Iron County Shines

Despite all the turmoil associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cedar City wrapped up 2020 with some bright economic indicators moving into the New Year.

While the county’s tourism industry took a severe hit with the shut-down of the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, other sectors of Cedar City and Iron County’s diverse economy surged. The year saw strong population growth, record-breaking enrollment at Southern Utah University, high new job growth, and recordshattering residential construction.

Iron County joined Washington, Tooele, and Utah counties as the four fastest-growing counties in the state from 2019 to 2020 with a 2.67% county-wide increase in population. The Cedar City micropolitan area was nationally ranked fourth in annual percentage growth. By far, SUU’s enrollment growth was the highest among Utah’s public universities in a year when half of Utah’s public colleges and universities saw a decrease in enrollment.

Iron County followed Utah and the rest of the country with job losses early in the year. However, unlike most areas, the county showed employment growth of 1.3% (year over year). According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, Iron County was one of only four Utah counties showing job gains in 2020.

Leisure/hospitality services experienced the county’s largest job losses, with professional/business services and information sectors also showing declines. In contrast, manufacturing, construction, healthcare/social services, and retail trade displayed increased employment levels.

Pandemic unemployment peaked in Iron County at 9.3% in April, lower than both the state and national averages. By September, the county’s jobless rate had ebbed to 5.2%, which is still much higher than in the months preceding COVID-19. The loss of so many jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry and the addition of higher-paying manufacturing and construction jobs increased the county’s average wage by 11%.

In Iron County, homebuilding seems to have ignored the pandemic, with dwelling unit permits up 55% over 2019. Cedar City surpassed 2019’s total of 591 building permits in September and continued strong through the end of the year. By the end of December, Cedar City issued 819 permits.

The year-to-year gross taxable sales in Cedar City were up significantly in 2020 with a 20% increase over the previous year, compared to the state’s 6.4% increase. Some of this is due to online sales, but motor vehicle sales and general merchandise stores performed exceptionally well.

Cedar City’s transportation assets, including rail, interstate highway, and a regional airport, continue to play an essential role in the area’s economy. Cedar City is within easy reach of every major market in the Western United States. Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City are all less than a day’s truck drive away.

These assets are a significant reason Iron County is considered a potential satellite location for the Utah Inland Port Authority. The area’s transportation assets contribute to the success of numerous manufacturers that utilize rail service, interstate highways, and air service.

GOEX Manufacturing has begun construction on its new 118,000 squarefoot facility, and Realine Steel is completing construction on 90,000 square feet of new manufacturing space in Cedar City. These companies are bringing more full-time, high-paying jobs to the community.

Continued growth and expansion of other large manufacturers, including Charlotte Pipe and Genpak, is increasing the number of primary employment jobs in Cedar City.

In addition to transportation infrastructure, SC Broadband is investing heavily in Cedar City’s high-speed internet infrastructure. Beginning last January, the company started a project to deliver gig-speed fiber to every neighborhood in the community with affordable rates. As more people found themselves working remotely in 2020, this infrastructure makes Cedar City increasingly more appealing.

In the past few years, Cedar City’s south Main Street has seen the addition of several new businesses, including a new State Bank of Southern Utah branch, Courtyard by Marriott and LaQuinta hotels, a Maverik, and more. Superior Development has started work on a new 19-acre mixed-use project in the area, to include new residential and business opportunities.

Overall, Cedar City businesses are anticipating a strong 2021.