Hours: Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone (775) 785-1366
Fax (775) 789-5652
Physical Address:
1937 Prosperity Street
Reno, Nevada 89502
Mailing Address:
34 Reservation Road
Reno, Nevada 89502
Steve Moran
Director
ext. 5403
Michael Ondelacy
Assistant Director
ext. 5405
Welcome to the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Business Enterprises and Economic Development Department. We manage the business enterprises for the benefit of all Colony and community members residing in the Reno and Hungry Valley communities. The business enterprises include the Colony’s smoke shops and other commercial enterprises.
The Colony funds its tribal government from revenue generated by its enterprises, including tribal taxes levied on retail transactions occurring on Colony land. All five smoke shops assess sales/excise tax on tobacco product sales at a tax rate equivalent to the State of Nevada.
Recently, the Colony has been diversifying from reliance on declining tobacco revenues, concentrating on other types of commercial operations to enhance return and security. However, the tribal smoke shops and other commercial properties have helped generate revenues to provide and expand governmental services to Colony members, residents and neighboring communities.
We appreciate your continued support and look forward to working with you on current and upcoming developments in and around the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. Thank you for your interest in RSIC. Please contact Steve Moran, Director of Business Enterprises and Economic Development, with inquires regarding space availability or any other questions.
Commercial Property Management
In an effort to diversify the Colony’s general fund from sole reliance on tobacco revenues,
the Colony has leased and developed its commercial sites. Tenants include Mercedes Benz of Reno, Acura of Reno, Infinity of Reno, Wal-Mart, and many other locally owned and operated businesses. Revenues from the Colony’s real estate projects provide funds for the Colony’s government which provides essential services to its members, residents and other urban Indians.
Economic Development
Creating a diverse economic base in support of the growing self-sufficiency of the Colony’s members has been the principal focus of its economic development activities since the Tribal Council initiated its diversification efforts.
For over two decades, the Colony assembled development sites in Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. Located in urban, suburban and high-growth areas, this land has been acquired for development and redevelopment.
In addition, the Economic Development Department carries out design and development services for community projects such as construction of the $20 million Reno Sparks Tribal Heath Center on Kuenzli Street along the Truckee River. The Tribal Health Center provides health care services to its members and Washoe County’s urban Indians.
Other community and regional facilities currently are in the planning stage for construction in the next several years.
Through its development plans, the Colony seeks to partner with private businesses and with municipal, regional and state governments. One recent example of the latter partnerships is the Colony-funded installation of a new traffic signal system and roadway improvements at the cost of $509,000 on South Virginia and McCabe streets.
The Colony participated in the development of the floodwall and levee along the south bank of the Truckee River, prior to the construction of Wal-Mart on East Second Street in Reno. That undertaking involved the RSIC partnering with the Washoe County Flood Control Project, the Washoe County Public Works Department, the Nevada Department of State Lands, and Wal-Mart.
At the Colony’s expense, the RSIC completed a $1.3 million environmental cleanup of the site with the assistance of a Brownfields Loan, administered by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.
Revenue Sharing
The Colony proposed legislation that will result in the Colony sharing revenue from its Wal-Mart project. The proposal, which was passed unanimously by the Nevada Legislature, will result in the Colony funding the design and construction of a new Northern Nevada Transitional Housing Center for the Nevada Department of Corrections. The Colony will also make annual payments to the Washoe County School District in the future.
The redevelopment of Reno’s East Second Street neighborhood where half of the Colony’s residents live, near Route 395, is another goal of economic development.
The tribe’s residential community is surrounded by industrial land uses. In some instances, the Colony has purchased surrounding parcels which were redeveloped to provide a buffer between the residential and industrial land uses.
For instance, the Wal-Mart site was assembled by purchasing 12 industrial and commercial parcels. By redeveloping the site, and changing the land use to retail, other less desirable land uses were eliminated. Plus, walking paths along the Truckee River’s floodwall and levee were constructed to provide public access to the river.
The Colony’s development program is assisted by various federal incentives and agencies. For example, the Indian Employment Tax Credit is available to non-tribal employers who locate their businesses on Colony lands and hire tribal members. The Indian Accelerated Depreciation Schedule is available to those non-tribal businesses who conduct business on tribal lands.
Sites and Tenants
Each of the Colony’s development sites are comprised of federal land held in trust for tribal benefit. These properties are available on a ground lease basis. The Colony manages four business development sites, is landlord to 20 commercial tenants and operates five Smoke Shops. For more information, please contact Steve Moran, RSIC Director of Business Enterprises and Economic Development.