GOED Initiative Has Invested Nearly $25 Million to Prepare Thousands of Nevadans for High-Demand Careers
CARSON CITY, Nev. (July 9, 2026) — The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada (WINN) Fund, a cornerstone workforce development initiative that has invested nearly $25 million in industry-driven training programs since launching in 2016.
Over the past decade, WINN has connected thousands of Nevadans with career opportunities in high-growth industries while helping employers build the skilled workforce needed to support Nevada’s ongoing economic diversification.
10 Years of Workforce Investment
Created by the Nevada Legislature in 2015 and administered by GOED’s Workforce Development Division, the WINN Fund aligns workforce training with Nevada’s State Plan for Economic Development and priority industry sectors.
Since accepting its first applications in 2016, the program has:
- Invested nearly $25 million in workforce development
- Partnered with Nevada’s community colleges and approved education providers
- Connected thousands of Nevadans to high-quality career opportunities
- Strengthened employer-driven workforce training statewide
- Supported Nevada’s long-term economic diversification strategy
Industry-Focused Training Across Nevada
WINN investments support workforce programs serving Nevada’s fastest-growing industries, including:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Information technology
- Transportation and logistics
- Mining and natural resources
- Healthcare
- Creative industries
- Water sustainability
Elaine Silverstone, GOED’s Director of Workforce Development, said the program has become one of the agency’s most effective tools for supporting both employers and workers.
She noted that WINN-funded programs are specifically designed to meet the workforce needs of companies expanding or locating in Nevada while creating pathways to high-quality, high-wage careers for residents.
$4 Million Awarded in the Past Year
During the past year alone, GOED distributed the program’s full $4 million legislative allocation across six workforce initiatives serving every Nevada community college.
The funding:
- Supported more than 20 employer partners
- Expanded workforce capacity for over 500 students
- Reached all Nevada System of Higher Education community colleges
- Strengthened talent pipelines in key economic sectors
Workforce Success Stories Across the State
College of Southern Nevada (CSN)
WINN funding supports the Westside Education & Training Center, expanding advanced manufacturing and information technology training through partnerships with employers including:
- PENTA Building Group
- Sunshine Minting
- Dolphin Machine
- HAAS Automation
Great Basin College (GBC)
The college launched a Mine Skills Safety Training Program developed alongside mining industry partners including:
- NORCAT
- KG Mining
- Komatsu
- Empire CAT
The initiative prepares workers for high-wage careers while strengthening Nevada’s rural mining workforce.
Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC)
WINN investments support:
- Advanced Manufacturing Mobilization Program
- Heavy Equipment and Diesel Technician training
- Incumbent worker training for approximately 5,000 employees
Employer partners include:
- Tesla
- Panasonic
- Haws
The programs also support Nevada’s growing battery manufacturing ecosystem and Lithium Loop initiative.
Western Nevada College (WNC)
Located within the Victory Logistics District in Fernley, WNC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center prepares students for careers supporting Nevada’s rapidly expanding clean energy economy.
Industry partners include:
- Lilac Solutions
- Panasonic Energy
- Redwood Materials
Workforce Development Fuels Economic Diversification
GOED Executive Director Tom Burns said WINN demonstrates how collaboration between education providers, employers and state leaders creates lasting economic impact.
According to Burns, the program has transformed workforce development into a powerful engine for economic diversification by helping businesses secure qualified talent while connecting Nevadans with meaningful, high-paying careers.
Statewide Collaboration
The success of WINN has been driven by partnerships across Nevada, including:
- Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE)
- Nevada Department of Education
- Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR)
- Regional Development Authorities
- Hundreds of private-sector employers
Together, these organizations help ensure workforce programs remain aligned with industry needs and emerging economic opportunities.
Looking Ahead
As WINN enters its second decade, GOED plans to continue investing in workforce programs that strengthen Nevada’s competitive position and support future business growth.
State leaders say the program remains guided by a simple principle: workforce development is economic development, and a highly skilled workforce continues to be one of Nevada’s greatest competitive advantages.
