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Southern Utah Spotlight

Despite the current downturn in the residential real estate and construction market, the region is home to magnificent scenery, a dry climate and a plethora of recreational opportunities, such as boating, hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling and hunting, that have made it one of the fastest growing areas in the nation for four decades.

"Interestingly, and despite the current negative economy, all of the elements that attract people to southern Utah are in place," says Scott Hirschi, director of the Washington County Economic Development Council (WCEDC). "The lifestyle, the climate, the scenery and the recreational opportunities that helped drive 40 years of growth are still here. So we see the current situation as a temporary hiatus. The growth will be back in earnest for the entire region, including Beaver, Iron, Kane and Washington Counties."

Hirschi says suggestions by some that Utah's Dixie, as that region of the state is known, was running out of land helped drive up prices, but in reality there is plenty of land available. Less than 50 percent of the available land has been developed. So, too, for water resources there. Hirschi says Washington County is not running out of water and could sustain a population double or perhaps even triple the county's current population of 150,000 without additional water resources. Of course, water is an issue long term, but efforts are underway to develop additional resources, including the Lake Powell pipeline, which will be discussed at length during a breakout session of the Washington County Economic Summit.

Michael Flynn, vice president of public development for EDCUtah, adds that St. George has a lot going for it and strong leaders like Hirschi and St. George Mayor Daniel McArthur will help it ride out the economic slowdown.

"Southern Utah has been such a huge part of our success," Flynn says, "and companies know they can ride out the storm there. The city has a phenomenal industrial park and other key developments that will help it through the current economic conditions. All indications are that Dixie's economy will be back, stronger and better than before."

Hirschi says St. George and Washington County have enjoyed a 12-year partnership with EDCUtah.

"EDCUtah is a high-class organization and our partnership is critical to economic development efforts in southern Utah. Beyond that, Jeff Edwards is my good friend and hiking buddy and it is a pleasure to associate with him," Hirschi adds.

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In The News

Economic Development Headlines from the Past Week

Affordability at Park City's back door

- HEBER CITY, Utah -- This is a place that truly lives up to its motto: "European charm. Western adventure." It's where Swiss Miss meets Buffalo Bill. You can stay at a Swiss-style luxury lodge and catch a cowboy poetry jam after dining on wild boar at a local restaurant. Or you can ski or snowmobile in the "Utah Alps," as the surrounding mountains are called, ride an old steam train through ranchland, and take a dip in a thermal crater. (Boston Globe)

10 great cities for salary growth

- The Provo/Orem and Salt Lake metro areas rank among the 10 best cities for salary growth. ( Yahoo! HotJobs)

Two Utah companies post stunning gains for 2008

- Utahns with the foresight to own shares in Myriad Genetics or Merit Medical Systems were richly rewarded by those investments during the past year. Despite sharp declines in the nation's stock markets in 2008 -- the Dow Jones industrial average fell 34 percent and the S&P 500 38 percent -- Myriad's shares closed the year at $66.32 for a staggering 43 percent gain. Merit's stock price advanced an eye-popping 29 percent to close the year at $17.88. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Salt Lake sunshine: solar power plan a bright idea

- Salt Lake County's solar power initiative is a ray of sunshine in a dark, gloomy and rapidly warming world. There's nothing unique about the technology. But the funding mechanism merits more than a mention. If all goes according to plan, the roofs of 50 county-owned buildings will soon be covered with arrays of solar panels producing clean, renewable electricity, and they won't cost taxpayers a dime. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Delta, Northwest International cuts bypass SLC

- Delta Air Lines and its Northwest Airlines subsidiary are delaying or cutting some flying to China and Europe because of poor market conditions, but the reductions haven't touched Salt Lake City so far. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Op-ed: Utah's financial future looks bright for 2009

- For many Americans, the financial and economic turmoil of 2008 was the worst they have ever experienced. The typical household usually generates wealth from three major sources: jobs, home equity and retirement accounts. The U.S. jobless rate in November hit 6.7 percent, the highest since 1993. The "underemployment" rate has shot up to 12.5 percent. A total of 1.9 million jobs were lost from January through November. (Deseret News)

Logan company floats hydropower plan

- A Logan company is floating its second proposal for a hydropower pump project near Bear Lake. (Deseret News) (Herald Journal)

Raser Technologies adds more than 50,000 acres to its geothermal resource portfolio

- Raser Technologies, Inc. announced that it will continue to expand its vast geothermal resources by acquiring 17 new lease parcels covering more than 50,000 acres of geothermal, surface and other rights in Utah as a part of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) geothermal auction on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. The new leases increased Raser's total geothermal holdings to over 300,000 acres in five states. (Utah Business)

The Department of the Air Force awards $12.3 million contract to Williamsen Manufacturing

- Williamsen Manufacturing, a Salt Lake City based fabrication and heavy manufacturing company, has been awarded a $12.3 million contract by Hill Air Force Base.(Utah Business)

Grow Utah Ventures Community Scholarship Program opens doors for Utah's elite entrepreneurs

- Grow Utah Ventures announced the Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative for Tomorrow's Enterprise (ELITE) community scholarship program designed to prepare a select group of rising entrepreneurs with the capabilities to create and lead future high growth companies that will drive Utah's economy in the years to come. (Utah Business)

A blizzard of ski dollars

- The lifts had just started running Friday morning and already the Snow Park Lodge plaza was abuzz with activity. Lines at a half dozen ticket windows were steadily four to five people deep. Green-jacketed ski instructors were everywhere, rounding up their classes. Hundreds of people hustled about. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Voonami, Inc. announces three new adaptive data centers

- Voonami, Inc., a provider of outsourced IT infrastructure and data center solutions, announced the opening of their first of several data centers at the Canyon Park Technology Center in Orem. The company also announced two new adaptive computing data centers to be built in Sandy and in Utah County. (Utah Business)

Iron County '09 outlook is positive

- Despite on-going economic struggles, the outlook is positive for Iron County in 2009 with the promise of diverse trade and a continued strong tourism industry throughout Southern Utah. (Spectrum)

Utah looking for more action sports events

- Forever optimistic, Utah Sports Commission president Jeff Robbins hopes a new alliance of action sports will stage more events in Utah, given the enthusiasm Utahns have displayed for The Dew Tour. Almost 64,000 people attended the four days of skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross last September in and around EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. That included a Dew Tour single-day record of 26,000. (Salt Lake Tribune)