Nearly 20 years after launching the Downtown Rising initiative in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah’s business community has come together again to create a statewide economic vision. This vision – Utah Rising: A Free Enterprise Vision for Utah’s Economy – will be driven by proven principles while outlining opportunities for ongoing success and sustainable growth. In collaboration with the public and private sectors, Utah Rising will address critical issues with innovative and long term economic solutions for all who call Utah home.
Utah is experiencing demographic and economic shifts. It’s gone from a small state to a midsized state. Birth rate has slowed and there is more growth from external migration. It’s gone from a monocultural state in the 90s to a multicultural state today. Utah’s population as a whole is older, with 20% of the population over 65, and the state has transformed from a strong economy to an elite economy.
How did we get here? In large part it is due to the planning, foresight and ingenuity of our private sector. When business gets involved in strategic ways, Utah improves. Business leaders have the ability to make thoughtful decisions and become visionary leaders with incredible results that maintain and enhance the quality of life we enjoy in Utah. This is evident in the Utah Jazz, the Salt Lake City International Airport, the Olympics, Downtown Rising, and infrastructure improvements – just to name a few.
The guiding principles of this economic vision for Utah includes:
- Common ground and collaboration for a shared vision of sustainable growth and statewide prosperity.
- Bold vision and pragmatic action to harness market forces and achieve results that reimagine the possible.
- Quality of life and upward mobility that creates opportunity for all Utahns.
- Culture of service and community building that give Utah a distinct competitive advantage.
- Private sector innovation and public sector support to unleash the power of free enterprise.
History proves time and time again: when the business community provides intentional and thoughtful action, incredible results happen. Utah Rising is a way to unify Utah’s diverse voices in a shared vision for statewide prosperity by aligning and accelerating a broad coalition of individuals and organizations. We’ve done it before and we will do it again.
The journey ahead is both exciting and essential. It calls for a leadership that is visionary yet pragmatic; ambitious yet grounded. Together, Utah and its business community can rise to the challenges and opportunities of our time, leading Utah into a new era of prosperity.
It’s important for the community to be involved. We invite you to learn about the vision of Utah Rising at utahrising.com and get involved.
Derek Miller is the president & CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber
