Sometimes the best stories don’t come from politicians. They come from everyday people who refuse to quit. That’s exactly what happened in Nevada.
Despite brutal COVID shutdowns, Nevada now ranks among the fastest-growing states in America for small businesses. And that’s not spin.
It comes straight from a new white paper by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Business and Economic Research.
Governor Joe Lombardo shared the findings on X, pointing to Nevada’s comeback after the pandemic. The numbers back him up.
When I became Governor, our state was burdened by overextended mandates that cost jobs and opportunities.
We changed course on Day 1 by reopening our state and making Nevada open for business again.
Today, we’re leading the nation in post-pandemic small business growth. Our job… pic.twitter.com/1Gj7Y4cyT1
— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) February 23, 2026
According to the UNLV Center for Business and Economic Research, Nevada ranked third in the nation for growth in employer businesses per 1,000 residents between 2019 and 2022.
It also ranked 11th for non-employer firms like sole proprietors and gig workers. That’s a big jump for a state that shut down its casinos for 78 days in 2020.
Let that sink in.
Business filings spiked in 2020 and hit their highest level since 2006 by 2021. Even more impressive, closures stayed flat, unlike during the Great Recession. About 40 percent of all businesses currently operating in Nevada were created after COVID began.
That’s not government recovery. That’s Nevadans rolling up their sleeves.
Small businesses now account for 45 percent of Nevada’s private-sector jobs, up from 42.8 percent before the pandemic. In 2022 alone, they added 54,520 jobs, a 10.4 percent increase.
That growth beat the national average. Micro-businesses with just one to five employees drove much of it.
Healthcare, professional services, real estate, and transportation led the way, according to reporting by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
In plain terms, when traditional jobs dried up, Nevadans didn’t sit around waiting for government help. They started businesses. They picked up side hustles. They figured it out.
The UNLV report points to several reasons.
Tourism collapsed, pushing workers toward self-employment. Online platforms like Uber and Airbnb made it easier to start earning fast. Federal programs like PPP loans helped some get off the ground.
Nevada’s lack of a state income tax also made it easier to take a risk.
A separate report from Registered Agents, Inc. ranked Nevada in the top five states for year-over-year new business formations, showing a 13 percent jump from January 2025 to January 2026.
One example highlighted in the Review-Journal is X2L BIO, a Las Vegas sports tech startup launched in 2024. It offers remote fitness testing and employs part-time staff and local physicians.
That’s innovation happening right here at home.
Now, critics argue the boom isn’t because of policy. They say it’s mostly driven by pandemic disruption and national trends. And the UNLV report doesn’t credit specific political actions.
Fair enough. But here’s the thing.
Nevada outperformed most of the country on a per-person basis. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because people were allowed to reopen, rebuild, and take chances.
This is what conservative economics looks like in real life.
Lower taxes. Fewer barriers. Personal responsibility. Not endless programs. Not bureaucratic micromanagement. Just neighbors helping neighbors and families betting on themselves.
Yes, Nevada still faces challenges. Housing costs are high. Inflation hurts. Tourism remains vulnerable. But the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. And that matters.
Because small businesses don’t just create jobs. They create communities. They sponsor Little League teams. They hire local kids. They keep money circulating close to home.
Government didn’t build this recovery. Nevadans did.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
