Since its inception nearly 2 years ago the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development has made some major gains for the City, initiating a half billion in investments and the creation of over 6,000 new jobs.

The Strategic Economic Development Plan has been created with previous research, new data, and a vision for the future economic state of Salt Lake City in mind.  It’s a plan for the City that details the objectives and actions designed to leverage and expand our dnews Salt Lake City Skyline Aerialadvantages, so that we may thrive in an increasingly competitive global market.

We have worked with our partners as a “Team Utah” approach to ensure we are fully capitalizing on the City’s potential, including the Northwest Quadrant, our arts scene, and the construction of a new airport.

Last year we launched a first-of-its-kind survey to nearly 6,000 businesses in Salt Lake City. We heard from over 800 of them and learned more about their challenges, opportunities, and perceptions of doing business in the City. We followed that up with 242 in-person business visits.  We hosted 10 public-input roundtables representing over 60 companies and over 100 business leaders, meetings with local industry groups, and the Business Advisory Board.

Over the course of these meetings, consensus developed around 4 goals:

  1. Position Salt Lake City to compete against like cities in capturing job opportunities for all residents while seeking sustainable growth.
  2. Cultivate vibrancy throughout Salt Lake City by enhancing the arts, commercial districts, and housing opportunities.
  3. Build on Salt Lake City’s reputation as a global, vital, and innovative community.
  4. Position the SLC DED to be the authority for economic opportunities in Salt Lake City.

This vision will guide our Department’s work over the next three years as we serve as a regional leader for commerce, culture and recreation, research and innovation, sustainability, and inclusiveness.

We continue to build Salt Lake City as a vibrant, beautiful, prosperous, diverse, and authentic place.  We do this as a professional organization through partnerships, economicdevelopmentteambusiness development, arts and culture, place-making, revitalization, and redevelopment, while promoting the City’s many attributes.

Over the next few months, we will be sharing more insight into how the Strategic Economic Development Plan was developed. To see the full report, click here.

Our goal is straightforward and 100% focused on Salt Lake City — we are bringing more companies into the Salt Lake City boundary to restore balance and vibrancy to the local economy.