Sparks, NV - A company in Sparks is looking to hire about 100 workers. Most are science-based, well-paying jobs. In this economy, this isn't the kind of news we hear often and that's why it's getting a lot of attention.

"At NOW Foods, our slogan is going to be 'You're hired!'" says Al Powers, CEO of NOW Foods Group.

It's the kind of announcement that gets people excited here in Northern Nevada: an established company is expanding and will be looking for workers to fill its building in Sparks.

Last August, NOW Foods broke ground at an empty lot on Vista Boulevard, near I-80. The company, which manufactures and distributes health foods and nutritional supplements, originally planned to hire 10 people to support its existing distribution operations. But business has been so good...

"We've decided to expand our manufacturing operations here," says Jim Emme, president of NOW Foods.

That's right. This building - that's still under construction in Sparks - will serve as a manufacturing and distribution center. Which means the company will be looking to hire dozens of highly-educated researchers.

"It will involve chemists, micro-biologists, quality control scientists, and technicians," says Emme. "So it will be a great opportunity for people."

So why is this company able to expand in this economy? Executives point to a few factors. They say the health food industry is booming. Also, with the University of Nevada so close, NOW Foods will have access to top scientific minds. And - they say Nevada is business-friendly.

For Nevada's governor - who's been pushing that point - it's validation.

"It's just a great success story. I'm proud to have them here," says Governor Brian Sandoval. He says this is what he imagined when he challenged the state to create 50,000 jobs by 2014.

And what better place to celebrate than in the town he grew up in.

"It means 100 Nevadans are going to get jobs here. High-paying jobs. Scientific jobs. As I said, it's just a great success story and we want to build on this," says Governor Sandoval.

NOW Foods hopes to have construction completed on the Vista Boulevard building next month. That's why they'll also start looking to hire and have those 100 positions filled by the first quarter of 2013.