Victory Logistics District Expansion Poised to Transform Northern Nevada 

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

Victory Logistics District may be located in Fernley, but the project was hailed last Friday as a hub of industrial development and innovation for all of northern Nevada during a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the project. 

Phase I of the project was recently completed, and Evan Slavik, President and CEO of Mark IV Capital, said the second phase will include the grading of 325 acres and the construction of a network of roadways and utility systems that will provide essential access and services to 1,600 acres of land. 

“This infrastructure will allow the development of new industrial, manufacturing, and data center projects that will continue to accelerate the growth of this region, bring thousands of jobs to the city of Fernley, and make Victory Logistics District the hub of industrial development in northern Nevada,” Slavik said. 

Tom Burns, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, called the project “a significant milestone in Nevada’s economic development.” 

“Fernley is emerging as the epicenter of the state’s next economic boom, with Victory Logistics at the heart,” Burns said. “We are continuing to witness the transformation of northern Nevada into a thriving industrial center.” 

Governor Joe Lombardo said his goal when he became governor was economic diversity and development, along with ensuring a quality of life that allows Nevada residents the opportunity for success. 

“This is exactly what I was talking about,” Lombardo said. 

Lombardo said when representatives of Mark IV first explained what they were trying to accomplish at the Victory Logistics District, he couldn’t visualize it. 

“A lot of times when you’re in government or a head of government, a lot of ideas are presented to you through the process, but very rarely do they come to fruition,” Lombardo said. “Obviously, Mark IV and Victory have the execution down pat.” 

Congressman Mark Amodei said the idea of making western Nevada a center of industry dates back to when Bob Miller was governor in the 1990s. 

“It’s evolved in those decades, but nonetheless, here you are. The Victory story continues for Northern Nevada Development Authority, growing not only well-paying jobs but also staying on the cutting edge of technology, responsible use of resources— all those things that people talk about a lot.” 

Slavik said that in Phase I of the project, Mark IV developed 450 acres of land for speculative and build-to-suit industrial and manufacturing projects, ranging in size from 150,000 square feet to 1.75 million square feet. He said 100 of those acres are already spoken for. 

“They will be the home of two new, exciting projects in the food service industry, which will be announced in the coming months,” he said. “Both companies will take advantage of the onsite rail system that will soon be built here at Victory Logistics District.” 

He added that Mark IV is also working on numerous data center opportunities that they hope to announce soon. 

Slavik also announced the founding of the Northern Nevada Advanced Materials Center of Excellence, which will focus on the research and development of disruptive technologies in sectors including energy, aerospace, material science, automotive, and computer science, as well as workforce development. Disruptive technology is an innovation that changes how people, businesses, and industries operate. 

Slavik said it will be developed in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the University of Nevada-Reno, Western Nevada College, the Nevada Department of Employment and Rehabilitation, and the Lyon County School District. 

“Victory Logistics District and Fernley, Nevada, are poised to become the center of innovation, distribution, manufacturing, and data centers in the northern Nevada region and the western United States,” he said. 

During the ceremony, Mark IV also presented two $5,000 checks to Horsemanship for Heroes and PTSD Now, two organizations that provide services and support for local veterans. 

Following the ceremony, Rick Nelsen, Senior Vice President of Northern Nevada for Mark IV Capital, said the project is going to be transformative for the city of Fernley. 

“We are planning on doing a community outreach once this is well underway because it’s going to make a big difference, and people are going to see it,” he said. 

Nelsen said the entire Victory Logistics District project will double Fernley’s population in 15 years to about 50,000. 

“So we want to bring amenities here that please the city, and we want to bring industry here that allows jobs,” he said. “I go to all the council meetings, and I listen to the requirements of the citizens. They want better schools, they want other amenities, they’d like a park, they want better roads. This is a way to do that.” 

Nelsen said the project will include a master-planned residential and commercial community north of Interstate 80, with construction expected to start in 2026. 

A key part of the project is connecting Interstate 80 and U.S. 50 via the Nevada Pacific Parkway. 

“In 2026 and 2027, you’ll see the bridge go in to 50, and you’ll begin to see vertical construction coming up on those properties to the south,” Nelsen said. “The properties we’re working on now, we’re looking at 2028. While it seems a long time away, it’s a short timeline.” 

Nelsen said for Fernley residents, this means more jobs, better wages, improved schools, increased fire and police protection, and other amenities the community has been asking for. 

“For the average citizen in Fernley, I would say, ask questions,” he said. “We’re not shy in telling you the answers. In the beginning, it was daunting. It’s like, ‘Are you really going to do that?’ Well, you can see here today that we’re really going to do that.”