Tahoe Prosperity Center projects align with Lake Tahoe Summit theme

The theme for Monday's 19th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit was “Connecting Lake Tahoe’s Environment and Economy through Innovation and Transportation.”

“The Tahoe Prosperity Center is thrilled that Senator Dean Heller of Nevada, and the Lake Tahoe Summit’s host this year, recognizes the importance of Tahoe’s economy as well as the environment and included it in this year’s theme,” stated executive director, Heidi Hill Drum.

As the only basin-wide organization focused on community and economic development for the entire Tahoe region, the Tahoe Prosperity Center (TPC) is currently working to:

1) Distribute our Measuring for Prosperity Report and use it to inform positive economic decisions in the Basin. Lake Tahoe is a $5 billion economy and while tourism will continue to be the primary driver of that economy, there is much we can do to make improvements that benefit residents, businesses and visitors. Highlights from the report include:
a. Tahoe saw its first population increase in more than 20 years (2013-14).
b. Basin-wide, average incomes dropped while housing costs increased.
c. Concentrated “town-center” developments are thriving.

2) Expand high speed internet and cell phone coverage around the Tahoe Basin. This is a critical infrastructure need for existing businesses to grow and for new businesses considering starting up in Tahoe.

3) Raise funds to install preventative fire cameras around the Lake Tahoe Basin. This project, AlertTahoe, is a system of networked sensors designed to protect Tahoe from catastrophic wildfire.

4) Understand Tahoe’s job market, education and skills gaps, and impacts from the expected job growth in Reno (anticipated to include 50,000 new jobs by 2020.) Workforce Tahoe will involve reaching out to Basin-wide businesses and collaborating with academic institutions to address education and skill deficiencies.