Season 5- Episode 21: Dina Babsky Artwork

WC Podcast

Southern Nevada’s counties of Clark, Nye, Lincoln and Esmeralda are aligning workforce development to their economic development strategies in order to meet the needs of business and industry. Listen to different stakeholders and learn how their efforts are helping cities like Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City remain an attractive place to do business.

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WC Podcast

Season 5- Episode 21: Dina Babsky

August 19, 2025 • Workforce Connections

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we sit down with Dina Babsky, Director of Economic and Urban Development for the City of Las Vegas, to hear her inspiring journey and learn about the exciting projects shaping the city’s future.

Born in Uzbekistan, Dina came to the U.S. at age 15 through the Department of State’s Future Leaders Exchange Program. She spent a year in Wolf City, Texas, returned home to finish high school, and later came back to earn her bachelor’s in business administration from Texas A&M University Commerce. After starting her career in Texas as a sales service manager for a corrugated box manufacturer, she eventually moved to Las Vegas in 2012. There, she earned a master’s in management information systems from UNLV and worked for the City of Henderson before joining the City of Las Vegas in 2017. Her previous role managing the city’s Strategic Initiatives Office paved the way to her current position, where she leads redevelopment, business attraction, and economic diversification efforts.

Dina shares her passion for seeing projects come to life, from small neighborhood businesses to large-scale developments like the new high-rise residential tower downtown. She discusses the city’s priorities of public safety, healthcare, and economic diversification, highlighting initiatives in the medical district, innovation hubs, and programs that support entrepreneurs with grants, security upgrades, and visual improvements. She also offers a preview of the upcoming Civic Center opening and ribbon-cutting on September 4th, along with future restaurant openings and public spaces designed to foster community engagement.

Outside of work, Dina enjoys traveling, karaoke, playing piano, and spending time with her husband, three sons, and stepdaughter. Her advice to young people: Don’t be afraid to change direction if a job isn’t fulfilling. Careers can take many turns before you find the right fit. Keep going, stay open to opportunities, and don’t be afraid to start over.

City of Las Vegas-Business Resources:
https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Business