On Friday, the Outdoor Rec, Outdoor Tech press conference was standing room only on Capitol Hill as notable lawmakers, including Senate President Stuart Adams (R), House Speaker Mike Schultz (R), Representative Doug Owens (D), and Representative Steve Eliason (R), government officials Joel Ferry, and tech leaders Kelvyn Cullimore, Nate Quigley, Karl Sun, Trent Mano, and Jim Davis among others joined together to express the importance of outdoor recreation to the success of Utah. This coalition understands investing in outdoor recreation infrastructure will galvanize Utah’s most unique and competitive economic advantage: our unparalleled access to great outdoor recreation opportunities.
House Speaker Mike Schultz opened by stating, “…for that quality of life, outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of our culture and a key driver of our economy.”
Senate President Adams added, “…the tech industry has been a great driver of economic development in Utah, but also a great driver of recreation. We can do both and we can enjoy the great outdoors and continue the great quality of life and have a great work environment.”
“Outdoor Recreation is big business in Utah. It’s what brings entrepreneurs and top-tier tech talent. Keeping our eye focused on what brings the greatest economic benefit is key to our success in maintaining our booming tech sector,” said House District 33 Representative Doug Owens, CEO of Utah Outdoor Partners. “These initiatives will not only strengthen our economy but also preserve the natural beauty that makes Utah a destination for families, entrepreneurs, and businesses alike.”
Tech Leaders Speak Out
Prominent tech CEOs underscored the connection between Utah’s outdoor lifestyle and its booming tech sector.
Nate Quigley, CEO of Chatbooks and chair of the Silicon Slopes Environmental Stewardship Collective, stated, “We absolutely echo the Kem Gardner study stating 79% of tech workers in Utah came here because of the outdoors and stay here because of the outdoors. So it’s a huge part of why we’re here. It’s a huge part of why the tech community is also here.”
Karl Sun, Board Chair of Lucid Software, echoed these sentiments saying, “Utah is booming, and we want to keep it as a place that people want to come to and stay.”
When asked about expansion opportunities, Trent Mano, General Partner of Convoi Ventures, Co-Founder and Leader of Utah Tech Week, said, “…every CEO that I talk to, they say, you know, living here in Utah is such a competitive advantage for recruiting, so we want to make sure that that stays the case.”
The Outdoor Economy: A Key Driver
A recent report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute reinforces these statements, revealing that:
- 83% of Utah tech employees agree outdoor recreation opportunities are essential to Utah’s quality of life.
- 74% of businesses cite access to outdoor spaces as a key factor in attracting and retaining top talent.
Utah’s outdoor recreation options are the cornerstone of our booming tech industry, showcasing Utah as a desirable place to live and work. A place where companies are moving and staying, despite better incentives from other parts of the U.S.
“We have companies all the time who will say, what is Utah going to pay us to come? We said, we’re not going to pay you anything. Come see what we have. And when they do, not only do they like it and move their companies here, they stay.” said Kelvyn Cullimore, President and CEO of BioUtah.
Looking ahead, leaders from across the state are seeking ways to collaborate and support outdoor recreation infrastructure as a means to develop the tech sector.
