De-privatization?: Reno-area Tech Council Affiliates with Nevada ED Office

Citing the goals of expanding its impact and stabilizing funding, the member-based TechAlliance has given up its political independence to become a nonprofit agency under the auspices of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. With the change comes a new name for the 4-year-old entity, which had served the Reno area from its Carson City offices — the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (CET).

Alison Estee, retaining the title of executive director, will gain a new boss as she now reports to the director of the state’s lead economic development agency. The Commission also will appoint a statewide advisory board for the new center.

The economy has taken its toll on a number of technology councils around the country, forcing some to lay off paid staff, merge with other councils, broaden their focus beyond a single technology sector, or cease operations altogether. Maintaining a regional council during the persistent economic downturn with only a young and emerging technology sector to draw from presents formidable challenges, as the TechAlliance discovered.

The Reno Gazette-Journal has reported finances were a key motivation for the council’s decision to switch from private nonprofit to public nonprofit. Estee was quoted, “It was clear to me the model of asking the corporate world for financing wasn’t a long-term strategy. As the economy tightened, I wasn’t sure I could show people a clear return on investment on their money.”

Activities of the TechAlliance had been conducted mostly through volunteer-driven teams dedicated to business recruitment, higher education, member services and organization-building. Activities will expand once CET and the state have finalized organizational details, but business recruitment will continue to be a priority.