LAS VEGAS -- The U.S. labor secretary was in Las Vegas Thursday.

During her visit, Hilda Solis toured Nevada Partners and The Culinary Training Academy and shared her insights on the local economy.

She said she knows the dismal statistics in the Valley and that unemployment and foreclosure rates are among the highest in the nation.

Despite all that, the secretary said she is optimistic.

She toured two facilities that offer employment training and development programs for both at-risk youth and adults seeking better jobs, or any job at all.

Nevada is benefiting from $1.5 billion in stimulus money, which goes to unemployment benefits and programs like Nevada Partners and The Culinary Training Academy.

The secretary said the Valley should be well-positioned for an economic comeback.

“I can’t think of anything negative about Las Vegas. When times are hard, you see it quickly, but you also see a quick recovery, because when there is money to spend, people come here,” Solis said.

That stimulus money is expected to create 34,000 new jobs.

Over the next year and a half, she said the administration is going to keep a close eye on what’s going on in Las Vegas and constantly re-evaluate.

She said Las Vegans should start seeing some relief in the next few months.