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Office of Economic Development News

The Office of Economic Development seeks to promote private- and public-sector partnerships in order to support economic and workforce development, to attract industry-sponsored research, and to protect and develop intellectual property.

Current Economic Development News

A UNLV student studies with the Strip in the distance.
Campus News |

Headlines and highlights featuring the students and faculty of UNLV.

flamenco dancers outdoors with large UNLV letters in background
Campus News |

A roundup of news about the brights spots on campus.

photo of woman in red cap and gown on city street. "Rebels Thrive: 2024 Annual Report" is printed on graphic
Campus News |

UNLV is inspiring our students, fostering innovation, and transforming communities. Here in Nevada and around the world, Rebels Thrive.

cho device
Research |

Newly published research showcases tech capable of transforming water vapor into a usable form at a rapid rate in dry climates.

Undergrad researcher Benjamin Sabir helps H. Jeremy Cho examine an atmospheric water harvesting device. (Jeff Scheid/UNLV)
Campus News |

A monthly roundup of the top news stories featuring UNLV staff and students.

test tube and pipettes on black table
Research |

Entities sign Memorandum of Understanding to cultivate best-in-class clinical research services for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Economic Development In The News

Las Vegas Review Journal

Inside the facility, there will be six retail spaces, each up to 1,300 square feet, for microbusiness owners to rent. The spaces can accommodate a majority of businesses, including restaurants. UNLV will occupy the top floor with a 10,000-square-foot business support and coworking center called Black Fire Innovation.

KSNV-TV: News 3

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who served under President Obama as the first Black person in that position, addressed students and professionals at a symposium hosted by the Las Vegas alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Weekly

I remember my first time at Arizona Hot Springs. In February 2016, I was in training to guide hiking and kayak tours in Black Canyon—a 12-mile stretch of the Colorado River downstream of Hoover Dam, known for its hot springs, near-pristine beaches and Emerald Cave.

Las Vegas Sun

Intermountain Health and UNLV are approaching the end of a 180-day negotiating window to finalize lease details for a proposed freestanding children’s hospital in southwest Las Vegas on UNLV-owned land, officials told the Sun today.

Inside Asian Gaming

Adding some color to Regulating the Game in 2025 will be a Keynote from Titus O’Reilly, a renowned  Australian writer, presenter, performer and broadcaster who is known for his informative yet hilarious take on the world of sport and sports betting, and Bo Bernhard, Vice President of Economic Development at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who will present on the concept of the “fun economy”.

The Food Institute

Agritourism is a $4.5 billion industry, according to the USDA – and it’s a strategy farmers and ranchers have been leveraging to withstand an increasingly volatile agricultural economy. Corn and soy prices reached four-year lows in 2024, according to Reuters, prompting many farmers to sow some new strategies to make up the difference – from corn mazes and overnight stays to petting zoos and wedding venues.

Economic Development Experts

An expert in hospitality innovation, business development, esports, and technology incubation. 
An expert on small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurship.
An economist studying microeconometrics, economics of food security, health economics, and urban economics        
An expert in sports betting, gaming policy and regulation, legislative affairs, and workplace sexual harrassment. 
An accomplished economist, professor, and administrator in the fields of business and economic research.
An expert on the intersection of travel and tourism with sociology, social justice, and environmental sustainability. 

Recent Economic Development Accomplishments

Martin Alvarez-Lopez, Emmanuel Becerra, Svelania Marino, and Krystka Marinao (all Business) from Team MycoWay earned the $5,000 scholarship prize at the 2024 UNLV Impact Ventures Case Competition hosted by UNLV's Black Fire Innovation. This annual event, presented by Caesars Entertainment, challenged students to design sustainable, for-profit…
Marta Soligo (Economic Development), director of tourism research, and Tammi Tiger (Hospitality), director of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Education Initiative) presented: Building Destinations: Tribal Tourism & Economic Development on a panel together at the Tribal Leadership & Management Conference 2024.
On July 18, Pitch Mayhem, the premier pitch tournament designed to elevate Las Vegas as a leading tech destination, successfully took place at UNLV's Black Fire Innovation. The event brought together the brightest minds in technology, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, marking a significant milestone in the city's journey to becoming a tech…
Kasra Ghaharian (International Gaming Institute) has been awarded funding by the Massachusetts Gambling Commission to conduct research on artificial intelligence (AI) in the gambling sector. The study, awarded to the UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, will focus on current and possible uses of AI in the gambling industry, with a particular…
The Department of Brain Health and the Office of Economic Development hosted the inaugural UNLV Innovation Day, an annual event that brought together UNLV researchers and industry professionals to discuss the growth and understanding of brain health, mental health, and the innovation brought together through science and experimentation. The…
Marta Soligo (Hospitality and Office of Economic Development) participated as a guest speaker at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Partnership Summit on March 6, 2024. During the event, Soligo shared insights from the research on sports tourism and outdoor recreation she is conducting with the team of the UNLV Tourism Development,…