Quality of Life Indicators

entrepreneurship data

venture funding and micro-enterprise loan funds
patents
higher education entrepreneurship classes

venture funding and micro-enterprise loan funds

Nevada’s constitution prohibits state investment in or loans to, private companies.  The AT&T Foundation recently granted EDAWN $5,500 to develop a Web site and database about funding and mentoring opportunities for start-up ventures.  Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology assists these startups, many of which have large-scale potential to impact the local economy. Nevada Micro Enterprise Initiative (formerly Nevada Self Employment Trust), in collaboration with the Community Business Resource Center (CBRC), administers micro-enterprise loans in northern Nevada to enhance the economic self-sufficiency of women and men. They offer training and technical assistance to develop entrepreneurial skills along with access to credit.  TMT will track future data as it becomes available on its Web site.

patents

The Reno-Sparks MSA had 5.86 patents per 10,000 people in 2001 which ranked 116th among the 318 reporting MSAs. International Gaming Technology is the leading patent organization locally, with 32 patents from 1997 to 2001; UNR reported five patents for the same time period. From 2002 to 2004, UNR realized 11 patents issued.  [Source:  Source: “IDENTIFYING THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND IMPORT SUBSTITUTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WESTERN NEVADA STUDY AREA WITH APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY OF SPARKS,” UNR Department of Agriculture, September 2005.]

higher education entrepreneurship classes

UNR’s Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship class clearly serves as an excellent springboard for entrepreneurs; about 40% of the students become project managers and around 20% become business owners.