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FEATURE

Join the Utah Recruitment Initiative

Action Group Helping Utah Employers Maintain a Competitive Edge by Attracting Essential Talent

With the highest job growth rate in the nation and an unemployment rate hovering just under three percent (meaning anyone that wants a job can get a job), and a dearth of engineers to fill numerous open positions, a major talent recruiting initiative is underway in Utah.

At the personal request of Governor Jon Huntsman, last October GOED formed a recruitment task force with representation from the GOED Board, EDCUtah, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, Utah Workforce Services, Utah Department of Commerce, Utah Technology Council, recruitment companies, and members of private industry. The action group was tasked with the development and implementation of a statewide, regional and national recruitment effort to assist Utah companies with recruitment in all fields of engineering and other professional-level positions. The first step of the initiative is focused primarily on recruiting engineers, but it will be expanded to include other professional needs in the coming months.

Currently, the Utah Technology Council along some of Utah's largest employers, such as ATK, Williams International, IM Flash, Micron, and L-3 Communications among others, have identified a need for the immediate placement of approximately 1,000 trained engineers. Jason Perry, Executive Director of GOED, said the recruitment task force is looking to find ways of filling this industry need and then replicate the recruitment effort for other fields of high demand, such as pharmacists, nurses, and machinists.

GOED's Utah Recruitment Initiative (URI) will include a national media campaign, both paid and earned, as well as attendance by the State of Utah in partnership with private industry at recruitment tradeshows nationwide. An ad placement promoting job availability in Utah will be featured this coming Sunday in 12 major metropolitan areas with an estimated total readership of approximately 3.1 million. The ad is a 24-page color insert that promotes travel to Utah as well as living and working in the state. The insert will make its debut in newspapers ranging from Boston to Dallas, Austin, Houston, LA and areas of Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago. What’s more, the ad will have an estimated shelf life of at least 50 to 100 days.

During last year's holiday season a URI "Here for the Holidays," media campaign placed ads in many of the Wasatch Front newspapers. The ads contained a special message from Governor Huntsman encouraging friends and family of those returning for the holidays to point out that there are good engineering jobs to be had in Utah. That same message was directed to those who might be in Utah on ski vacations.

"GOED received more than 150 resumes immediately following the ads running," said Perry. "And we still manage to have some trickling in each week from that effort. From what we have been able to determine, several engineers obtained jobs through being motivated to begin looking in Utah because of those ads." He anticipates the launch of the state's new recruitment effort and nationwide ad on October 28th will generate additional resume submissions and inquiries from professionals all across America.

All firms that would like to participate in the Utah Recruitment Initiative (URI) and receive resumes from GOED's marketing efforts will be required to file a participation agreement, which can be found at www.goed.utah.gov or can be requested by calling 801.538.8743 for more information. "We are still looking for partners in all major industries to join with us in combing their recruiting efforts with those that the state is undertaking in what is shaping up to be one of the major economic development issues of the coming year," Perry said.

Likewise from Governor Huntsman: "Utah enjoys the hottest economy in the nation as people and companies realize all that Utah has to offer. The Governor's Office of Economic Development is developing a critical recruiting effort for engineers and other professionals to maximize continued success. I would encourage companies to be a part of this campaign to build Utah's employee base."
 

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CALENDAR

Oct. 28-31:  CoreNet (Atlanta)

Nov. 7:  EDCUtah Quartely Update

Dec. 19:  EDCUtah Holiday Open House

Jan. 9:  "What's Up Down South?" Economic Summit at the Dixie Center in St. George. Contact Information:
Contact: Scott Hirschi, c/o Dixie College, 225 South 700 East
St. George, UT 84770  (435) 652-7750
www.whatsupdownsouth.com

 

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The EDCUTAH Economic Review is a weekly publication of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. It is distributed to EDCUTAH partners and selected other government and civic organizations interested in Utah's economic development. If you prefer not to receive this newsletter, please use the link below. Subscribe or Unsubscribe Your comments and suggestions regarding this newsletter are always welcome. Click here: Comments

IN THE NEWS

Economic Development Headlines from the Past Week

Job creation is strong in Utah

- Fresh off a hectic 2006-07 fiscal year, the Economic Development Corp. of Utah is finding the early days of the current year to be just as busy. Meaning, folks have an eye on Utah for possible corporate relocations and expansions. (Deseret Morning News)

Boise hotel developer to construct facility in downtown Salt Lake

- A 125-room AmeriTel Inn is being proposed on about five acres between 300 West and 400 West and 600 South. (SL Enterprise)

SLC Mayor floats idea of new zone banning chain retail stores

- Mayor Rocky Anderson has initiated a petition to investigate whether certain portions of the city's zoning ordinance should be amended to ban chain stores from established city retail neighborhoods. (SL Enterprise)

Iceberg Drive Inn to expand, launch new shakes-only concept

- Iceberg Drive Inn restaurants is gearing up for a new expansion that will more the double the number of eateries as well as launch a new store concept that will focus on its premier product -- shakes. (SL Enterprise)

New retail to transform area near Salt Lake City off-ramp

- The southwest corner of 600 South and 300 West is about to undergo a major redevelopment as a new retail center is being planned to fit in with the rest of the 300 West central business district of downtown Salt Lake City. (SL Enterprise)

Utah commercial real estate undervalued, brokers say

- Commercial real estate in Utah sells at cheaper prices than in any other primary or secondary real estate market in the West, according to a recent report by Real Capital Analytics. (SL Enterprise)

Tax credits considered for funding incentives

- A state economic development incentive program is bringing out-of-state companies' operations to Utah. Now a state agency is working to make sure the program does not cut into funding education and other allocations. (Morning News)

South Salt Lake approves Market Station proposal

- South Salt Lake is gearing up for a big change - 27 stories big. The City Council this week approved a development agreement for an 18-acre mixed-use project, complete with a 27-story apartment complex and hundreds of housing units between State and Main streets. (SL Tribune)

Outdoor gear firm opens H.Q.

- Massive wooden beams and rust-colored brick walls recall the past, but the new North American headquarters for the maker of Salomon, Suunto and Atomic outdoor gear is all about the future - Ogden's as well as the company's. (SL Tribune) (Standard Examiner)

Utah courting Hershey

- The Governor's Office of Economic Development Board, fresh from landing a P&G plant for Box Elder County, on Friday approved what they hope is a sweet incentive to land a Western distribution center for the giant candy making company. The board also approved an incentive for a food manufacturing facility, and the company said immediately after the meeting that it will put the plant at Business Depot Ogden. (Morning News) (SL Tribune)

Utah would benefit if Boeing gets A.F. tanker contract

- Utah would see a 600 direct and indirect job benefit if Boeing is ultimately selected to build the U.S. Air Force's new fleet of aerial refueling tankers, the Seattle-based company announced Friday. (Morning News) (Utah Business Magazine)

LM Construction Company Breaks Ground at Port 15

- Cedar City officials, representatives of LM Construction Company and community members gathered at the Port 15 industrial park, Oct. 9, to break ground for the construction of flexible space units by LM Construction. (Cedar City Review)

Utah economy flagging?

- Utah's economy — still the best performing of any state in the nation — is in danger of losing steam, according to new predictions from the state Department of Workforce Services. (Morning News here and here) (Standard Examiner) (SL Tribune)

South Salt Lake getting new look

- South Salt Lake's biggest mixed-use project is getting a huge backing from elected officials, who are considering giving city funds to what they hope will be a catalyst for redevelopment. (Morning News) (SL Tribune)

Box Elder 'win' praised

- Wednesday's announcement that Procter & Gamble picked Box Elder County for a new paper products manufacturing plant was greeted with praise and pride by Utahns who worked to make it happen. (Morning News)

Business resource centers would help start-ups

- A group of Utahns is pushing for a set of business resource centers throughout the state to help both start-up and existing businesses thrive. (Morning News)

GOED Prepares for Trade Mission to India

- Government, education and business leaders will depart Friday for the state’s first trade mission to India. Sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the weeklong mission will be led by Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. and will visit the cities of Pune and New Delhi. (Utah Business Magazine)

Suunto Sports Finds New Home on Wasatch Front

- As Suunto’s new outdoor line gains international attention, another major Suunto development is also earning headlines. The company’s North American Headquarters has a new address. Eager for a home more accommodating to the outdoor industry, Suunto moved its U.S. offices from San Diego to Ogden in August. (Utah Business Magazine)

U.S. Foodservice Announces Construction of New Facility in Ogden

- U.S. Foodservice, Inc. announced plans to invest $100 million in capital projects that will significantly expand its operations. These include the construction of a new facility in Ogden, and major expansions of current facilities in Boca Raton, FL and Plymouth, MN. (Utah Business Magazine)