The Business Advisory Board (BAB) is made up of city business owners and community leaders who partner with Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development. Its members are appointed by the mayor and must be SLC residents and/or have ownership interest in a Salt Lake City business. BAB helps direct city economic policy, promotes small business growth, supports local entrepreneurs, and encourages businesses to relocate to our city.

As part of an ongoing effort to keep SLC’s business community in the loop, the BAB is blogging synopses of our monthly meetings here. (Recordings are available to the public as well.)

BAB meeting on Wednesday, March 14, as we look forward to St. Patrick’s Day and Spring in the City.

SLC Business Advisory Board Welcomes Jake Maxwell

The Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development continues to grow as Jake Maxwell came to his first, and surely not his last BAB meeting.  Jake, who is the new Workforce Development Manager introduced himself to the board.  Jake’s workforce development experience comes in the form of nine years with the Department of Workforce Services and he comes to the city more recently from working on Operation Rio Grande’s Stage 3, which is the work phase and which focused primarily on developing work programs for people experiencing homelessness.  Jake’s work initially will be in identifying employment pipelines and researching to find the gaps in employment, education and training.  We all look forward to working with Jake and seeing the development of his position with the City.

Northwest Quadrant Review and Update

With the Northwest Quadrant frequently in the news of late, the BAB welcomed a chance to hear the Director of Economic Development, Lara Fritts, give a review of the work the City has done in the Northwest Quadrant and to update us on all of the new developments in that area.  The City has identified and met with stake holders in the area including local land owners, environmental and conservation groups.  Additionally, a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) plan has been adopted for the Northwest Quadrant.

Lara gave the BAB an overview of the work the City and the RDA have done mapping the Northwest Quadrant, developing partnerships, the stakeholder’s vision, principles for development, land use (including, but certainly not limited to, a natural area and an eco-industrial buffer), an industrial market assessment and an economic impact assessment.

With the Utah Legislature’s passing of SB-234 the BAB will be following closely the developments in Salt Lake City’s Northwest Quadrant.

Board Member Announcements

There was a motion in the BAB, and a second, and subsequent unanimous approval of the minutes from the last meeting.

There was a motion in the BAB, and a second, and subsequently unanimous approval for the BAB to draft a letter and send to Governor Herbert urging him to veto SB-234.

Economic Development Updates

Roberta Reichgelt informed the BAB of the progress made with initiating State Street, from 600 S to 1300 S, as a Main Street USA designated area and the first meetings have been held with business and property owners as well as residents.  Salt Lake City’s other Main Street USA designated area, The Granary, has selected an Organization Board and announced a kick-off party at Kilby Court on March 31 from 5p.m. to 10p.m. and invited all of the members of the BAB.

Two new members of the BAB have been approved and we look forward to working with them in the near future and we officially welcomed Jake Maxwell to the City’s Department of Economic Development and look forward to working with him in the future.

Planning and Civic Engagement Updates

Finally, John Anderson from the Planning Department updated the BAB on D2 zoning near downtown and especially on State Street and Elizabeth Buehler from Civic Engagement updated the BAB on funding needs, the public perception of needs and funding options for the City including possible bonding and a possible 0.5% sales tax increase.

 

Will Wright

Projects Coordinator

Salt Lake City

Department of Economic Development