Utah World trade center talks economy

By Danyale Service

The Utah Division of the World Trade Center organization has been traveling to each county to discuss the improvement and transitions of each economy. They are enacting an initiative to create 25,000 jobs across Utah, but they need ideas on how to expand through the community’s eyes. On July 13, the World Trade Center committee came to Emery County to discuss the economy for both Emery and Carbon counties. “We are hosting this meeting to hear from you (the leaders of the communities) to see what you think of the 25K Job initiative,” said Riley Greenwood the project coordinator. “We are here for the long run, not a year, but for a four-year plan or maybe even longer. We want to stop the clash between the Wasatch front and the rural areas of Utah.”
“Emery County has several aspects that we exceed in such as generating power through the power plants, agriculture, tourism, and government jobs like forest rangers, county representatives, and rock climbers. We also have a lot of space that we can expand into,” replied Jordan Leonard the Emery County Economic development director. But over the years Emery County has lost hundreds of jobs from the closing the coal mines.
“Coal is not just for power but a lot of other things,” said Keith Brady the Emery County commissioner. Advanced coal research groups are looking for alternative uses for coal not just for burning but using coal in other byproducts. “We have big shoes to fill what we have lost” said Justin Johansen from Zions bank regarding the topic on miners.
What should the identity of Emery County be in the future? Do we want to be known for the beauty like the Swell or our healthy and relaxed life styles? People who live in rural parts of Utah have a longer life than those who live in the city, like the Wasatch front. But our opportunity for jobs are limited. The staggering economy doesn’t support businesses before they fail. Green River and the rest of the county are the complete opposite. In Green River a plan for tourism is already being implemented through a soft brand and wayfinding. While, near Huntington, in- home and tech jobs would work best. “We have to use what we have to excel in the future. But we are constantly getting landlocked by land owners.“
Emery County doesn’t know what opportunities are out there and how to reach big business. Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDC) has worked with local governments to attract competitive companies to rural areas. They have large resources of free consultants and will take ideas to a third party. Kate Carter, an EDC spokesperson, said “We want to accomplish the goals of the community profile and we will reach out to any economic developer at no cost. We want to get results instead of sending out pamphlets from door to door.” The Governor issued a challenge to businesses in need of a work force to expand out of the Wasatch Front and into rural areas. Companies, however, base their expansion on their needs like railroads and infrastructures. “When a company is looking to move to a rural area we look at industrial and manufacturing distribution needs and chose a match for them.” But the only people that can sell the county to a company are those living in the county. Emery County needs to be on their radar.
On August 9, the Lt. Governor, Spencer Cox is hosting an event to connect members of the community to banks and business. “We want the community to engage with employers and inject the community with its resources,” said Don Willie, the Managing Director. This event is open to everyone to connect with services and job seekers. It will be a family-friendly event with food for the community.