By John Cannito, President and CEO, The PENTA Building Group.
I remember when I first came to Las Vegas, my eyes set on opportunity. I wanted to make a little money, gain some experience and eventually move on to other things. Get in, get out. Two years, tops.
That was 24 years ago.
Over more than two decades, I’ve learned that my experience is hardly unique. People come to Las Vegas looking for opportunity and end up discovering there is much more here than what they originally expected. They build careers, start and raise families and become part of a community that, despite how much it’s expanded, can still feel like one of the smallest big towns in the U.S.
As Southern Nevada continues to grow and diversify its economy, that sense of community and the region’s willingness to invest in it will become increasingly important to its success.
Organizations like the LVGEA have worked for years to diversify the economy and bring more high quality jobs to Southern Nevada. Gaming and hospitality remain fundamental, but today the opportunities available here extend well beyond the Strip.
LVGEA’s new 2026–2029 Strategic Plan builds on that progress, with a focus on higher-wage industries, infrastructure readiness and long-term competitiveness. It also recognizes that sustainable growth requires the workforce and community to support it.
As more companies, workers and families make Southern Nevada home, the region has another responsibility. The community surrounding that growing economy has to grow along with it.
Businesses considering Southern Nevada are looking at tax structures, available land and the cost of doing business. But the people behind those businesses are also looking at the community. They want good schools for their children, access to quality healthcare and confidence that this is a place where their families can thrive.
Those needs are not new. Anyone who has lived in Las Vegas long enough has heard concerns about the region’s schools and healthcare. What is changing is the level of investment underway to address them.
At The PENTA Building Group, that investment can be seen firsthand through the projects taking shape across the valley.
Projects underway across education and healthcare are creating infrastructure Southern Nevada will rely on for decades. The planned Intermountain Health children’s hospital, being built by The PENTA Building Group and Jacobsen Construction as a joint venture, represents a major investment in pediatric care for local families. PENTA’s work with the Clark County School District and Roseman University of Health Sciences reflects that same commitment to building the facilities needed to educate, care for and support the next generation.
These projects may look very different from the resorts and hospitality developments that helped build Las Vegas, but they are connected to the same economic story.
A rising tide floats all boats. As the economy becomes more diverse, Southern Nevada attracts more businesses, workers and families. That creates greater demand for schools, healthcare and infrastructure. Those investments, in turn, help make the region more competitive when the next company considers moving or expanding here.
Construction sits at the center of that cycle because eventually economic development has to become tangible. A new employer needs a facility. A growing neighborhood needs a school. A growing population needs hospitals, medical offices and other services.
Building those projects is not getting any easier. Development costs remain high, demand for skilled labor is strong and procurement of key materials and equipment can create significant challenges for schedules and budgets. In that environment, relationships and local knowledge matter. PENTA has been part of Southern Nevada for more than 25 years. Its employees, trade partners and their families are part of the same community these investments are intended to serve.
That connection extends beyond construction. Through PENTA CARES, the company’s community outreach and philanthropic program, employees have another way to support the communities where they live and work. Las Vegas has long been a generous community, and when there is a need, people have a way of showing up for one another.
Ultimately, buildings alone don’t make a great city. People do.
But if Southern Nevada wants to continue attracting great people and great companies, it has to keep building the community they need around them. Economic diversification creates that opportunity. Continued investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure can help ensure that the region’s growth translates into a stronger community and better quality of life for the people who call Las Vegas home.
I came here expecting to stay for two years. More than two decades later, I understand why so many people come to Las Vegas and decide to stay.
The work now is making sure the next generation has even more reasons to do the same.
