Fernley, NV

Nevada’s Next Industrial Frontier

This Dynamic Municipality is Positioning Itself as the Nexus of America’s Lithium Revolution.

Thirty-five miles east of Reno, a desert community that barely existed two decades ago, is emerging as Nevada’s next de facto industrial powerhouse. Fernley, incorporated just in 2001, spans 168 square miles (larger than Las Vegas) and is located at the intersection of Interstate 80, U.S. Route 50 Alternate, and U.S. Route 95 Alternate. The city’s strategic location, combined with abundant land and transportation corridors, has caught the attention of major corporations seeking alternatives to Nevada’s increasingly crowded urban centers.

“We’re pretty unique in our location due to the major roads as well as the rail,” explains Mayor Neal E. McIntyre, who has witnessed the community’s transformation from 500 residents to its current population of 25,000. “Right now, we’re in the process of having lands conveyed to the city of Fernley for economic development and Reno and Sparks right now are pretty much built out, so the next place is Fernley.”

The mayor’s optimism comes from broader regional momentum. Lyon County, where Fernley is located, has experienced 8.5% population growth since 2020, making it one of Nevada’s fastest-growing counties. Federal recognition arrived in 2023 when the region was designated as one of 31 national Tech Hubs, bringing $21 million in funding to develop Nevada’s “Lithium Loop”, a complete lifecycle from mineral extraction to battery recycling that utilizes the state’s position as America’s only domestic source of lithium processing.

Revitalizing Main Street and Community Identity

Downtown revitalization efforts often struggle to balance growth with character preservation, but Fernley’s approach centers on community-driven artistic expression. The city has partnered with the Fernley Main Street Association to install benches, planter boxes, art installations, and landscaping throughout the downtown corridor. This month marks a significant milestone as these beautification projects come to fruition.

“The city of Fernley has been around since 1906 when the Truckee and Carson Irrigation Canal was created to reclaim the west and encourage agriculture,” notes City Manager Benjamin Marchant. “Five or six years ago, the city entered into some planning efforts for economic development and what can be done to improve the economy, develop Main Street and encourage more homegrown businesses to establish in Fernley.”

The centerpiece of this cultural renaissance is Art Week, featuring the city’s signature “Music, Murals and Margaritas” festival. Marchant explains that “we have at least 15 murals being painted around town this week, and it really adds a pop of color and interest throughout the community.” The murals operate on a three-year rotation cycle, ensuring fresh artistic content while maintaining visual vibrancy.

Mayor McIntyre sees this transformation as responsive governance in action. “It is just listening to what the citizens want, and they really like it and it brings a lot of activities and people to the city of Fernley to see what we’re all about,” he says. “Changes are inevitable and so this is part of that change.” This approach, aligned with broader urban planning principles, prioritizes incremental improvements while preserving small-town character, a strategy particularly relevant as Fernley prepares for substantial industrial development in surrounding areas.

Building Infrastructure for Tomorrow

Infrastructure development represents the foundation of any successful industrial expansion, particularly in Nevada’s high-growth corridor where companies like Tesla have proven the transformative potential of strategic location choices. Fernley’s infrastructure priorities focus on essential utilities that will support current residents and anticipated business growth, with wastewater treatment leading the investment agenda.

“Our highest immediate priority is to build a new wastewater treatment facility,” explains Marchant. “The one we have is very effective, but it’s dated, and it’s limited in its capacity, so, we’re planning to construct a new plant that can produce a higher quality of effluent coming out that could potentially be used for industrial reuse.” In Nevada’s desert climate, this approach addresses water scarcity concerns while creating opportunities for sustainable industrial operations.

Water resources are both a challenge and an advantage for the growing municipality. “Water is always a concern here, but the city has a very large holding of water rights, and we are expanding our water treatment plant to mix surface water with our ground well water to tap into the full scope of our water rights,” Marchant adds.

Beyond utilities, Fernley is implementing massive territorial expansion. The city has approved development plans covering 25,000 acres across three areas: 6,000 acres in the north, 11,000 acres in the southwest, and 8,000 acres in the southeast. Marchant describes the scope: “Our next phase after the preliminary plan is to do an infrastructure plan. Where are the main roads going to go? How are we going to plan the infrastructure for not only water and sewer, but natural gas, communications, and electricity?” This comprehensive approach parallels successful industrial developments like the nearby Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, which houses Tesla’s Gigafactory that employs over 18,000 people.

Housing the Workforce

Housing development in rapidly growing communities requires balancing supply with affordability, a challenge intensified when major technology companies establish operations nearby. Fernley’s housing strategy addresses immediate needs and long-term demographic shifts as the city transitions from a bedroom community to an integrated residential and commercial center.

Current development activity indicates strong market confidence. Mayor McIntyre reports substantial approved construction: “I believe we have over 4,000 single family permits, approved by council, that need to be built. So right now, we have town homes going in, we have apartments going in, and we have six different subdivisions that are building houses.”

The housing market dynamics reveal Fernley’s competitive positioning within the regional economy. “The housing in Fernley is more attainable than it is in Washoe County, Reno and Sparks,” Marchant explains. “A single-family home is $600,000 there. The median one here is $400,000.” While acknowledging that “$400,000 is really attainable for the factory workers,” he emphasizes the relative affordability advantage.

Population patterns indicate that Fernley’s role as a regional employment hub is evolving. Mayor McIntyre notes that “right now, I believe it is around 60 – 65% of our workforce works outside the city of Fernley.” However, major industrial commitments are reshaping this dynamic. Microsoft’s recent $70.5 million purchase of 300 acres at the nearby Victory Logistics District exemplifies the corporate investment driving local employment growth. Marchant observes the demographic diversity this attracts: “Looking around the parking lot, there are license plates from every state in the nation, including Hawaii and Alaska, Florida and Maine. We are really a job center attracting people for work to northern Nevada.”

Tourism and Recreation

Economic diversification increasingly relies on quality-of-life amenities that attract and retain skilled workers, particularly in technology and manufacturing sectors. Fernley’s recreational assets go beyond municipal boundaries, piggybacking on northern Nevada’s natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities to enhance its appeal as a business location and residential destination.

Victory Logistics Center in Fernley

Natural attractions provide a significant draw for visitors and residents. “Fourteen miles away we have Pyramid Lake, which is one of the top fly-fishing, large trout places to fish in the world,” Mayor McIntyre explains. “There are people that come from all over the world to fish this lake, and most of them stay in Fernley in motels and other accommodations.” The proximity to hiking trails throughout surrounding mountains adds to the outdoor recreation portfolio, supporting tourism revenue and workforce attraction.

Fernley has institutionalized its tourism development through the Fernley Cultural and Tourism Authority, which reinvests tax revenues into community events. Marchant details the program’s success: “The city takes its revenues from the hotel motel taxes and reinvests it in the community to promote events like the Junior Rodeo Girls Softball League tournaments. I believe they hosted nine last year and they planned 14 this year.”

Community events anchor the city’s recreational calendar, with the Fourth of July celebration standing out as a regional attraction. “We have one of the longest running fireworks shows in Nevada where we have people from all different cities come out and participate and watch our fireworks,” Mayor McIntyre notes. Off-road racing venues, including tracks for dirt bike racing, complement the event portfolio. However, infrastructure gaps remain evident. “Right now, we have 14 parks, but we have not increased our parks since we incorporated in 2001,” the mayor acknowledges, highlighting ongoing infrastructure needs.

Workforce Development and Future Priorities

Workforce development in emerging technology hubs requires coordinated partnerships between education, industry, and government, a model that has proven successful in regions like North Carolina’s Research Triangle and Austin’s tech corridor. Northern Nevada’s designation as a federal Tech Hub brings resources and responsibilities for developing talent pipelines that can support advanced manufacturing and data center operations.

Educational partnerships form the backbone of Fernley’s workforce strategy. Mayor McIntyre describes Mark IV Capital’s comprehensive approach: “They are starting what they call the center of excellence, and they have teamed up with Fernley High School. They’ve teamed up with Truckee Meadows, West Nevada Community College and University of Nevada, to where one of their big warehouses is going to be converted into learning labs.” The facility will provide “customized training for the businesses that will be coming to Fernley,” according to Marchant.

Federal investment amplifies these local efforts. The Nevada Tech Hub workforce development program will impact 50,000 workers over five years, including focus on English language learners and correctional system participants. This aligns with Fernley’s immediate staffing challenges as the city prepares for unprecedented growth.

Operational capacity represents the most pressing near-term priority. “I do feel like we’re the little mining car at the front of the train, getting pushed by a freight train, trying to keep up with all the demands of growth for this little town,” Marchant explains. “Our focus has been to hire the employees we need, improve the compensation structure so that we retain the employees we need, and that we’re ready to handle this growth that’s coming.”

Fernley’s transformation from agricultural outpost to industrial hub highlights changes in America’s economic geography, where strategic location, infrastructure investment, and workforce development converge to create new centers of prosperity beyond traditional metropolitan areas.

AT A GLANCE

Who: City of Fernley, Nevada

What: Rapidly growing industrial hub and federal Tech Hub designated for lithium battery development, spanning 168 square miles with major transportation corridors and 25,000 acres of planned development

Where: Lyon County, Nevada

Website: www.cityoffernley.org