Henderson
American author John Calvin Maxwell once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” Henderson has never shied away from being first on the board and blazing a trail for others to follow. But that takes more than guts. We lead with a strong vision, a strategic plan and an unwavering commitment to do what it takes to achieve our goals.
Years ago, Henderson led development of the first regional plan, Southern Nevada Strong, and today our city’s strategic plan serves as the roadmap for the strong and sustainable community we are building, step by bold step. As a result, we’ve achieved award-winning master-planned communities and parks, high-performing schools and an unmatched quality of life, and Henderson is recognized as one of the safest cities and best places to live in the country.
In the last five years, we’ve made great strides in diversifying our local economy and are only getting better with age and experience. We’ve welcomed new companies and expansions like Haas Automation, Amazon, Barclays and ANA, Inc. that create jobs, invest capital and make a positive impact on our community.
Last year, we revamped our growth strategy and key targets, and our nationally recognized economic development team has been busy transforming that strategy into results. We are investing in our people and infrastructure, forging lasting relationships and employing innovative and even daring approaches for audacious outcomes.
We annexed new land for industrial development which will create a wealth of new opportunities. We purchased the former Fiesta casino site with an idea in mind and gathered thousands of community responses to impact the master plan. And this spring, we will open a new, state-of-the-art forensic laboratory to expand operations for our regional leadership in that arena.
We’ve also created momentum in workforce development, partnering with Henderson’s higher education institutions and industry to build facilities and create training and career pathways that will prepare the workers of today and tomorrow for the high-skill jobs of the future. We even built our own Center of Excellence in partnership with College of Southern Nevada, to offer advanced manufacturing certificate and degree programs for careers at Haas Automation and other great places to work in Henderson.
We’re also working on housing attainability, creating a new Housing Advisory Commission to expand Henderson’s inventory across the continuum of housing needs and enable workers to live in the community in which they want to work.
Economic development is more than creating jobs at any cost – we are creating a community and it is paying off. Our impact is becoming increasingly evident as our success creates an economic swell throughout the entire valley. Come ride the wave with us.
Sincerely, Mayor Michelle Romero
Our Vision
To be America’s premier community.
Our Mission
To provide services and amenities that enhance the quality of life for those who live, learn, work, and play in the City of Henderson.
City of Henderson: Bold Moves, Forward Momentum
Henderson, Nevada, combines business initiatives, lifestyle amenities and a community atmosphere with being the second largest city in Nevada, in close proximity to the largest–Las Vegas. From luxury communities to industrial land; from the community-oriented masterplan at the former Fiesta Henderson site to professional sports teams; from accelerating growth of industry to a growing population, Henderson’s got it.
Bold Moves
Henderson is growing. Businesses are investing in downtown and in the recently annexed acres to the southeast, Eldorado Valley. West Henderson is booming as businesses expand there as well. The city is investing in its future, creating plans for industrial land, seeking community feedback on projects and creating the right atmosphere to attract professional sports teams, their headquarters and training facilities. Multinational corporations and homegrown businesses alike call Henderson home.
“Many cities tell companies they have a ‘friendly business environment’, but in Henderson we actually deliver on that promise,” said Jared Smith, director, Economic Development and Tourism, City of Henderson. “We built an economic development team and processes that focus on providing tangible assistance to existing companies in Henderson and those companies seeking to move here. Our Mayor and economic development staff frequently visit our local companies, looking for ways to help them grow. For businesses, there’s our investments in workforce development.”
“Henderson has the energy and convenience of the broader Las Vegas Valley, along with a community feel we thought would be important for an area to truly embrace a new brand like the Silver Knights. All those benefits have held true as we have expanded our portfolio in Henderson.– Kerry Bubolz, President & CEO, Foley Entertainment Group.
Audacious Plans
One case in point, using mostly redevelopment funds, the city purchased the Fiesta Henderson site from Stations Casinos for $32 million. They’re currently working to identify a development partner to transform that site into something incredible for residents.
The Fiesta site, located at the entrance to Henderson’s downtown, is being master-planned to create an indoor multi-use youth sports facility. Once completed it should generate an annual economic impact of close to $40 million, and attract additional private development opportunities to create new jobs.
Henderson surveyed residents asking what they would like to see on the Fiesta site. Community engagement was tremendous; 5,600 residents gave their opinions on what the city should do with the site. The Fiesta site is being master planned to deliver much more than an indoor sports facility. Once completed, it will be a live, work, eat, play and stay development.
In another area of Henderson, more downtown investment is underway. Joe DeSimone, owner, First Federal Realty DeSimone, bought the former Eldorado Casino, rebranded, remodeled, and turned it into the Pass Casino. He’s currently building a $20 million hotel on Water Street, called Atwell Suites, which will be finished in September.
“It complements some of the activity going on downtown, specifically with the hockey arenas and other small businesses that have popped up, and the residential component that’s going in. We feel like we’re a big part of what’s going on in downtown,” DeSimone said.
Professional sports teams and their headquarters have been in the city since 2020. The Raiders Headquarters and Intermountain Health Performance Center includes a 150,000 square-foot facility that houses one-and-a-half indoor football fields, three outdoor fields, and a 50,000-square-foot performance center. In addition, the Henderson Silver Knights AHL hockey team practice at America First Center in downtown. They hold games at Dollar Loan Center, as do the Vegas Knight Hawks a professional indoor football team.
And national champions, the Las Vegas Aces’ WNBA 50,000-square-foot facility houses Aces’ practice facility, offices, and training.
West Henderson
West Henderson is a growing, thriving part of the city, home to residents, industry and sports alike. It’s home to the Las Vegas Raider’s $158 million headquarters and healthcare performance center. It’s well-situated for transportation and logistics, the closest proximity to southern California markets, easy access on I-15, Harry Reid International and Henderson Executive airports. West Henderson has 13 business parks and six major retail corridors.
Some businesses already located in West Henderson are the Amazon fulfillment center, a FedEx hub and Levi-Strauss hybrid fulfillment and manufacturing center. Soon to be in the area is HAAS Automation’s $327 million manufacturing complex.
Advanced manufacturing companies are moving into southern Nevada on a pretty much daily basis, said Dan Flick, executive director, College of Southern Nevada (CSN). Reasons behind the influx include Henderson’s advantages for advanced manufacturing, like:
Strategic proximity and rapid, low-cost access to major southwestern markets including southern California;
Greater profitability and opportunity; Nevada’s business climate offers substantially lower taxes and costs;
Global performance provided by an affordable workforce that is agile, skilled and growing.
That workforce is due, in part, to manufacturing programs offered by CSN. The college offers programs in advanced manufacturing, both automation and machining. Shorter, non-degree versions of the programs can train employees quickly. CSN can also provide specialized employee training programs.
Customized training benefits both companies and the workforce. “Because individuals are able to retain their jobs and to upskill,” said Flick. “Generally for companies that are going to move here, we can find a pipeline of talent for them, or train a pipeline for them.” West Henderson is a growing, thriving part of the city, home to residents, industry and sports alike. It’s home to the Las Vegas Raider’s $158 million headquarters and healthcare performance center. It’s well-situated for transportation and logistics, the closest proximity to southern California markets, easy access on I-15, Harry Reid International and Henderson Executive airports. West Henderson has 13 business parks and six major retail corridors.
Eldorado Valley
Eldorado Valley is the future of industrial growth in southern Nevada. Between Henderson and Boulder City lay several thousand acres of public lands. In 2023, Henderson annexed 8,000 acres of that land, strategically located for industrial use, manufacturing and logistics because of it’s proximity to southern California and its location just off I-11. The first 850-acres are being master-planned for industrial.
Henderson is partnering with NV Energy to develop the first industrial park.
“We started a couple years ago working with all of the developers and the city of Henderson to help plan the infrastructure, electric and construction to serve all that new development out in the park,” said Jeff Brigger, director of business development, NV Energy. Regular meetings with the city and developers keep the project on track.
NV Energy is working with developers to identify the site for a planned substation. They’re also identifying future roadways where they’ll run distribution circuits to support growth. “The City of Henderson has been pretty strategic in their view and support of economic development. They’re a great partner to work with,” said Brigger. “This project is going to provide additional jobs for residents of the City of Henderson and the Las Vegas Valley.”
Much of Eldorado Valley has begun development and some projects are already underway. DeSimone bought 25 acres on the west side of the Railroad Pass Casino, which stands near the entrance to Eldorado Valley. On the property, he built a truck stop and travel center for cars, RV’s, boats and trucks.
The experiment was a success so they built another travel center that opens in the spring of 2024. “We’re the first development in Eldorado Valley, and visible from the highway,” said DeSimone. Not stopping there, DeSimone added an 8,000-square-foot restaurant.
“Eldorado Valley is an annexation of the City of Henderson, one of the first properties annexed,” said DeSimone. Development plans are accelerating. OMP (Overton Moore Properties) has property there. DIV Industrial, an industrial development and investment firm, bought 94 acres. Amazon has acquired property, and there’s more available.
A portion of the acreage will be protected from growth. The East Henderson Desert Edge Study is a conservation planning guide focused on protecting natural areas.
Meeting Workforce Needs
The City of Henderson is home to the Debra March Center of Excellence, a critical feature for diversifying the southern Nevada industry by fulfilling the need for high-skilled advanced manufacturing training.
The public-private partnership between the City of Henderson and CSN is the core of a system that connects industrial, educational, developmental and governmental stakeholders working to create a strategically aligned workforce pipeline for advanced manufacturing. The center is 20,000-square-feet, outfitted to resemble a manufacturing environment, allowing students hands-on experience with real-world manufacturing equipment. The center is also aligned with Workforce Connections, southern Nevada’s workforce development board and the Clark County School District.
Within Henderson’s economic development arm, Workforce Huddle is a new series of events that feature presentations from workforce and education partners to provide key insights into programs and services businesses can use to attract, hire, train and retain their workforce. Events are followed by roundtable discussions evaluating best practices in workforce development and in exploring creative ways businesses can meet workforce needs. The first was held in March of 2024, featuring speakers from the city, Workforce Connections, Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation, University of Nevada, the City of Las Vegas and Clark County School District.
Economic Development Dashboard
In 2023, the city published a Target Industry Analysis in conjunction with the national consulting firm Emergent Method and international research firm ResearchFDI. The project includes more than 20 stakeholder interviews and input from over 100 local businesses.
The report identified five target industries: back office management and support services; electrical equipment and components manufacturing; financial and credit services; logistics management and technology; and media and sports production.
Phase 2 will create a first-of-its-kind dashboard to track and monitor target industries in real time. Powered by AI, it will track growth in jobs, wages, and gross regional product of target industries, and monitor the overall health of Henderson’s economy.
“I’ve been running the Henderson Chamber of Commerce for 13 years. Routinely, our membership surveys [indicate that] having city structure and governance that is responsive to the business community is very important to the members,” said Scott Muelrath, president and CEO, Henderson Chamber of Commerce. “They appreciate the access they get through the Chamber to the Mayor and Council.” Being responsive to its business community is part of the city’s mission; the chamber creates an access point for that accessibility.
Henderson Development Association (HDA) is a unique division of the Chamber, the economic development arm where city managers’ office representatives and industry experts focus on development, construction, commercial real estate and manufacturing. They represent the private sector to companies interested in relocating to Henderson.
“As a business owner from out of state, they want to have perspective from other business owners and the city recognizes that,” said Muelrath. HDA functions as an asset for the city to tap into for specific industry support.
Henderson, HDA, and the city’s Economic Development department created the first business retention program in Nevada. The current iteration, Discovery Tours, promotes city site visits to local primary employers to understand challenges facing companies in Henderson. “Businesses like to see business and the community working together to proactively address barriers to growth,” said Muelrath.
Another benefit for businesses to consider, Henderson is in the process of becoming an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO). According to Nickoles Clason, economic development specialist, City of Henderson, the path to accreditation through the International Economic Development Council requires a documentation review, including information regarding goals, structure, programs, activities, partners, stakeholders, and community support, and a thorough site visit. Accreditation will show Henderson’s Economic Development and Tourism department is at the top of the economic development profession.
“As a part of this process, the independent accreditors will also provide the city feedback on their operation, structure, and procedures as a means of improving programs and enhancing business and community support,” said Clason. If approved, Henderson will be one of only two AEDO’s in Nevada.
Live a Bold Life
“Henderson has a culture of continuous improvement and customer service,” said Shari Ferguson, director, City of Henderson Parks and Recreation. “We score very high on our community engagement survey—97 percent of residents are satisfied with the quality of life in Henderson and that’s the highest in the nation for mid to large cities.”
Henderson is known for its parks. The city set a standard of having a park within a 10 minute walk of every resident. They’ve almost reached that goal—currently 75 percent of residents meet that standard. There are 5.5 acres of park for every 1,000 residents.
“Studies show when people are closer to parks they feel safer, and they’re more likely to walk to that park and use it for physical activity,” said Ferguson.
Henderson boasts 72 parks, 232 miles of trails, six recreation centers, two senior centers, three year-round aquatic centers, five seasonal pools and an array of other amenities like dog parks.
“Henderson has been named a dog friendly city for the 20 dog parks in our system,” said Ferguson.
There’s also 22 striped pickleball courts that share with tennis, 10 dedicated pickleball courts, 12 under construction and 24 in the planning stages.
The majority of parks are built through the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act rather than through use of local general funds monies. The other large funding source is through agreements with developers who build parks into new neighborhoods.
Water conservation is a high priority. When a federal bill required removal of nonfunctional grass by 2027, the city reviewed 70 parks and made plans to remove 2-million-square-feet of grass in a way that won’t impact recreational use, replacing it with drought-resistant plants and trees. In some parks, they’ll switch to hybrid grasses that require less water and go dormant in the winter. Federally controlled irrigation systems monitor weather forecasts and adjust watering on remaining grass for optimum use.
In 2023, 250,000 residents attended City of Henderson special events, including the signature events that include Fourth of July parades, Hot Rod Days, Art Fest, and a Winter Fest Parade and Tree Lighting. Many of the events are held on the Water Street Plaza in downtown Henderson. “We’re very conscious of partnering with our businesses along Water Street so they can benefit from the people coming down for events,” said Ferguson.
Every year, the parks departments playing fields are reserved for use. In 2023, there were 25,000 reservations, meaning fields are filled on evenings and weekends. There were also 84 sports tournaments held, with 2,308 out-of-state teams attending, and an economic impact of $36.282 million.
City of Henderson’s Parks and Recreation is accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and is the only agency in Nevada to hold the designation.
Living Legendary
Located in the McCullough Mountains foothills, Ascaya luxury community overlooks the Las Vegas Valley and the Strip. The community is 680 acres, with 300 homesites and no intention of expanding once those fill.
“We have just about 100 homes completed or under construction,” said Melissa Tomastik, director of sales.
The newest Ascaya neighborhood is The Canyon. “It’s a special enclave within Ascaya, consisting of 51 residences being designed and built by Blue Heron,” said Tomastik. The lock-and-leave luxury community will feature wellness amenities from yoga decks and meditation areas to cold plunges and infrared saunas. Blue Heron is a Nevada-based firm which integrates architecture, interior design and construction.
Only 20 minutes from the Strip, Ascaya offers peaceful desert landscapes. The Canyon residents will have access to overall Ascaya amenities like the 22,000-square-foot clubhouse, 8,000-square-foot pool, tennis and pickleball pavilion and hiking trails. Residences in The Canyon start at just under $3 million.
Known for outdoor recreation, Lake Las Vegas was Henderson’s original master-planned community. Spanning nearly 3,600 acres, it features a 360-acre lake and 13 neighborhoods with homes starting at $500,000 and ranging to one-acre custom home lots.
The resort component features two golf courses and two hotels, a Westin and a Hilton, which played host to the Super Bowl teams. Recreational amenities include a golf academy, hiking and biking trails, nine pickleball courts, and a sports club. Two new marinas will give residents easy access to electric boating. There’s a triathlon planned in 2024, and in a unique twist for a desert community, high school and college teams use the lake for rowing competitions.
“There are mutual benefits of growing a community like Lake Las Vegas and making sure it’s consistent with the goals of Henderson,” said Cody Winterton, division president, Raintree Investment Corporation. “Those goals have been met and we’ve enjoyed a really good working relationship with the city. Lake Las Vegas has helped Henderson grow and be recognized for its luxury homes, high-end communities, and overall quality master planning.”
“From a business standpoint, our city is very approachable,” said Smith. “We’re always making audacious moves. We’re taking care of our local companies first. We’re always seeking improvement. Our staff and leadership are always striving toward providing premier service to our businesses and our residents.”
Audacity is the willingness to take bold action. The word encapsulates the City of Henderson. “We’re meeting the moment with our commitment to our residents, our business community, and our children, by making huge investments into our redevelopment areas,” said Smith.
Meet the Team
“I love Henderson because of our fierce focus on the quality of place for our residents, the health of our business community and the willingness to take decisive, bold actions which grow our economy. Our leadership and results speak for themselves.” – Jared Smith, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, jared.smith@cityofhenderson.com.
To Speak to Leadership… contact Jared.
“Personally, I love the opportunities available to all residents. From our amazing parks and community amenities to the audacious City leadership, Henderson provides opportunities for growth and enjoyment to all. Here, residents and businesses alike can thrive and prosper.” – Nickoles Clason, Economic Development Specialist, nickoles.clason@cityofhenderson.com.
To Get Answers on Workforce Data, Sites or Other Research… contact Nick.
“I have seen a lot of positive momentum in Henderson during my tenure with the economic development team. We are proud of our relationships with businesses and agencies at the local and regional levels. Fostering this mutually beneficial atmosphere provides significant advantages and support for new companies entering the market as well as existing companies expanding their operations.” – Doug Bene, Economic Development Officer, doug.bene@cityofhenderson.com.
To Schedule a Discovery Tour… contact Doug.
“Having recently moved my young family from southern California, it was important to find somewhere that offered a similar quality of life, but with a lower cost of living. In Henderson we found that community – somewhere with ample parks and family-focused activities, while being close enough to have a world-class date night on the Strip.” – Kyle Wagner, Economic Development Officer, kyle.wagner@cityofhenderson.com.
For Workforce Development Resources… contact Kyle.
“At the City of Henderson, Economic Vitality is one of the City’s strategic initiatives. Being a part of an organization that supports economic development, starting with the top levels of leadership, really makes a difference when we talk to companies considering relocating. It is great to be able to support companies as they pursue their goals, especially knowing how our goals can align and make economic impact for the greater good of the community.” – Elizabeth Lopez, Economic Development Officer, elizabeth.lopez@cityofhenderson.com.
For Companies Looking to Move to Henderson… contact Liz.
“Many of the same features that make Henderson a unique business climate, also create a special environment for tourism. Success in business supports a diverse population with a variety of interests and amenities that contribute to a positive quality of life. Promoting Henderson as a place for meetings, conferences and tourism is a natural extension in how we promote this special award-winning City.” Ed Kirby, Sales Executive, Henderson Economic Development and Tourism Department, edward.kirby@cityofhenderson.com.
To Bring an Event to Henderson… contact Ed.
