Lander plan to include public sessions

Lander County residents will participate this week in focus groups that take a look at development of a more diverse economy in the mining-dependent county.

The Lander County Sustainable Development Committee will work with the University of Nevada to conduct public sessions at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. All sessions are at the Battle Mountain Civic Center.

The public comments will be folded into an economic development plan that seeks to identify potential new employers that are compatible with the community.

"This is a practical step to assuring there is going to be jobs available for our children and grandchildren" said Rod Davis, a project coordinator for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. "We are taking the bust out of boom and bust economies. If we become broader based, we have the chance to change the face of Battle Mountain and the entire county for future generations."

Once targeted industries are identified, the Lander Economic Development Authority will spearhead outreach, marketing and communication programs to them.

The project began more than a year a half ago. It's completed community leakage studies (what money is going in and leaving the community), infrastructure mapping through a Web site interface, housing studies and an examination of the county's renewable energy potential.