Nevada Landscape Association

The two biggest things that took place this year for the Nevada Landscape Association were:

1. The state?EUR??,,????'???s first Certified Landscape Technician test took place June 21, 2003. On a mildly sunny day in June we found ourselves witnessing what started out as a dream two long years ago. The CLT exam was initially developed and organized by CLCA. The first test was in 1983. In 1996, ALCA purchased the rights to the exam and began to offer the test to state associations of national administration. It is recognized across the U.S. as the premier accreditation for the green industry.

2. We completed our first economic impact study on the green industry in the state.

Our $1.3 Billion Green Industry Economic Impact Study

I personally began working on this project in 2000. Initially I surveyed green industry associations across the nation and began to collect the data and talk to specialists. In 2001, I put together a rough survey. The problem was that statistics is not my area of expertise, and I had no idea about the methodology needed to make the results useful. I was lost and did not know how to proceed with this important project.

In November 2001, I met with Buddy Borden, community economic development specialist for the University of Nevada Reno Cooperative Extension, Las Vegas office, and Dr. R. Fletcher, an emeritus faculty of the University of Wyoming and the University of Nevada, Reno. They, too, had many unanswered questions about the state of the green industry in Nevada. After a lengthy discussion we decided to begin to work together to make this important project happen.

Over the past two years, Buddy Borden and Dr. Bob Fletcher have worked tirelessly to ensure that the results would be worth waiting for. Two separate questionnaires were developed and mailed to Nevada green industry operators. Each questionnaire was developed to gather individual business economic operating data that would be aggregated to represent a total industry segment.

A key part of the study was defining what businesses and groups are part of Nevada?EUR??,,????'???s green industry. Much of this decision was based on the availability of specific data, secondary data from state government, trade organizations and U.S. census publications and primary data from individual business operators. It was determined that Nevada?EUR??,,????'???s green industry is mainly defined under four major types of businesses.

1. Businesses that engage in production of plant materials sold through both wholesale and retail outlets.
2. Businesses that sell horticultural goods and supplies to businesses and end consumers.
3. Businesses that provide landscape services to businesses and residents.
4. Golf operations that purchase goods and services from related green industry businesses.

The Nevada green industry sells its products and services to three major markets: residential, commercial, and governmental/civic agencies. Golf course revenue is generated through resident and nonresident play.

The final report explains in detail the methodology used by Buddy Borden and Dr. Bob Fletcher. Once the report is finished it will be published by the University Center for Economic Development in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Here are the findings: Nevada?EUR??,,????'???s green industry generates over $751 million in direct sales, which include over $355 million of personal income supporting 15,736 FTE jobs. Secondary impacts, respending of direct sales between businesses, and businesses and households, creates an additional $557 million in economic activity, including over $202 million in additional personal income and supporting 5,461 additional FTE jobs in Nevada.

Nevada?EUR??,,????'???s green industry?EUR??,,????'???s total contribution to the state economy, direct plus secondary impacts, is over $1.3 billion. This contribution includes over $557 million in personal income that supports 21,197 jobs in the state.

Landscape services and golf courses account for over 87 percent of the green industry?EUR??,,????'???s economic activity, and 94 percent of personal income and employment impacts.

Our industry supported 15,376 jobs with over $355 million in payroll and over $751 million in sales. Our industry is more than just businesses and money. We grow, sell, install, maintain and preserve Nevada?EUR??,,????'???s living landscape. We serve and educate Nevada?EUR??,,????'???s home gardeners, thus helping the state remain a wonderful place to live.

Knowledge is power, and it?EUR??,,????'???s time to put this information to use on behalf of the industry. In your local community, the survey findings can support your effort to impact local regulations. At the state level, the survey findings can impact state policies and laws. Let policy makers know that the green industry is an important force in the economy, an industry that pays taxes, employs workers, and provides products and services that are in great demand. Contact your state legislator today; talk about the size of the industry, its economic impact on the state, the limits to its growth and your concerns about pending issues.

The green industry is poised for further growth. What do you need to learn to position yourself to take advantage of that growth? Take advantage of educational opportunities such as the Certified Landscape Technician program. Help your employees learn and grow and your business will grow and improve. The Nevada Landscape Association has made great strides in uniting Nevada?EUR??,,????'???s green industry. Our members represent architects, governmental entities, civic entities, apartment and property managers, suppliers, golf courses, hotels, landscape contractors, maintenance operators, nurseries, growers, insurance companies, repair services and sod growers.

I would like to thank those who contributed money and time for this project: