“The State of the Nevada County Economy” is the topic of this month’s free Community Forum to be held on Friday, March 20th from 10:30-11:30 a.m.. This live, one-hour panel discussion will be held at the Sierra College-Nevada County Campus in the auditorium of Building N-12.
Guests for this month’s Forum include: Nevada County Economic Development Director Kimberly Parker, Nevada County Economic Resource Council Executive Director Gil Mathew, and Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce/Grass Valley Downtown Association Executive Director Robin Galvan-Davies.
Local journalist and Community Forum Steering Committee member Lorraine Jewett will serve as moderator of this month’s discussion.
“The health of the Nevada County economy is one of the primary foundations of our community,” said Jewett. “It directly affects job availability, household income, and our quality of life. The local economy influences tax revenues that fund schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure projects.”
Chamber/GVDA Executive Director Galvan-Davies says the same things that define our quality of life also help drive our economy.
“Tourism, arts, culture, and our creative community are not just amenities, they are true economic assets,” Galvan-Davies said. “That connection between creativity, community, and commerce is one of Nevada County’s greatest strengths.”
“Many people are surprised to learn that Nevada County’s economy is evolving in ways that go far beyond the traditional picture of tourism and small town retail,” adds Parker. “Our community is home to innovative small businesses, a vibrant arts and creative sector, and emerging opportunities in areas like film and sustainable forest management. At the same time, many local businesses are working incredibly hard to navigate real challenges—from workforce shortages to the rising cost of doing business. What stands out is their resilience and creativity.”
ERC Executive Director Mathew says another aspect of the local economy that stands out is its demographic composition.
“About 32% of residents are over the age of 65, compared to 16% nationwide,” Mathew explained. “This older population tends to bring higher levels of wealth and education than many other rural or semi-rural counties. One visible result is the large and active nonprofit sector, which benefits from strong community support and engagement.”
Sponsored by the Sierra College-Nevada County Campus Foundation, the Community Forum hosts hour-long, in-depth informational events several times each year, presenting local issues and topics of interest to both our community and neighboring counties. The moderator of each session reserves time for guests in the audience to pose questions to the panel of experts.
Each of these speaker series is free and open to the public. Free parking is provided on campus and directional signs direct guests where to park and how to access the Building N-12 auditorium.