|
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman will receive the 2009 Leadership Award for Public Service at 6 p.m. tonight at the Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada-Reno campus during the 2009 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference.
The Leadership Award for Public Service recognizes an elected official who has served as a committed advocate for economic development for at least 10 years in the public sector. A panel of economic development experts consisting of members from both the public and private sectors selected the mayor as the recipient. The IEDC is the world’s largest membership organization serving the economic development profession.
The mayor will also be presenting opening remarks about the city of Las Vegas’ major redevelopment projects at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Silver Legacy Hotel Ballrooms 3 and 4 in Reno.
Currently serving his third term as Las Vegas mayor, Goodman has achieved a number of economic development successes since first being elected in 1999.
Prior to Goodman’s first term as mayor, the top 10 corporate taxpayers within downtown Las Vegas were casinos. Today, the top tax generators are more diversified. They include the 5.1-million-square-foot World Market Center Las Vegas campus, the 539,000-square-foot Las Vegas Premium Outlets, The Molasky Corporate Center office complex and commercial mixed-use developer Forest City/ Livework LLC.
As chairman of the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency, Goodman also led the charge on 115 completed projects -- totaling $2.17 billion in private investment -- that have been realized in downtown Las Vegas since 2004. These projects generated 7,660 permanent jobs and 10,917 construction jobs.
Goodman’s biggest accomplishment is in the heart of downtown on 61 acres of land.
Previously deemed a brown field due to soil contamination resulting from the Union Pacific’s former use as a rail yard and refueling/cleaning station, this tract of land now has a new future in store.
Symphony Park, as the 61-acre parcel is now called, will be home to noteworthy anchor tenants including the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the 350,000-square-foot Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Phase I infrastructure improvements were completed in the spring of 2009. Phase II infrastructure construction is slated to begin this year. Also planned as part of this mixed-used community are a two-acre outdoor park, as well as medical, office, hotel and retail facilities and urban-style residences.
“I simply cannot imagine a more committed or effective public sector leader. Oscar Goodman understands the need for public and private sector collaboration and most importantly, knows how to provide the leadership to make it happen,” noted Donald D. Snyder, chairman of The Smith Center of the Performing Arts, in a letter of recommendation he wrote for Goodman’s award nomination.
Other downtown accomplishments include establishment of a new downtown entertainment district called Fremont East, restoration of the Historic Fifth Street School and plans for a mob museum
-end
Return to News Release Index
|
