VIDEO: First-look preview of "Robbin' the Hood", documentary film.

When it comes to the high tech agricultural workforce of tomorrow, investors are looking for talent to fill the jobs required to run their advanced growing facilities. The Nevada’s Governor’s office of economic development released a document that showed a way to diversify the economy, strengthen the education system, and keep hundreds of millions of dollars from leaving the state. The answer was growing food in farms indoors. A blueprint for this was created and many state, regional, and local plans were initiated. One of a kind pilot projects were conceptualized and there was one that stood out from the rest. This was the North Las Vegas Urban Center for Advanced Agricultural Technologies (UCAAT), and it was perfect and on track to pioneering the development of an upgraded food system in the region. At least until it was dismantled right as it was producing the most unique and successful pilot program results in Southern Nevada’s history relating to food access and food security. It was redefining the old ways of urban agriculture and adding technology to the equation.

Now Nevada could produce food, create jobs, and have less reliance on imported food which supports sustainability and the environment. There was only one problem that appeared as the project was being ran, and that was money. The UCAAT brought in lots and lots of money, with the promise of bringing in tons more. What had started out as a workforce and community education project that grew local food for everyone, turned into a project that opened the flood gates to government waste and corruption. The residents became furious as this was not the first time that a project that was for the people of the North Las Vegas urban core turned into a federally funded feeding frenzy. This had corrupted where the people lived and it was all made possible by the direct actions of the Community Services and Engagement department within their city government.

The actual community felt as if they had no power or voice to tell their story, so we gave them one. State law required the reporting of urban agricultural activities and results as they will impact food security for the state. It was also state law that allowed the development of the UCAAT project on land that was not zoned for agricultural activity. So the video above is a preview of a small portion of the corruption that was happening and effecting the successful development of the future of Southern Nevada’s food resources.