Bringing Opportunities Within Reach

Rural Development’s Advocate for the People of Rural Nevada

By Charlene Guzman, USDA Rural Development, Office of External Affairs

Nevada native and USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad, M.S. is all too familiar with the challenges facing rural Nevadans, whose homes, families, and livelihoods depend on the strategic stewardship of the state’s abundant natural resources. He has spent much of his career striking a balance between preserving Nevada’s stunning landscape and finding smart ways to promote economic development in the state he calls home. As a former senior advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and an expert in land use policy, Lucas has made it his mission to advocate for Nevada’s greatest natural resource, its rural people.

At first glance, Nevada may seem like a state full of contradictions. The landscape features freezing, snow-capped mountain peaks, and blistering, arid deserts. Each year, the state’s tourism industry generates billions in revenue. Still, Nevada remains one of the nation's poorest states, with roughly 14.1% of the population living below the poverty line, according to the 2021 U.S. census. Furthermore, its expansive land mass makes Nevada the 7th largest state in the country, but it’s one of the most sparsely populated, with roughly 85% of the land owned and managed by the federal government.

Although much of Nevada’s population resides in the bustling city centers of Las Vegas and Reno, a closer examination of the state will reveal smaller, vibrant towns scattered among 5.8 million acres of farmland, where alfalfa hay, potatoes, and barley crops are as plentiful as the silvery gray sagebrush dotting the landscape. Cattle production is also an essential component of the state’s economy. Lucas knows firsthand the immeasurable value of Nevada’s rural families, small businesses, and agricultural producers whose products ship worldwide.

Yet, Lucas believes one of the challenges facing rural Nevadans is that urban areas typically receive a majority of state resources because of population density. In his role as RD State Director, Lucas champions Nevada’s rural people and places by working to develop key relationships between federal, state, and local entities. In a state where deep mistrust of the government creates an additional barrier, outreach to rural communities is even more critical.

Last year, this work proved fruitful as the Biden-Harris Administration expanded the Rural Partners Network (RPN) to communities in Nevada. RPN is an all-of-government program that partners with rural people to access resources and funding to create local jobs, build infrastructure, and support long-term economic stability on their terms. Expanding RPN to Nevada will ensure that these smaller, rural communities that have been historically overlooked will now have a chance at receiving their fair share of federal resources.

Funding from the Inflation Reduction Act has also demonstrated the Administration’s commitment to invest in renewable energy and has given rise to programs like Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) and the New Empowering Rural America Program (New ERA). Nevada takes advantage of technologies like hydropower, but climate change has had significant impacts. Diminishing water levels at Lake Mead, the large reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam, means less power. Compounding the problem, more than half of the hydroelectric power generated goes to California, leaving rural Nevadans vulnerable to blackouts in extreme weather. Programs like PACE and New Era support renewable energy projects and lower energy costs for Nevada farms, families, and small businesses.

Lucas and the local RD staff travel throughout the state to explain to local and Tribal communities how the more than 70 USDA Rural Development programs can play a critical role in improving the lives of rural Nevadans. As the RD State Director, part of his mission is to connect rural Nevadans with the technical assistance needed to craft competitive applications to take advantage of these programs. Lucas sees technical assistance as a game-changer to help bridge the gap between rural people's vision for their communities and the access to government funding to make those dreams a reality.

The City of Carlin is an excellent example of how these outreach efforts are transforming rural Nevada. Last month, the city received a $3.2 million loan for essential repairs to its wastewater treatment facility. These improvements are the first in nearly 30 years and mean clean watersheds for thousands of people, directly impacting the health and well-being of this community.

The City of Lovelock in Pershing County is another example of how RD investments impact rural Nevadans' lives. Recently, Uprise LLC received a $27.1 million ReConnect Program grant to connect almost 5,000 people, 130 businesses, 22 farms, and seven public schools to high-speed internet. Connectivity takes on new meaning in a state where towns exist hours apart. High-speed internet can change how patients access healthcare, students attend school, and businesses grow.

As RD’s Nevada State Director, Lucas is proud to advocate for the rural people and communities of his home state. Whether it’s partnering with a community to upgrade their wastewater systems or championing the programs that provide affordable high-speed internet access, Lucas and the Nevada RD staff work tirelessly each day to help bring new opportunities within reach and keep rural Nevadans and economies prepared for the future.

?