Economic Development Corporation of Utah
E
conomic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) is an investor-based public/ private partnership working with government and private industry to serve as a catalyst for quality job growth and increased capital investment. EDCUtah assists in-state companies to grow and recruits 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. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) has contracted with EDCUtah to handle 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. Companies Continue to Find Utah as a Great Place for Business Recently many companies have found success by relocating or expanding in Utah. eBay, Nelson Labs and Firstwind are prime examples of the quality of companies that are expanding in Utah. eBay Inc., a leader in global Internet commerce, has chosen South Jordan to build its first next generation data center. The facility will generate 50 new jobs at 150% of the Salt Lake County annual median wage and will be a capital investment of over $334 million. Firstwind, an independent North American wind energy company focused exclusively on the development, ownership and operation of wind energy projects, has chosen to build a $400 million wind farm in Milford. The first phase of the project is the first wind energy facility permitted under the BLM’s Wind Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Western U.S. States.
Reckitt Benckiser’s new 600,000-square-foot logistics and custom manufacturing center in Tooele County, Utah.
Nelson Laboratories, Inc., a key supplier of laboratory testing, has chosen to retain and expand its Taylorsville manufacturing facilities. This win means the retention of 350 jobs and the hiring of an additional 350 employees at 125% of the Salt Lake County average. EDCUtah worked in partnership with GOED; Salt Lake County; Beaver County; the communities of South Jordan, Milford, and Taylorsville; and local business communities and government entities to provide information, incentives, power, transportation access, and assistance to these companies as they came to their final expansion decisions. Many individuals from the community and private busiFirstwind erects a wind ness sector came to the table to assist and show support for the projects and to the turbine at its $400 million wind farm in Milford, Utah. companies. It was truly a partnership effort.
42
Governor’s Office of Economic Development • Annual Report 2009
