We all watch the news on television or read about current affairs in newspapers or in some digital format. Like many of you, I find a lot of it depressing, and sometimes I want to give up watching the news altogether. Add to that the animus and acrimony of today’s political climate, and all the negativity can cause us to forget what we have to be grateful for in this great country of ours.

The United States is the envy of the world, not only because of our economy and our standard of living, but also because of the freedoms we enjoy, our right to free speech, our ability to elect our government officials, and all the protections afforded by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We often take these things for granted instead of appreciating them every day, no matter how unsettled things may seem at the moment. 

Here in Nevada, we should all be thankful that our economy has rebounded from the recession and is doing great. Our total employment grew by 3.2 percent from September 2018 to September 2019, which is the highest growth rate in the country. The unemployment rate has been steadily decreasing, and was only 4.1 percent in October. More than 1,700 new businesses were created in Nevada from Q2 2018 to Q2 this year. Our strong economy has attracted investment and development in many sectors, from tourism and retail to technology. 

I encourage each of you during this holiday season to take time to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for: our families and friends, our standard of living, and the great state and country in which we live. While we celebrate only one official Thanksgiving Day each year, I’d like to encourage you all to practice thankfulness each day – not only during the holidays, but all year round. 

Regards,

Dallas Haun

Chairman

Nevada State Bank