Davis and Weber Counties, the Ogden-Weber Chamber, the Davis Chamber of Commerce, and the Northern Utah Economic Alliance have announced the launch of the Northern Utah Economic Response Team. The joint initiative will augment and localize public/private resources to mitigate effects of the COVID-19 virus on the economy.
In concert with the State’s Utah Coronavirus Economic Response Task Force, NUERT will provide a clearinghouse of information for individuals and businesses in the two-county area, which represents more than 20,000 business establishments and a workforce of 255,000.
“We want to make real and substantive connections to our business establishments, to help them find ways to retain employees,” said Weber County commissioner Gage Froerer. “We also want to help those who have been laid off to find employment as soon as possible.”
The online resources are available at: https://www.northernutaheconresponseteam.com. For convenience, the response team partners will link to the same site. The NUERT site will centralize information on:
- Financial resources at the federal, state, and local levels
- Job opportunities – Who’s hiring in the two-county area
- Corporate donations/programs and support services for individuals and small businesses
- State and local resources – From the Utah Coronavirus Economic Response Task Force, Department of Workforce Services, Small Business Development Centers, utilities, and chambers
- Covid-19 community health resources – Testing centers and other local support
“We’re taking a boots-on-the-ground approach to focus a wide range of public and private resources,” said Chris Roybal, president of the Northern Utah Economic Alliance. “We understand the hardship people and companies are going through. In concert with the State’s efforts, we’re trying to bring the vital assistance programs down to the local level.”
Members of the Response Team include:
- Chris Roybal, president of the Northern Utah Economic Alliance
- Holin Wilbanks, Weber County director of economic development
- Rob Sant, Davis County director of economic development
- Chuck Leonhardt, president and CEO of the Ogden-Weber Chamber
- Angie Osguthorpe, president and CEO of the Davis Chamber of Commerce
· Amanda Tullis, director of Business and Economic Development Division, Davis Technical College
- Cari Fullerton, senior vice president, Bank of Utah
- Darren Rogers, Utah Department of Workforce Services
“This is another example of our region coming together to work collectively,” said Davis County commissioner Bob Stevenson. “It’s another example of the Utah way: What’s good for one is good for all. We want to facilitate those local connections that will support families and help businesses weather this crisis.”