From the Reno Gazette-Journal:
There are two ways to look at Lance Gilman of Storey County, Nev.,
the businessman whose Reno-area industrial center is set to house Tesla's massive gigafactory.
To
some, he is a major player when it comes to economic development in
Nevada, a state that is still clawing its way out of a recession. To
others, Gilman is also seen as a flesh peddler — he's owner of the
famous Mustang Ranch brothel, legally operated in Storey County just
east of Reno.
INSIDE THE DEAL: $1.25 billion in tax breaks
Gilman
is the principal and director of the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center,
billed as the largest industrial park in the world. As Storey County
Manager Pat Whitten put it, Gilman is "the lead economic engine for
Northern Nevada."
Besides Tesla, he's lured major companies to his
park, which has become a cash cow of tiny Storey County. The park is
located just outside the county limits of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan
area and includes companies such as Kal-Kan, Wal-Mart, Dell Computers
and Toys R Us. The industrial park is next to coast-to-coast interstate
highway and rail systems, so it sells itself. Yet Gilman closes the
deals.
BIG NUMBERS: The Tesla gigafactory, the land it will sit on
He
is also an integral part of the negotiations to bring Tesla Motors' $5
billion gigifactory project to the industrial park he represents.
Meanwhile,
Gilman got into the brothel business about a decade ago with his Wild
Horse Canyon Ranch brothel. He later bought the Mustang Ranch, which was
previously owned by the notorious Joe Conforte — who escaped to Brazil
to avoid federal prosecution for tax evasion.
When the Mustang
re-opened under Gilman's ownership in 2007, Conforte appeared via live
video feed at a grand opening celebration to give a few words and pass
the mantle off to Gilman.
When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
told the Nevada Legislature in 2011 it was time to ban legal
prostitution in Nevada, he did not mention Gilman by name, but it was
apparent who he was speaking about.
After that speech, Gilman said
he was the target of the majority leader's concerns over businesses not
coming to Nevada because of brothels, but added those concerns were
overstated.
"I just read the speech and I am mystified at that
quote," Gilman said back in 2011. "It made it appear he is on the attack
on Storey County and TRI."
Gilman carries clout for another
reason: he's one of three Storey County commissioners, although some
residents in the county seat of Virginia City will tell you Gilman
doesn't really live in the county....MORE
HT:
VentureBeat
