IFA Convenes Nevada Elected Officials, Franchise Business Leaders for the Open for Opportunity Roadshow
International Franchise Association Convenes Nevada Elected Officials, Franchise Business Leaders for the Open for Opportunity Roadshow
Las Vegas, N.V. – The International Franchise Association (IFA) brought its 2023 Open for Opportunity Roadshow to Nevada this week. The Nevada Roadshow stop included site visits at local franchise businesses and a roundtable discussion with franchisees, local elected officials, and business and community leaders. Conversations centered around how franchising helps strengthen Nevada’s community and workforce and the vital role franchising will play in supporting the newly elected governor’s economic and small business initiatives.
“With abundant opportunities for economic development, Nevada is well-suited for franchising to prosper,” said Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO. “With support from elected officials, franchising can continue to provide one of the greatest pathways to entrepreneurship, allowing someone to go into business for themselves but not by themselves. We’ve brought Open for Opportunity to Nevada to lift up the stories and successes of local franchise businesses across the state, to showcase the positive impact franchising has on every community and ensure policymakers protect the equity franchise owners have built through small business ownership.”
“On the campaign trail and in my first State of the State address, I made a commitment to ensure Nevada is open for business and that my Administration will be a champion for economic development opportunities and entrepreneurial ideas,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “As we work to diversify and strengthen our economy, franchising is an ideal business model. Franchising is a catalyst for job creation, and it promotes workforce development and small business ownership, two pillars of my economic platform.”
“People from diverse backgrounds often face barriers to business ownership that other groups do not—namely access to capital,” said Peter Guzman, Latin Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. “One way to break down these barriers is through the franchise model, which creates an avenue for people from all backgrounds to become business owners, provide generational wealth to their families, and offer upward mobility for their employees.”
“Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Wing Zone continuously rank as two of the best places to work in Las Vegas, a testament to the career advancement opportunities, high-paying wages, and positive culture offered by franchises,” said Ashley Morris, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Wing Zone CEO. “We are proud to be part of the Open for Opportunity Roadshow to share our inspiring stories of the Capriotti’s and Wing Zone franchise family and hope it will help to promote the franchise industry across Nevada.”
Nearly 8,500 local franchise establishments in Nevada provide more than 100,000 local jobs. In 2022, the sector provided $3.1 billion in payroll, generated more than $11.2 billion in economic output, and contributed $4.8 billion to Nevada’s gross state product.
The Open for Opportunity Roadshow wrapped up its second roadshow stop of 2023 in New Jersey earlier in February. Officially launched at the 2022 IFA Annual Convention in San Diego, the Roadshow has also visited South Florida, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Wilmington, DE, Sacramento, San Jose, Virginia, Maryland, and the Twin Cities.
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 775,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.2 million direct jobs, $787.7 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.