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Friday, April 24, 2026 at 5:15 AM

60,000-acre project & nanotechnology campus coming to Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center

60,000-acre project & nanotechnology campus coming to Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center
By Ray Hagar, Nevada Newsmakers

A nanotechnology campus is coming to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center and it could help change the culture of Northern Nevada, TRIC partner-broker Lance Gilman said on Nevada Newsmakers.

He also said another project coming to the industrial park will encompass 60,000 acres.

That, by far, would be the largest facility in the 104,000-square-acre industrial park just east of the Reno-Sparks area. For example, the Tesla gigafactory, considered a massive construction project, sits on a 3,000-acre site and 2,000 acres of that includes hilly land for a buffer zone that is not developed.

The Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, mostly in Storey County, has been billed as a largest industrial park in the North America.

Gilman's latest mega-development is the size of a small city. The 60,000 acres is about 94 square miles. Carson City, Nevada's capital city, is about 157 square miles.

"It is incredible and it will close right after the first of the year," said Gilman of the 60,000-acre project.

Veteran Nevadan Journalist Ray Hagar is known for fair and tough reporting and invigorating commentary.


Gilman could not be more specific about the 60,000-acre project or the nanotechnology project because of agreements with companies. He described the nanotechnology project as 1,200 acres.

"I believe what I can tell you is they have roots in Stanford and Silicon Valley, from Dubai and I'll just say they are a nano-project technology," Gilman said. "We are talking about a 1,200-acre research and development campus focused on nanotechnology."

Webster's defines nanotechnology as "the science of manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale especially to build microscopic devices (such as robots)."

The nanotechnology site will be a boon to scientific research at the nearby University of Nevada, Reno, Gilman said.

"With Google and Tesla and Switch (at TRIC) and then you add in a nanotechnology campus, we are changing the entire culture of Northern Nevada," Gilman said. "Our universities are going to bloom. Some of the things that are coming for our children and grandchildren are unimaginable."

Nanotechnology adds strength to construction materials like concrete and steel. It is also being used by U.S. military to develop more-efficient batteries, more-powerful fuel cells, more-receptive solar cells and more-affordable titanium metal, according to Military & Aerospace Electronics website. The U.S. military is also developing a thin, lightweight and bullit-proof body suit for soldiers through nanotechnology, according to Military & Aerospace Electronics.

"Nano products are a product that are multiple times stronger than steel and very lightweight and thin," Gilman said. "They have military applications. They have commercial applications."

Buildings can be more massive with nanotechnology, Gilman said.

"One of the things that was explained to me was if you want to know about nanotechnology, skyscrapers are limited by the weight the elevator can be pulled by the cables. So let's say that is 100 stories. Nano technologies can triple the pull weight of the elevators."

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Comment author: Jack & Nancy CookComment text: Wonderful man. Created a precious family with Linda. Will always respect and admire his contribution to teaching at FHS.Comment publication date: 4/18/26, 10:27 AMComment source: Howard David JacksonComment author: JeffDickersonComment text: Very well reported, even though our motion was denied.Comment publication date: 4/15/26, 11:05 AMComment source: Judge allows Fernley City Council to proceed with corrective agenda item in Lau expulsion caseComment author: Todd fossumComment text: Hi my name is todd fossum i'm clarence's stepson, I was wondering if he had any siblings. I think he said he had a sister that just survived cancer. If she can get ahold of me or any buddy, my number is 916. 3 4 3 1 1 7 7.Thank you have a blessed dayComment publication date: 1/16/26, 4:33 PMComment source: Clarence L Shields C Comment author: Carl HagenComment text: So just curious, what is the point of a franchise agreement if it is not exclusive?Comment publication date: 12/15/25, 4:18 PMComment source: Council approves non-exclusive franchise agreement for waste collection C Comment author: Christine S GleasonComment text: In the first photo, the woman in the middle, wearing the black shirt, is SaraH Jean Gleason. She is not an FHS Leadership Student but is the person who is responsible (with the help of her father) for starting the Fernley Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2011. She attended this year's dinner while home from Arizona State University, where she is working on her PhD.Comment publication date: 12/8/25, 8:52 PMComment source: About 400 meals served at Community Thanksgiving DinnerComment author: SusanComment text: RIP Sean. Prayers to the family, sorry for your loss.Comment publication date: 9/25/25, 1:11 PMComment source: Sean Everett Turner
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