How GOED’s Workforce Innovation for a New Nevada (WINN) Fund Supports Nevada’s Economic Diversification Efforts
Written By: Elaine Silverstone, Director of Workforce Development
It’s been an exciting time for GOED’s Workforce Development division. With committed resources from the state, we implement the Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada (WINN) program to support economic diversification efforts.
As the fiscal term closed on June 30, 2025, we proudly awarded the full WINN allotment of $10 million to deliver workforce training at all (4) of Nevada System of Higher Education’s community college institutions that worked in partnership with at least 60 employers across the state to increase workforce capacity for over 2,000 students. Highlights from among these 18 WINN-funded programs include:
-
College of Southern Nevada (CSN): Computing Information Technologies Program Expansion supporting partnerships in the IT sector supporting employer partners such as Nevada Nuclear Security Site, AIS, ICU Computer Solutions Outabox and Synoptek.
-
Great Basin College (GBC): A line bore welding program designed to support no less than 42 jobs in the mining sector for regional employers including KG Mining, Komatsu, and Empire CAT.
-
Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC): Launched an Advanced Manufacturing Mobilization program designed to deliver incumbent worker training at the site of employers in this key sector. An estimated ~5,000 jobs are supported at companies including Tesla, Panasonic and Haws.
-
Western Nevada College (WNC): Advanced Manufacturing and Battery Recycling, a cohesive two-track curriculum, with employer partners such as Redwood Materials.
Success stories
The success of the WINN program is acknowledged in the current legislative period with an appropriation of $4 million across the two-year term, and there are many successes to report already just in this first quarter of the cycle.
The College of Southern Nevada has been awarded a significant investment to equip the newly opened Westside Education & Training Center (WETC). WETC is poised to transform workforce opportunities for many in this Las Vegas community with employer partners including HAAS Automation. HAAS presents an excellent example of economic diversification for this region, bringing their headquarters presence to Henderson in the future (~18 months from date of writing). HAAS is a business leader that has benefitted from business development opportunities and will continue to enjoy GOED/WINN support via workforce development as delivered at WETC. Westside residents will benefit from training in this center and the future career pathways they can expect to enjoy in many years to follow.
Great Basin College continues to lead in delivering educational opportunities that support the mining sector, a key economic engine for the Northeast corner of our state. A partnership with NORCAT, a leader in skilled labor training and development, began thanks to a Governor’s Trade Mission to Canada. The relationship between education and industry has flourished with this workforce opportunity in place at GBC. A continued investment in equipment and delivery of the program is supported with WINN funds throughout the next 12 months.
Truckee Meadows Community College demonstrates excellence in the transportation and logistics career segment. One example is by way of the Annual Logistics Leadership event TMCC hosts each year. With intent to draw awareness to this key sector in our state’s economic diversification sector, GOED’s WINN program has committed continued support to this program.
And finally, Western Nevada College is building regional workforce programs to reach several counties in their reach with the development of an advanced manufacturing training center in Fernley, NV at the Victory Logistics District. Equipment will fill the new walls of this educational outpost that will provide high-wage career opportunities for Nevadans far and wide.