Once a year, EDCUtah highlights the fiscal year’s achievements, notable project wins, and key people and organizations that helped these efforts. Between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, EDCUtah helped 12 companies expand in or relocate to Utah, representing 8,519 new and retained jobs and $20.2 billion in projected capital expenditure. Capital expenditure is at a record high, and every $1 invested in EDCUtah generated $8,180 in Utah's economy this year. 

The year’s results took center stage at EDCUtah's Annual Meeting at The Garden Place at This Is The Place Heritage Park, filled to the brim with leaders, partners, and government officials eager to hear how Utah's economy keeps landing at the top of national rankings, and what comes next, including a new partnership aimed at southern Utah.

A Welcome Built Around Partnership

Executive Director Ryan Starks welcomed attendees and highlighted EDCUtah's expanding list of partners, including an MOU we signed with the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) at the beginning of 2026. He previewed deeper work with site selection teams nationwide and a city partner exchange to Austin, Texas, then closed with the line that carried through the meeting: "Let's build together."

Why Utah Is Winning

Derek Miller, President and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber, delivered a brief keynote centered on partnership, framing economic development as work that depends on the state, local government, and the private sector moving together. He credited Utah's current strength to investments made a decade ago and cautioned against complacency: "The prosperity we enjoy right now was earned a decade ago. We cannot coast. We have to keep our foot on the gas."

How the Wins Came Together

Wins spanned industries, from American Tungsten and Antimony Ltd (formerly Trigg Minerals) to Karman Space & Defense and Stadler Rail, with 101 more projects active in the pipeline as of Sept. 3. EDCUtah Deputy Director Erin Farr broke down how this year's 12 wins came together: 33% site selector led, 30% through EDCUtah partners, 27% company direct. "Let's play the long game and build together," she said.

EDCUtah cannot accomplish these wins alone; dedicated partnerships and passionate Utah leaders make them possible. At the meeting three companies shared how they're expanding in the state:

• Route 92 — SVP of Operations Randy Sullivan explained why the company, developing a stroke catheter device, chose West Jordan over Miami, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and Boston: workforce, quality of life, and tax incentives. Route 92 is now building out its device development and manufacturing operations in Utah.
• Western Governors University — President Scott Pulsipher spoke to WGU's growth, with its platform now serving nearly 200,000 students nationwide. Utah remains the operational and cultural home base for that scale.
• Nucor — VP Laurent De Mey pointed to Utah's logistics infrastructure, talent pool, and business ecosystem as deciding factors. The company is expanding its Utah footprint in pursuit of becoming the world's safest steel producer and largest recycler.

New Partnership: EDCUtah and Southern Utah Economic Alliance

EDCUtah announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Southern Utah Economic Alliance (SoUtah), designed to strengthen collaboration between the two organizations.

Celebrating Utah's Economic Development Leaders

EDCUtah recognized three partners for turning collaboration into results. Bob Stevenson, Davis County Commissioner, received the Public Sector Leadership in Economic Development award: "I'm very touched and honored by this award. I love Utah and it's a privilege to serve the residents and businesses of our community." 

Christy Alter, a vice president at Goldman Sachs, received the Private Sector Leadership in Economic Development award: "Goldman Sachs invested in Salt Lake City over 25 years ago in part because of Utah's exceptional talent and the collaborative ecosystem fostered by organizations like EDCUtah." 

And Rocky Mountain Power received the Institutional Cornerstone in Economic Development award, with President Dick Garlish noting, "Energy is the backbone of economic development, and Rocky Mountain Power is proud to help provide the reliable energy foundation that allows communities and businesses to grow, innovate and thrive."

What's Next

Between the GOED MOU, the SoUtah partnership, deeper work with site selectors around the country, and the Austin state-to-state exchange, EDCUtah is signaling that the year’s results represent a floor, not a ceiling. As Ryan Starks and nearly every speaker put it: let's build together.

About EDCUtah

Since 1987, EDCUtah has worked with state and local government and private industry to attract and grow competitive, high-value companies and spur the expansion of local Utah businesses. More at www.edcutah.org.

Media Contact

Lindsey LeBaron, Director of Marketing and Communications, 801-420-5815