ELKO — A $386,000 grant from the Nevada Commission on Economic Development will help bring the Carlin Industrial Park closer to "shovel-ready," said Elaine Barkdull, executive director of the Elko County Economic Diversification Authority.
"Shovel ready" means having a site in the industrial park prepared for a tenant-builder, complete with water, sewer and roads, Barkdull explained. "We really don't have a lot of sites like that around here," she said in making the announcement Monday.
As the "gateway to the mines" she said the remaining 200 acres of the development on the north side of Interstate 80 at the interchange of State Route 766 would be a good location for mining industry vendors, transportation companies and distribution firms. There are several industry-related tenants there already, she said.
The current grant is intended for extension of sewer service, as well as paving and sealing of roads on the property, Barkdull said. The city already provides water to the site.
The grant received the blessing of Councilman Cliff Eklund and the rest of the Carlin City Council. Its preparation was assisted by Carlin City Manager Bill Kohbarger and town engineer Tom Ballew, Barkdull said.
The industrial park can come closer to its financial goal of $1.5 million needed to complete infrastructure work, with another possible grant from the Nevada Department of Transportation. When matched with current grant, this will bring the total to nearly $800,000, Barkdull said.
The NDOT grant was not accepted during this round, Barkdull said, and will be resubmitted. She said ECEDA hopes this will be a partial match that will elevate Carlin Industrial Park's previous application.
The NCED established criteria in late August for funds earmarked by the 2005 Legislature for the purpose of assisting projects for community development and economic diversification, a news release from he ECEDA said.
Fifteen of 30 grant application met the criteria, including Carlin's application, and were approved Sept. 20 by the NCED.
Of the more than $1.7 million approved by the NCED in this current round, successful recipients included the town of Caliente, Humboldt Development Authority, the Board of Lincoln County, the Ely/White Pine Railroad Foundation, and the Northern Nevada Development Authority.