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Office of Economic Development News

The Office of Economic Development seeks to promote private- and public-sector partnerships in order to support economic and workforce development, to attract industry-sponsored research, and to protect and develop intellectual property.

Current Economic Development News

The Sphere on the Las Vegas Strip.
Campus News | October 2, 2023

A collection of news stories highlighting expert insights, research, and academic achievement.

close up of NASA logo etched on crystal
Research | August 29, 2023

UNLV faculty earned two grants this summer through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project to enhance STEM curriculum for students and advance promising research.  
 

Graduation surprise
Campus News | August 1, 2023

News stories from the summer featuring UNLV students and faculty.

UNLV cheerleaders waving pom poms during football game
Business and Community | June 13, 2023

New report from Center for Business and Economic Research unveils impact of the emerging sports mecca’s transformation on Strip, Southern Nevada, and residents of all ages.

sign saying "Gaming & Risk Taking"
Campus News | May 31, 2023

UNLV gathers international experts to discuss emerging gaming industry issues, including the intersection of tourism, sports, and entertainment.

Interior space at UNLV Black Fire Innovation building
Business and Community | May 15, 2023

New program assists early-stage companies by connecting them with a variety of resources to support their path to success. 

Economic Development In The News

The Macau Post Daily
September 28, 2023

The programme was delivered by responsible gaming expert Prof. Bo J. Bernhard, vice president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ (UNLV) Office of Economic Development, sharing insights on responsible gaming knowledge and his experience from the US.

Macau Times
September 28, 2023

More than 60 Sands China team members completed the eighth Responsible Gaming Ambassador advanced training course at The Venetian® Macao on September 19 and 20. The project aims to enhance team members’ awareness of responsible gaming and respond to the Macau SAR government’s responsible gaming promotion campaign with the theme of “Proactively seek help and win the future”.

Nevada Independent
September 27, 2023

Boyd Gaming is leasing space at UNLV’s Black Fire Innovation building, which will allow the casino company to move its own innovation lab into an educational research setting.

YOGONET
September 22, 2023

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Boyd Gaming have finalized a lease and partnership agreement to establish the Boyd Innovation Lab within UNLV's Black Fire Innovation building, located at the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park.

Gambling Insider
September 20, 2023

In a strategic collaboration, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Boyd Gaming have solidified a lease and partnership agreement to establish the Boyd Innovation Lab within UNLV's Black Fire Innovation Building, located at the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park.

Gambling News
September 20, 2023

The new activation presents an opportunity for UNLV's students to turn their ideas into real technology, products and businesses

Economic Development Experts

An expert on gaming and society, Bernhard has been featured on CNN, The Discovery Channel, the BBC, and The History Channel.
An expert on small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurship.
An accomplished economist, professor, and administrator in the fields of business and economic research.
An economist studying microeconometrics, economics of food security, health economics, and urban economics        

Recent Economic Development Accomplishments

September 25, 2023
Marta Soligo (Economic Development; Hospitality) published a chapter in the Italian book, Sociology of tourism consumption, published by Pearson. The chapter investigates current tourism trends in North and South America, with an analysis that explores aspects such as the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of new travel markets,…
August 21, 2023
Research professor and director Jeffrey Cummings, (Brain Health, Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience) and director Jamie Schwartz (Industry and Business Engagement, Economic Development) were awarded a $1.5 million INNOVATOR grant from the National Institute of Aging (NIA). This five-year grant will help the university develop…
June 20, 2023
Marta Soligo (UNLV Office of Economic Development) was interviewed by the Italian gambling-related magazine GiocoNews. The interview centered around casino tourism, with Soligo exploring topics such film-induced tourism and the diversification of the tourism economy in Southern Nevada. Moreover, Soligo was asked to talk about gambling studies…
June 16, 2023
Kasra Ghaharian (International Gaming Institute), Brett Abarbanel (International Gaming Institute), Shane W. Kraus (Psychology), Ashok Singh (Hospitality), and Bo Bernhard (Office of Economic Development) published an article titled, "Evaluating the generalizability of payment behavioral profiles across gambling brands," in International Gambling…
June 13, 2023
Marta Soligo (Office of Economic Development), Brett Abarbanel (International Gaming Institute), Kasra Ghaharian (International Gaming Institute), and Bo Bernhard (Office of Economic Development) published an article titled, "Coping with the Pandemic: Resilience and Recovery Across The Hospitality and Gambling Industries During Covid-19," in the…
June 1, 2023
Marta Soligo (Economic Development) was interviewed for the Italian podcast DOI. In the episode, Soligo described her research on Italianness in Las Vegas' attractions, exploring the relationship between tourism, food, and identity. Moreover, she explained how a sociological approach can help researchers better understand topics such as the role…