Did you know that 1 in 4 Utahns is a racial or ethnic minority? Utah is the 34th most racially and ethnically diverse state in the U.S., just below Pennsylvania and above several larger states like Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Utah’s minority share of the population is expected to increase to one in three Utahns by 2060. Salt Lake City also ranks as one of the top 10 gay-friendly cities in the U.S.
A diversified workforce includes people with variety across several categories such as religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, language, educational background, and abilities.
Utah’s diverse population offers immense benefits to the businesses operating across the state. One study by the Boston Consulting Group found that companies with a diverse workforce and increased innovation generated 19% more revenue than companies with lower diversity scores.
“There is no doubt we are stronger as a state when we embrace our differences and use our diversity as an asset.” —Utah Governor Spencer Cox
Building belonging is just as important as building diverse teams. EDCUtah heard from Utah employers throughout the state – large and small, across industries and geographies – that fostering belonging for employees and their families is an increasingly important priority.
This toolkit, created jointly by EDCUtah and the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging (The Center), is full of tested and proven practices for building cultures of belonging in the workplace.
Are you ready to build a culture of belonging in your organization? Download the toolkit designed specifically for Utah employers.
We’ve all had moments when we felt like we didn’t belong. Sharing our stories and listening to the experiences of others can help combat isolation and foster warm personal connections.
Produced by Comcast, EDCUtah, and the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging, this video was created as a resource for Utah employers who want to build cultures of belonging in the workplace. The video explores the power of storytelling in creating connection.
The Telly Award-winning video "We Are Utah" features Utah executives from a variety of backgrounds as they share their Utah stories. This video - produced by Comcast, EDCUtah, and the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging - is intended to serve as a resource for companies seeking to recruit and retain talent from diverse backgrounds.
Utah employers are successfully hiring, retaining, and elevating world-class talent from many diverse backgrounds. Click on the logos below to read in-depth interviews with DEI experts. Current stories include:
Utah is home to many terrific advocacy groups who connect, support, and elevate diverse and underrepresented talent. EDCUtah works closely with these partner organizations and can make local introductions to additional advocacy groups upon client request. In addition to the partners below, Magnify Utah maintains a wide range of resources for diverse Utahns and their families.
To stay informed about news and events affecting Utah's multicultural communities, sign up for the weekly newsletter from the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs.
EDCUtah is committed to demonstrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in our own operations and to taking a leadership role in making Utah a welcoming place for talented people from all backgrounds. We are proud to have incubated the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging (the Center), whose mission is to engage with communities of color and catalyze private and philanthropic partnerships to remedy racial disparities in economic opportunity, education, health, and housing in Utah.
"Economic development and diversity, equity and inclusion are connected at the hip. It's imperative that we enable every dynamic in a community. Nobody can be left out if we're going to reach an economy's full potential." — Tom Morgan, executive vice president of Zions Bank and EDCUtah board member
We spoke with the Utah Division of Human Resource Management about the state's role in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and access (EDIA) within Utah.
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The Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging is interviewing members of the Welcoming and Belonging Community Cohort to talk about their progress, highlight success stories, and share best practices. We spoke to Julie Rosier, SEUALG community services program manager, about the welcoming efforts in southeastern Utah.
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"We Are Utah" diversity and inclusion video is recognized with a Telly.
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The Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging is interviewing members of the Welcoming and Belonging Community Cohort to talk about their progress, highlight success stories, and share best practices. We spoke to Brooke Twitchell, event director for Cedar City, about the Spring Fiesta held in May 2022.
read moreIn 2022, the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging at EDCUtah launched the Welcoming and Belonging Community Cohort in partnership with Welcoming America.
read moreEDCUtah and the CEOB are launching a process to amplify and broaden CEOB’s impact.
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group on a periodic basis, in an effort to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. We spoke to Robert Rendon, SVP and community development director for Zions Bank, about the English Language Institute (ELI). Since the program’s inception, the Bank has been the primary funder of the program.
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Thanks to KPCW for interviewing Ze Min Xiao and Natalie El-Deiry on the Mountain Money show. Listen to gain a better understanding of the New Americans Task Force and the impact of new Americans have on our economy.
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May 3 marked the launch of the New Americans Task Force and the release of research from the American Immigration Council showing the impact of new Americans in Utah. I had the honor of joining fellow convenors – the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Salt Lake Chamber, and World Trade Center Utah – in a discussion of this important issue.
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group on a periodic basis. This is part of an effort to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. We spoke to Peter Bromberg, associate director of EveryLibrary.
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group each month. This is part of an effort to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. We spoke to Rabbi Sam Spector of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City for a peek into Utah’s thriving Jewish community.
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The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) announced Natalie El-Deiry as the director of immigration and new American integration.
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We caught up with Richard B. Brown, Dean of the University of Utah's College of Engineering, to learn about a new agreement signed with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and about Utah’s advantages in general when it comes to engineering talent.
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EDCUtah's 2022 survey of site selectors indicates the importance of responsive service, real estate product development, and workforce development and diversity programs in building a brand with corporate relocation experts.
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group each month. This is part of an effort to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. This month, we spoke with Mikel Blake, co-founder and executive director of Tech Moms.
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group each month to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. In recognition of Black History Month, we spoke to James Jackson III, Founder of the Utah Black Chamber.
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EDCUtah would like to highlight a source of motivated talent in these tight labor-market times. Here’s a write-up from the Utah Department of Corrections. In addition, we believe this program supports aspirations of the "Belong in Utah' program. Read further to learn about the opportunity as well as possible tax credits.
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group each month. This is part of an effort to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. We spoke to Balaji Sudabattula, current president of the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple and the Indian Cultural Center (ICC), based in South Jordan, UT.
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While we’re big fans of “top ten” lists at this time of year, we’re taking a more thematic approach when it comes to 2021 in review. Here are four dominant themes, with multiple stories supporting those themes. Here we go!
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group each month, in an effort to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. We spoke to Leah Lobato, Director of Business Relations with the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR), a division of the Department of Workforce Services (DWS).
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Through a grant from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Ski Utah has designed a program that will introduce skiing/snowboarding to upwards of 200 individuals of diverse backgrounds. Donations are being sought.
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With the support of Comcast, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) and its Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging (CEOB) have published three short videos to highlight opportunities that the Utah business community offers to diverse talent.
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EDCUtah is highlighting a Utah community organization or multicultural resource group each month. This is part of an effort to inform our investors about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices and resources in Utah. To celebrate Native American Heritage month in November, we spoke to Dustin Jansen, division director, and James Toledo, program manager, for the Utah Division of Indian Affairs.
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Learn how Vivint is creating a safe and supportive environment for their employees through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
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“There are distinct advantages for veterans in Utah, including our outdoor lifestyle, an awesome healthcare system, transition resources for veterans, great educational and economic opportunities, and a state-supported communication system focused on veterans.” - Gary Harter
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