Caliente, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) visited Eureka, White Pine, and Lincoln Counties this week to highlight the growth of local small businesses and outdoor recreation in rural Nevada. During her visit, she met with local entrepreneurs, community leaders, educators, and stakeholders to discuss her work to support rural communities across Nevada.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I’m working to jumpstart American entrepreneurship and support small businesses in rural Nevada,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “From storefronts in Eureka to schools and festivals Ely and Caliente, I’ve seen how our local businesses and communities are growing, and I’ll keep fighting to ensure working families in all corners of Nevada get the resources they need.”
In Eureka, Senator Cortez Masto stopped at Afterlife Antiques & Oddities, where she discussed her ongoing work to secure critical resources for rural small business owners—including her bipartisan legislation to make it easier to start and grow a new business, which will help create more good-paying jobs.
Senator Cortez Masto joined the Great Basin Astronomy Festival in the Great Basin National Park, the premier stargazing event in Nevada. Cortez Masto is a strong supporter of Nevada’s public lands, and is championing federal investments in tourism to help support rural economies and create new opportunities for local outdoor recreation.
In Ely, Senator Cortez Masto visited Ely Learning Bridget Charter School to meet with the Superintendents of both the Ely Charter School District and the White Pine County School District, as well as local teachers and administrators. Cortez Masto worked to pass numerous provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deliver more support to help Nevada’s rural schools connect to broadband, increase access to mental health in rural schools, and upgrade infrastructure.
In Ely, Senator Cortez Masto also joined White Pine Chamber of Commerce CEO Shadrach Robertson, and local business owners and community leaders for a tour of Ely’s downtown district and discussions on her work to support local businesses. She also highlighted her work protecting good-paying mining jobs and paving the way for Nevada to power the clean energy economy. Cortez Masto has secured millions in federal funding for infrastructure and economic development in Ely – including $29 million to support Ely’s downtown Infrastructure and Complete Streets project and almost $9 million this year in community development funding to help the city upgrade its water system and support first responders.
Senator Cortez Masto visited Caliente and talked to volunteers about Nevada’s vibrant outdoor recreation economy ahead of the 5th Annual Caliente Mountain Bike Fest. This annual festival brings riders to Caliente to enjoy all Nevada’s outdoor spaces have to offer.
Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for Nevada’s rural communities, working across the aisle to deliver for families. She is leading legislation to support key tourism and outdoor industries in every corner of Nevada through economic development, and she’s fighting to pass her bipartisan bill to cut red tape for small businesses—including those in rural areas. She also ensured rural Nevada communities have better access to federal funds and services through the Rural Partners Network. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she secured funding for rural schools and over $460 million for broadband. She also made sure the law included her legislation to help rural counties with internet access at local schools and streamline federal broadband funding to improve internet access for rural areas.
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