Nevada Lobbyist Doubles Down

A Carson City lobbyist may have bit off more than he should have when he brought together Nevada and technology giant, Apple, Inc.

Greg Ferraro represented Apple, while his company, Ferraro Group, has a contract with Nevada’s Governor’s Office of Economic Development, which inked the agreement. Ferraro’s long-standing friendship with Governor Brian Sandoval is also being called into question over the arrangement.

A state board approved a $200-an-hour contract with the Ferraro Group for public relations and communications in 2009, before Sandoval’s election as governor. The contract, extended in 2011 for another two years, caps out at $180,000.

The negotiations between Nevada and Apple netted the company $89 million in tax breaks. Furthermore, Apple is eligible for up to 12 years of reduced sales taxes and 30 years of property tax abatements.

For receipt of those tax breaks, Apple promised a $1 billion investment — mostly in computer servers — which will not manufactured in the state.  The company also agreed to hire 35 people full-time and another 200 contractors at its Reno facility.

Getting Apple to come to Northern Nevada and promoting the state as “a good place to do business,” were the goals officials had in mind when they launched this venture. So far, the second goal “has yet to pan out,” as they would say along the Comstock.

Meanwhile, Ferraro, who did not take direct part in the negotiations, says he doesn’t believe his relationship with both sides presents a conflict. It does though, double his pay out.