There are many challenges facing Southern Nevada, especially in light of COVID. However, one of the bigger challenges is the shortage of health care professionals compared to the population, especially in the field of nursing.
My outlook on Southern Nevada’s biggest challenges includes housing costs and the recovery of our local job market. The lack of housing inventory and making sure our local housing supply keeps up with what the city needs to meet the demand from thousands of new and existing residents is a big challenge. The housing shortage creates a barrier for prospective homeowners, including many first-time buyers. Job recovery relies on consumer spending, but that improvement depends on the path of the coronavirus and how it affects the leisure and hospitality industry.
It goes without saying that we have a water shortage in Lake Mead, and if that cannot be solved soon that will be our valley’s biggest issue. Future development and the valley’s expansion are dependent on our elected officials finding a way to get our share of the water coming out of the Colorado River.
You don’t get economic diversity simply by recruiting businesses here. Most businesses need talent, and that talent comes from an educated workforce. That’s why I would offer that higher education should be an essential component of this region’s economic diversification strategy.
The water shortage that is affecting the Colorado River and Lake Mead is definitely something to keep an eye on. As our city continues to grow very rapidly, both in number of residents and with all the new businesses transplanting here, the topic of water sustainability will become an even bigger part of living in Southern Nevada. Businesses, big and small, will have to be flexible and adjust.
I believe that the need for employees throughout the valley will be a huge challenge very soon. I know there is a current struggle with staffing businesses and with all the new projects coming to town it will only increase the amount of jobs that are available.
Going green is the biggest challenge we face. We have an enormous amount of energy shining down on us nearly 365 days a year, and it’s largely untapped. We need to do a better job of harnessing it for both residential and commercial applications. What a terrific opportunity for us to lead the nation and the world in sustainable practices.
The biggest challenge facing Southern Nevada is the shifting political climate and the plodding retraction of COVID-19 governmental restrictions.
The water shortage on the Colorado River is highest on my list. Our partners on the river basin need to join the conservation and water re-use efforts that Southern Nevada has implemented.
I believe that finding unity is one of the problems that must be addressed as we come out of the pandemic and recover as a city.