In a model believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday has approved a partnership with the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) to establish a college presence at Las Vegas City Hall. The partnership is designed to create training and educational opportunities for residents, particularly in the downtown area, and to help create a trained workforce that can increase the city’s opportunities for economic development and diversification.

The Las Vegas City Council today approved an agreement with CSN to provide half of the third floor of City Hall for 20 full-time employees in the college’s Division of Workforce & Economic Development. CSN is responsible for $5,000 in rent per month, which covers utilities, maintenance, parking and initial support in setting up IT systems.  

CSN will develop workforce training and academic courses for city employees and residents, targeting the downtown community due to its proximity to City Hall. CSN will also offer consulting services to businesses interested in coming to Las Vegas, to develop specific programs and certificate programs to meet their needs for a particular workforce, such as those in the healthcare industry. Classes will be offered at Las Vegas City Hall in the evenings and weekends. They are expected to begin in time for the fall semester.

This is one of several efforts that the mayor and other council members have been working on to enhance education in our community, including partnerships with UNLV and the Clark County School District. In addition, this is the second partnership between the city and CSN that is a first of its kind in the nation. The city of Las Vegas Fire Department/CSN Educational Center at the Charleston campus is the first municipal fire house to be located on a college campus in a college learning facility. Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian was a driving force behind that partnership, which also involves Bonanza High School students.

“We know from talking to business owners that they need an educated workforce to succeed,” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman said. “What better way for the city to help businesses than by partnering with CSN to offer educational opportunities for residents so that they can thrive and our businesses can thrive as well.”

City Councilman Bob Coffin, who represents this area of Ward 3, added, “This is a true win-win for the community. This partnership will help increase educational opportunities for residents and help increase the economic development in the downtown area. The city values education and this partnership will make our community more attractive for businesses looking to come to the downtown area by enhancing the skills of our constituents through training programs and other academic opportunities.”

The CSN Division of Workforce & Economic Development is the non-credit, self-supporting arm of the college that develops customized training programs to meet the needs of Southern Nevada’s employers and workforce. In addition, the entrepreneurial division serves to provide residents with new career skills, adult education (GED and ESL), personal enrichment and workforce training. The partnership with the city helps CSN with its mission to ensure access to quality education throughout Southern Nevada.

“Bringing CSN to downtown Las Vegas will add to this dynamic community,” said Dr. Darren Divine, CSN’s vice president of Academic Affairs. “Residents can now work, live, play and learn in this burgeoning and diverse microcosm of Las Vegas.”  

For more information, please contact: Las Vegas City Hall, (702)-229-6011