Congresswoman Lee Announces $150,000 Federal Investment to Create Jobs, Diversify Local Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) a $150,000 grant to establish an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy to support private capital investment and job creation in southern Nevada.

“As southern Nevada continues to feel the impact of tariffs and plummeting tourism rates, this investment to create new jobs and diversify our economy is more important than ever,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “By planning ahead, attracting investments like this, and creating jobs in new sectors, we’re building a stronger, more dependable southern Nevada economy that families can count on.”

This federal investment supports the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for southern Nevada. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen southern Nevada’s economy. 

Lee has long championed economic diversification in southern Nevada, which has seen declining tourism numbers in recent months.

In August, Lee joined MP Materials to celebrate the multibillion-dollar commitment they received from the Department of Defense (DoD). MP Materials, headquartered in Las Vegas, is America’s only fully integrated rare earth producer. Prior to the announcement of the partnership, Lee secured a commitment from Defense Secretary Hegseth that the DoD would invest in American-based critical minerals companies, like MP Materials, over foreign-owned companies. MP Materials employs more than 800 Americans, 550 of whom live in southern Nevada, and expects to add hundreds of jobs to the region in the coming years thanks to this new commitment.

Lee and Leader Hakeem Jeffries also toured a new Switch AI factory, headquartered in Las Vegas. As southern Nevada seeks to diversify its economy, new data centers present opportunities to create good-paying jobs and boost the local economy while ensuring the United States remains a leader in AI innovation. Switch estimates that the construction of the new factories will create approximately 400 new jobs in Las Vegas.

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