FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carli Smith
Director of Communications
c.smith@goed.nv.gov 775-684-9903
August 10, 2026
Carson City, Nev. – Nevada’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), Battle Born Growth, overseen by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and operated by Nevada Battle Born Growth Escalator, Inc. (NBBGEI), has helped two Nevada healthcare providers secure financing to support business expansion, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and increase access to specialized medical services for patients across the state.
The financing provided, in collaboration with GenuBank and Heritage Bank, will enable Children’s Heart Center and Gates Brain Health to invest in facilities, equipment, technology, and staffing needed to meet growing patient demand. Together, these projects strengthen Nevada’s healthcare ecosystem by expanding access to specialized pediatric cardiovascular care and functional neurology services.
“Battle Born Growth has a long track record of providing early-stage venture capital to healthcare technology and services startups. Under this phase of our SSBCI program, we can now also leverage our loan programs to support this critical sector,” said Karsten Heise, senior director of strategic programs and innovation and SSBCI program manager. “We are especially proud to use our Collateral Support Program to expand access to credit for specialized healthcare providers, including pediatric cardiology and neurology, in collaboration with our lending partners.”
The two projects include:
- William Neal Evans, M.D., Ltd. dba Children’s Heart Center (CHC): Established in 1980, Children’s Heart Center is one of the nation’s largest pediatric cardiology programs and provides specialized pediatric cardiovascular care throughout Nevada. The practice operates multiple offices and outreach clinics while providing consultation and inpatient services at hospitals statewide. Financing will support the continued growth of a practice that has served Nevada families for more than four decades and remains a critical component of the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
- Gates Brain Health, Inc.: Specializes in Functional Neurology, providing non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical treatment for neurological dysfunction through services including neurological evaluations, vestibular rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury treatment, autoimmune disorder treatment, diagnostic laboratory testing, and advanced imaging analysis. The practice has experienced significant growth, expanding from approximately five employees in 2023 to approximately 20 employees in 2025. Financing will support continued investment in equipment, facilities, technology, and personnel to meet increasing patient demand.
“Supporting Nevada’s healthcare providers is an investment in both the health of our residents and the strength of our economy,” said Mendy Elliott, CEO of Nevada Battle Born Growth Escalator, Inc. “Through our strong partnerships with GenuBank and Heritage Bank, Battle Born Growth is helping Children’s Heart Center and Gates Brain Health access the financing needed to expand specialized healthcare services, create quality jobs, and serve more Nevada families. These lending partnerships are making a meaningful difference in communities and in the lives of Nevadans across our state.”
To learn more about Battle Born Growth, and the financing available, click here: www.nvsmallbiz.org.
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About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified and prosperous economy in Nevada, to stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development.
About the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)
The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) is a nearly $10 billion program to support small businesses and entrepreneurship in communities across the United States by providing capital and technical assistance to promote small business stability, growth, and success. SSBCI represents a transformational investment in American small businesses and is expected to catalyze up to $10 of private investment for every $1 of SSBCI Capital Program funding to increase access to capital to small businesses and entrepreneurs, including those in underserved communities. Nevada’s SSBCI Program, “Battle Born Growth,” is overseen by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).
Nevada Battle Born Growth Escalator, Inc. (NBBGEI)
A Nevada-based 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation created in 2016 by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) to promote, aid and encourage economic development across the state. NBBGEI operates Nevada’s federal and State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program, under contract from GOED, to support high growth startups, small and medium-sized businesses, and underserved entrepreneurs.