TONOPAH -- A $500,000 grant application to extend utilities to a planned industrial area in Pahrump was approved by Nye County Commissioners last week.

Pahrump would be responsible for paying up to 10 percent of the cost. The application was sent to the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

The project involves extending power lines, roads, water and sewer lines to property at Charleston Park and Powerline Road for an industrial area.

Pahrump doesn't have an established industrial park, but much of the area east of Highway 160 north of Charleston Park Avenue has been used by industrial properties.

Charleston Powerline LLC would develop the property for business and industrial use under the plan. The company has offered to pay up to a 20 percent match of the grant costs, or up to $100,000.

Pahrump Town Manager Dave Richards told county commissioners he doesn't have a clear estimate of how much it will cost to extend infrastructure to that site, but it will likely exceed the cost of the grant. The town was unable to get a firm estimate because of the time constraints in applying for the grant.

Nye County Commissioner Patricia Cox said the Economic Development Authority of Esmeralda and Nye counties declined to pursue the project for that reason.

Richards told commissioners the infrastructure will be extended to the general location on the public right-of-way and will accommodate six to eight property owners in addition to the company making the grant match.

Cox questioned estimates that 300 jobs could be created along with up to $20 million in investments, without submitting a site plan for the properties.

"The estimate of jobs created was based on contact we had with businesses that expressed an interest in locating at that site," Richards said.

The town commissioned a management assistance partnership study at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It identified the potential for attracting small manufacturers to the community. Marketing material was developed and a direct mail campaign targeted California manufacturers.

The town's grant application states the campaign resulted in a good response from companies returning post cards requesting additional information. A lack of improved areas for industrial development, however, has been an obstacle for companies wanting to relocate to Pahrump. Parcels on the property identified for development range from one to 20 acres.

Town officials hope to award a contract for construction of the infrastructure by March 1, 2007, with completion by June 30, 2007.

Wulfenstein Development has a request for a zone change for a truss manufacturing business on property within that general area on Basin Avenue and Panorama Road, which will be heard at the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission meeting today.