RURAL DEVELOPMENT Expanding opportunity for business and infrastructure into Utah’s rural communities. The Rural Development Program is an advocate of and provides support to Utah’s rural communities and businesses and is the conduit for rural Utah to other GOED and State resources. Through partners like the Governor’s Rural Partnership Board, with representation from business, industry, government, and from all corners of the state, we educate and raise awareness for rural needs, define economic barriers, and bring these issues to light with the Governor, the Utah Legislature and other state and federal agencies. GOED partnering with USU Extension has initiated many seminars and workshops, coordinated programs plus a statewide quarterly internet Webcast including GOED and USU Extension programs and the newly created USTAR initiative. The last web cast of 2007 will originate from Kanab. The rural office continues to support the statewide network of local economic development professionals. Outreach services continue to be formed with custom fit training, manufacturing partnerThe majority of Utah’s communities are small. ships, the Utah Alliance, cluster development, business recruiting and incentives, Utah Science Technology and Research, Utah Department of Community and Culture and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. Through these networking efforts, the rural development office is leading the organization and implementation of statewide business resource centers. We partner annually with the Center for Rural Life to co-host the annual Rural Summit. This year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of this rural event in Cedar City. The Rural Development Office also administers two statutory business tax credit programs.
This year the Rural Office is implementing a new economic development tool, Rural Development Grants, to assist communities located in remote and disadvantaged areas facilitate their economic
36
Utah Enterprise Zone Program allows non retail businesses, located in locally defined and state approved geographical zones, tax credits for new investment in plant and equipment and for new full time permanent jobs.
Governor’s Office of Economic Development • Annual Report 2007
