RENO - A new report released Thursday shows while fewer businesses relocated or expanded in western Nevada in the past year because of the recession, more jobs were created.
The assessment, issued by the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, said 17 companies moved to or expanded in the region over the last 12 months, down from 28 in the previous year.
On the plus side, the agency said 743 new jobs were created compared with 658 jobs the year before.
"There's no doubt the economic downturn has taken a toll on our local businesses and work force with unemployment at an all-time high," EDAWN president Chuck Alvey said in a written statement.
Nevada's unemployment rate in May hit a record 11.3 percent, with the Reno-area jobless rate at 11.2 percent.
The increase in jobs was attributed to two employers, AT&T Nevada and the Hartford Financial Services Group. Combined, the two accounted for 450 positions, EDAWN said.
AT&T added 300 workers to staff a customer call center at its Reno facility. Hartford, headquartered in Connecticut, closed a Reno service office in 2007 but returned and plans to employ about 150 people, the report said.
Of the 17 companies who expanded or relocated, economic development officials said 11 were new enterprises and six were expansions.
Despite the downturn in business enticement, Alvey said inquiries from companies seeking information about business opportunities in the region are up
15 percent.
"We see that as a positive sign that the economy is trying to rebound, and when it does, those companies will be looking to pull the trigger and make the move," he said.
Alvey said the strongest interest is coming from companies currently located in California, and the agency and other area economic development organizations plan a marketing campaign to try to lure them to the region.