LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada’s Governor’s Office of Economic Development is working to expand the state’s mining industry by attracting processing and manufacturing businesses that can use minerals extracted in the state.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development Director Tom Burns said Nevada has historically relied heavily on gaming for tax revenue but now wants to broaden the base by attracting more industries.
MORE ON FOX5: Gearing up for growth of manufacturing jobs across Las Vegas
State officials said Nevada has 36 of the 60 essential minerals the U.S. Department of Commerce has labeled critical to the economy and national defense — more than any other state in the country. This includes lithium, which is used for batteries. The GOED says Nevada has the two largest deposits in the United States.
Supply chain concerns drive push
The goal is to bring in more manufacturing and related businesses that can use those minerals and create more jobs for the future.
One challenge is where Nevada’s minerals go after they’re taken out of the ground. The state sends raw minerals that are brought from the earth over to China, where China does the processing, according to state officials. The officials said the U.S. is then at China’s discretion as to whether the minerals are returned.
State officials said the country is in a different geopolitical climate than it has ever been in the history of the United States.
Workforce challenges ahead
Another issue is the workforce. State officials said about half of Nevada miners are projected to retire by 2030, and recruiting can be tough when many jobs are in rural areas.
State officials said people that are used to working in an urban environment are less likely to move to a rural environment.
But the pay can be a big incentive. Miners in Nevada average about $120,000 a year, well above the state average. The state said it’s investing in training programs to build the next generation of workers.
The state has a program called the WIND fund — Workforce for an Innovative New Nevada — that helps sponsor and stand up programs that teach the skills that are necessary to be safe in mining.
Weston Adams, president and CEO of Western States Contracting, mines limestone at Apex Mountain and said he’s seeing strong retention. Adams said the future is pretty bright for the industry and cited low turnover at Western States Contracting.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development said it’s also working with the Department of Energy on collaboration and grant funding for future projects. The office said two new mines for litium and boron are underway, expected to add jobs as the state pushes to keep more processing and use of those minerals in Nevada.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
