RENO, NV -- The French Gourmet food plant will be supplying Reno with pastries from their new Sparks location.  The company opened its high tech factory on Thursday with a traditional Hawaiian blessing, hula dancers and music. But they have been manufacturing frozen pastries for nearly 30 years to the food service industry, and just expanded to northern Nevada. 

CEO, Patrick Novak, says he is proud to be a part of our community.  “It was it a decision between Southern Nevada or Northern and we prefer Northern, it was better for logistic. People are more genuine here and actually very nice, very much like Hawaii. And we like that, we like that feeling very much,” Novak said.

Governor Brian Sandoval personally welcomed the new company today, and tells us this sets an example for others looking to open their business out here.  “Globally we can distribute and again we have a great labor force. The cost of rent here is very reasonable, the cost of power here is reasonable. For him this move was a win, and I think that’s symbolic of Northern Nevada being the place to do business,” Sandoval said.  

One reason for that may be the “Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.” Under CEO, Mike Kazmierski, the organization has helped more than half dozen businesses, including the French Gourmet, get their doors open this year. He believes our very business friendly climate is a big motivator.  “So what we’re finding as we help companies decide to come here, then the next step is how do you get up and running so you’re affective. And that second part is fairly easy now because of the available work force and the willingness of government to work with the companies,” Kazmierski said.

Kazmierski says right now small businesses are in a growth mode and large businesses are also hiring.