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Weekly Newsletter

Our hearts are aching for the community in Uvalde, Texas, after a gunman killed 19 students and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School. Flags across Nevada will remain at half-staff until sunset on May 28, 2022 in honor of all those lives lost. Our state knows the pain a community goes through after a mass shooting – and too many communities around the country know this grieving now, too. As a parent, I cannot imagine the pain the parents in Uvalde are experiencing. Kathy and I are sending our love and support – and Nevada is mourning alongside the Uvalde community. As Governor, I have taken action since my time in office to decrease gun violence, and I am committed to ensuring a future free from these tragedies.

This week, I announced the launch of my High Speed NV Initiative – aimed at bringing affordable and accessible internet for Nevadans in every corner of our state. Through a combination of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the plan will focus on infrastructure to close the digital divide to unserved and underserved rural and urban areas. This initiative will also be jobs-focused and provide workforce training opportunities to a new generation of telecommunications workers. According to the Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT), as many as 450,000 Nevadans are considered underserved for high speed internet. Learn more about the program here.

First Lady Kathy Sisolak and I both received our second COVID-19 booster doses at the Southern Nevada Health District. Kathy and I were proud to get our second doses to help keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy as summer celebrations and holidays begin. We both were eligible for our booster doses due to our age. Current booster recommendations are available here and Nevadans can find vaccine availability and appointments online here or by calling the State’s COVID-19 hotline at 800-401-0946.

Thank you,

Governor Sisolak

Answering Nevada's Questions

My office has been receiving questions about the nationwide infant formula shortage. Here are some of the most frequently asked.

Q: What is being done to address the shortage?

A: President Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate the domestic production of formula and the launch of Operation Fly Formula is delivering formula from overseas to replenish the nation’s stock. The Governor's Office is glad to see the federal government taking action to help address this nationwide shortage affecting families across the country and here in Nevada. The State is monitoring for updates when more formula may make its way onto shelves for families to help fill this critical need.

Q: What alternative formulas are available?

A: This voluntary recall only affects infant formula manufactured by Abbott (some Similac, Alimentum, Elecare, and PM 60/40 products). Other brands/types of formulas are considered safe to use.

Q: Who can I call to help me find formula?

A: Call 2-1-1, your healthcare provider, or if you are a Nevada WIC participant, contact your local WIC agency or call 1-800-863-8942 for assistance.

We encourage Nevadans to take advantage of federal and State resources to help find formula. A federal website is being maintained here: https://t.co/a8IrTaKUSR and we encourage families to take advantage for Nevada WIC if they are eligible. Nevada WIC  provides access to healthy foods, including formula and infant foods, as well as breastfeeding support, nutrition education and community health care referrals. To apply, go to nevadawic.org/eligibility/

This Week’s Nevada Small Business Spotlight: 28 Sunflowers Photography

28 Sunflowers Photography is a boutique photography studio in Boulder City, NV with services that cover all of southern Nevada. Owner and photographer Pamela Leon is a highly sought after award-winning photographer that specializes in family, engagement, and senior custom portrait photography. Her passion lies in showing women their inner and outer beauty through modern portraits of themselves. Pamela’s photography can be found in books, numerous national magazines, and gracing the walls of client’s home all across the country. Above all, Pamela believes in the importance of giving back by serving on the committee for The Boulder City Heart of the Community Gala, sitting on the board of directors of the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce and Grace Christian Academy and donating her time and talents to the community. For more information, click here.

Resources for Nevadans 

Free Meals Available for Kids and Teens This Summer

Healthy meals shouldn’t be a question for any child, now or ever. Thanks to the USDA Summer Food Service Program distributed through partners of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, any child or teen 18 years and younger, can receive free meals when school is not in session, no questions asked. To find a meal site near you, visit agri.nv.gov. 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP, Sometimes Known As “Food Stamps”) Helps Low-Income Families Pay for Groceries 

Apply for SNAP on the Access Nevada website by clicking here. Before you start the application, be prepared to provide proof of all the following:

• income
• who lives in your household
• residency
• citizenship, or lawfully permanent residency status for 5 years

Get Disabled Placards by Mail! 

Final Call for 2022-23 College Financial Aid

Deadline for Fall 2022 Applications: Thursday, June 30th

The 2022 Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available through June 30th. Many federal and State grants (millennium and Opportunity Scholarships), scholarships and financial aid awards are available for students who want to continue their education, but they must complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible. FAFSA provides funding such as Pell grants, which can be worth up to $6,495 for the 2022-23 school year, increase annually, do not have to be repaid, and can be used for four-year colleges as well as technical, vocational, and trade schools. Research shows that when students from families experiencing poverty get help with FAFSA, they are 25-30% more likely to enroll in college.

All students who plan to attend a higher education institution in fall 2022 should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. To assist students and parents in the process, the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Office has been sharing tips on Twitter by following @FAFSA, including “7 Things You Need Before Filling Out the FAFSA Form” and “8 Steps to Completing the FAFSA Form.”

Nevadans Reminded of COVID-19 Resources  

The Nevada Health Response wants to remind Nevadans to take steps to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 and prevent spread at gatherings this summer. COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are available in locations statewide and can protect against serious infection. Pre-exposure medication or oral antivirals and monoclonal antibody treatments are available to those that are eligible soon after infection occurs. 

Resources available to help Nevadans mitigate the risk of COVID-19: 

• Get vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn about the vaccines available, and where and how to get your vaccination appointment at NVCOVIDFighter.com or call the vaccine hotline at 800-401-0946. 
• Get tested if you are exposed or have symptoms. If you have symptoms or know that you have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested to prevent disease spread. Learn more about testing clinics, or free at-home tests available for pickup at https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/find-covid-19-testing-in-nevada/ 
• Learn about therapeutics. COVID-19 treatment appointments can be made through Nevada’s hotline at 800-401-0946. The hotline can help determine if you are eligible for oral antivirals or monoclonal antibody treatments after infection or for pre-exposure medication to increase immune response if you were to be infected in the future. The pre-screening can also be done online at NevadaCOVIDTreatment.com 

Getting to Know Your State Government

Governor’s Office of Economic Development   

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) was created during the 2011 Session of the Nevada Legislature through a collaboration of the Nevada Governor's Office and the Leadership of the Nevada State Senate and State Assembly (Authority: NRS 231) with a vision and mission to create a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable economy with high-paying jobs for Nevadans. 

Since January of 2019, GOED has approved abatements for 80 companies. Within five years these companies will add 11,727 jobs and make $2.1 billion in capital investment in the State of Nevada. Over the next ten years these companies will generate more than $1.1 billion in new net tax revenues for our state. 

The team at GOED is working with stakeholders to pursue visionary policies that set Nevada apart for the future, continuing the state’s drive for resilience and diversification. Where in 2018 the state’s largest employers were spread across four industry sectors, they are now spread across eight: aerospace and defense, health, information technology, manufacturing, logistics, mining, and natural resource technologies.  

Some notable accomplishments the GOED team has achieved in the last year:  

      - GOED Website Ranked No. 1 in Nation in Transparency 
      - State Policy Report Ranks Nevada Economy First in the Nation 
      - GOED Board Approves Workforce Development Grant 
      - GOED International Trade Division Receives Presidential Award 
      - Nationally Ranked Startup Accelerator Gener8tor to Locate in Las Vegas & Reno 
      - Rural Business Assistance Program Highlights Needs in Rural Counties 
      - GOED International Team Wins Largest Step Grant Ever 
      - Pandemic Emergency Technical Support (PETS) Grant Program 
 
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development also oversees the Nevada’s Procurement & Technical Assistance Program (PTAC) and the Nevada Film Office.  

Interested in keeping up with GOED and all things economic development? Follow them on social media: 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/diversifynevada 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NevadaGOED 

Stay up to date on the latest news from Governor Sisolak by following his social media accounts or by visiting his website.

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