The Salt Lake Chamber hosted the annual Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute to release its 2024 legislative priorities. The Chamber identified several priorities for public policy, chief among them being affordable housing, homelessness, water infrastructure and conservation, and workforce development.
“As industries rise and fall, technologies emerge or become obsolete, and markets shift, we must remain agile and open to learn,” said Ginger Chinn, Vice President of Public Policy at the Salt Lake Chamber. “To unleash the great opportunities that come with the type of unprecedented change Utah is experiencing, we must enact policy that supports Utah’s economy and its residents’ quality of life, by being deliberate about the policies we put our efforts towards.”
In addition to previewing the business community’s priorities for the coming 45-day legislative session, the Summit also addressed strategic approaches to crisis management. Dr. Peter Cressy, a former rear admiral and university president, and director of the George Washington Leadership Institute, gave the keynote address entitled, “Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Churchill: A Strategic Approach to Leading in Times of Crisis.” Dr. Cressy shared about these four iconic leaders and the relevance of their leadership styles in the context of contemporary challenges such as the current economic situation and global uncertainty.
“All four of these great leaders, from three different centuries, understood the importance of engaged leadership,” said Dr. Cressy. “They understood the importance of effective communication, civility, collaboration and integrity. These attributes are just as important today as they have always been. “
The Summit presents an unrivaled opportunity for attendees to gain insights into the future of Utah’s economy and the business community’s policy priorities. At this year’s Summit, government and business leaders discussed the changing times of “The New Utah” and what we can expect moving into the next decade. Experts shared best practices for working with elected officials this upcoming legislative session and methods for finding common ground.
A complete copy of the Salt Lake Chamber’s 2024 Public Policy Guide can be found here. (Downloadable version here)
This year’s Summit premier sponsor is Clyde Companies and presenting sponsor is Zions Bank. Altabank, Dominion Energy and Intermountain Health are major sponsors. The Larry H. Miller Company and WCF Insurance are event sponsors, and the corporate sponsors are CBRE, Deseret Management Corporation, Equality Utah, Fidelity Investments, KSL.com, Mountain America Credit Union, Mountainland Technical College, Rio Tinto Kennecott, Rocky Mountain Power, Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development, Salt Lake County Regional Development, Select Health, The University of Utah, Utah Transit Authority, Wells Fargo and Western Governors University.
