learn about magic like Harry Potter or be a chess champion like Beth Harmon on The Queen’s Gambit, we’ve found the best cities for nerdy Americans,” stated the release.

Located in Garden Valley, Nevada, "City" is an escape from reality. The artwork, which cost $40 million to build and another $1.2 and $1.3 million annually to maintain, opened to limited public viewing in 2022.

Its sheer size — a mile and half long and half a mile wide — makes it impossible for a viewer to step back and take it all in.