ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF UTAH Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) is an investor-based public/private partnership working with government and private industry to promote the state of Utah. EDCUtah’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for quality job growth and increased capital investment by assisting in-state companies to grow and recruiting out-of-state companies to expand and relocate in Utah. EDCUtah accomplishes its mission by being the comprehensive source for economic data, key public and private contacts, and help through the expansion or relocation process. In 2005, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) contracted with EDCUtah to handle much of the state’s business recruitment efforts. Today, a strong partnership has been created with significant coordination and success in recruiting businesses to Utah. This partnership now links state government with local government and the private sector in a unified approach to business recruitment. AMER SPORT: A BUSINESS RECRUITMENT SUCCESS STORY Amer Sport’s relocation to Utah is a good example of the partnership between EDCUtah, GOED, local government, and the private sector. Amer Sport, makers of Salomon, Atomic and Suunto brand sporting goods, recently announced the relocation of its North American headquarters to Ogden, Utah. Through their experience in Utah at the twice-yearly Outdoor Retailer Tradeshow held in Salt Lake City, Amer Sport executives included Utah as a potential destination for their new headquarters. EDCUtah provided economic data and coordinated site visits with local and state government officials, private-sector business leaders, and real estate professionals. The choices were soon narrowed to Utah and Oregon. EDCUtah and GOED worked closely throughout the process and assisted Amer Sport in obtaining state incentive funds, Governor Huntsman turning dirt with EDCUtah CEO, and local communities offered innovative locations and Jeff Edwards and West Liberty Foods executives at a programs to the company. In the end, Ogden was selected as ground breaking in Tremonton, Utah. the new home of Amer Sport North America, due in large part to Utah’s positive business environment and “mountain culture.” RESULTS EDCUtah’s involvement in expansion and relocation projects generally includes many elements including gathering and consolidating critical economic data, preparing sophisticated economic analyses, organizing and hosting meetings and site visits, connecting clients with key government and private sector individuals and departments, facilitating discussion and negotiations, and helping clients through the entire relocation/expansion process.
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Governor’s Office of Economic Development • Annual Report 2007
