May has been a busy month for Mesquite Regional Business, as CEO Rachel Dahl lit up the businesses in Mesquite for International Economic Development Week 2017 as structured by the International Economic Development Agency.

What was nationally deemed a one week event was actually expanded to two in Mesquite, beginning with Mesquite Chamber of Commerce’s first coffee gathering on May 1 followed by their new feature, ‘What’s Happening Mesquite?’ on May 3. Both events showed promise for the future as local business owners and managers gathered to discuss what is currently underway with their business and what the future holds. “We’re really excited to be a part of this,” said Dahl. “Mesquite has so much to offer and we need to get that message out to others in the community, state and nationwide. We really are a gem in the desert.”

Later, on May 3, MRB participated in Mesquite Works’ second job fair of the year, talking with the job seekers about businesses in Mesquite and helping to answer any questions that may have arisen. With the businesses set to make their mark within the next year in Mesquite and Southern Nevada, this was a very beneficial asset to the community.

Dahl kicked off the week long festivities with a lunch at the Eureka Casino Resort on May 5 with the first of four Distinguished Speaker Series events, featuring Brent Hathaway, the Dean of the Lee Business School at UNLV, who spoke about how the newest sports venues coming to Las Vegas can or will impact an economy, even in Mesquite. With the ever-growing popularity of the Rising Star Sports Ranch, sports will continue to be an important part of Mesquite’s economic development and growth.

While IEDC Week was declared to be from May 8 to 14, the Mesquite City Council declared that week as an official Economic Development Week at their May 9 meeting.

IEDC Week continued with a VIP Night at the Eureka Casino Resort in the Seasons Lounge where key MRB contributors and interests again gathered to swap ideas and discuss issues within the business sector in Mesquite. “We are here because of you,” said Dahl. “We are grateful for all you do to help this community, both personally and professionally.”

On May 9, Dahl utilized the Virgin Valley High School Culinary Program to host a lunch at Sun City’s Recreation Center and to talk with the older community about why, even in their retirement years, they should care about economic development. During the luncheon, Dahl presented some exciting projects coming to Mesquite, and some prospects that are seriously looking into relocating here, pending their individual studies and preliminary findings. Southwest Gas representatives were also present and gave a short update about the future of natural gas coming to the Virgin Valley, as they had in their presentation to the Mesquite City Council on April 25.

The IEDC Week concluded on May 12 with an awards luncheon featuring City Councilman David Ballweg, who also owns a high-tech business in Mesquite. Ballweg’s message to the attendees was that of offering an outside view to what businesses look for when relocating, as he did several years ago.

Awards were presented to many of the hosts, contributors and participants in Mesquite’s first participation of IEDC Week. Dahl concluded the lunch by stating that Mesquite’s events and marketing efforts had drawn national attention from the IEDC and that next year’s events will be bigger and better.