Congratulations to Salt Lake City! Western Governors University (WGU), the nation’s leading nonprofit university, has announced plans to develop a new headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City. This investment further positions Utah as a center for higher education innovation that prepares learners from all backgrounds for a rapidly evolving economy and workforce. The university intends to create more than 5,000 jobs and invest approximately $2.5 billion in Utah over the next 20 years, creating new opportunities to help individuals and families improve their lives.

"We’re thrilled to welcome Western Governors University’s national headquarters to downtown Salt Lake City—an investment that represents a generational win for our economy and a defining moment for our city’s innovation future,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “With more than 10,000 employees nationwide, an operating budget nearing $2 billion annually, and the scale of a Fortune-level headquarters, WGU will be a strong anchor in our urban core.”

The announcement came at a public board meeting of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). Gov. Spencer Cox said of the institution’s decision: “Expanding access to education that prepares people for career growth is essential to Utah’s economic success. By establishing its headquarters in Salt Lake City, WGU strengthens Utah’s role as a center for innovation, bringing education and workforce needs closer together and helping advance higher education for learners across the country.”

The headquarters will serve as the primary office location for WGU’s people and will largely span a 10-acre block in downtown Salt Lake City. The project will be developed in phases as a mixed-use community of innovation.

“We’re excited to welcome the expansion of Western Governors University to downtown Salt Lake City,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of EDCUtah. “Utah is a place where innovation, education, and economic growth come together. As a major institution already deeply rooted in the state, WGU will help strengthen Salt Lake City’s thriving urban core, attract and retain talent, and create thousands of new jobs.”

At full buildout, the project is expected to include approximately 1 million square feet of office space, supporting up to 5,000 employees, alongside other mixed-use elements that will be part of the master plan to redevelop the city block. Some of the possible amenities include a collaboration space for shared R&D, an auditorium, simulation centers, showcase hubs for convening WGU and cross-sector innovation, a WGU welcome center, dining and refreshment options for employees and the surrounding community, an employee cafeteria, an on-site childcare center, and ample open space for connection. The campus will be accessible via public transportation and designed with sustainability and well-being in mind, with the goal of achieving both LEED and WELL certifications.

“For WGU, Salt Lake City and Utah are not only part of our origin story but also offer a unique foundation for advancing our mission,” said WGU President Scott Pulsipher. “Being headquartered here allows us to support our employees, deepen partnerships, and expand how we build pathways to opportunity for learners. Together, WGU, Salt Lake City, and Utah will continue to elevate the belief in the inherent worth of every individual and advance a shared mission to change lives for the better.”

This was a competitive site-location process for WGU, and EDCUtah worked with many critical partners throughout the project. Special thanks to the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development, the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency, and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO).

"WGU's major expansion represents a significant investment in Utah's future workforce," said Jefferson Moss, executive director of GOEO. "By creating thousands of high-paying jobs in the information technology sector, WGU enhances Salt Lake County's reputation as a center for innovation and economic growth — and the students it serves will help power and build Utah’s thriving innovation economy."

Other groups that championed Utah during this site selection process include Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments, ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Delta Air Lines, Select Health, Northrop Grumman, Spherion, Blaser Ventures, Larry H. Miller Real Estate, The Point, the Utah Inland Port Authority, the Northern Utah Economic Alliance, and Layton Construction. 

Rex Buys, business development manager, led Project Talon for EDCUtah.

EDCUtah Investors: If you were involved with this project and would like to have your organization mentioned, please email connect@edcutah.org and we’ll update this article.