Utah’s Top 10 Economic Development Stories in 2020

Economic Development Partners Utah’s Top 10 Economic Development Stories in 2020

By: EDCUtah

Without a doubt, the top economic story of 2020 was the pandemic, and there was not much good news.

But, believe it or not, there were many other stories of great companies and incredible individuals that left their indelible mark on Utah’s economic landscape — and left us with milestones worth celebrating. Many of these successes involved the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah), the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), and other economic development partners.

Here are Utah’s Top 10 economic development stories of 2020, in chronological order:

1. Northrop Grumman announces Project Unity, a Ground Based Strategic

Deterrent (GBSD) expansion in Weber County, supported by a state tax credit incentive. Northrop Grumman is currently the largest security and defense company in Utah, with more than 5,100 employees across the state. The GBSD headquarters will add 2,250 jobs and capital expenditures of $380 million over 20 years.

2. Procter & Gamble (P&G) expands operations in Box Elder County with Project Syrup19. In 2011, Utah was home to P&G’s first domestic greenfield manufacturing site expansion in decades. This latest news marks the third time the company has expanded its Utah facilities. The

project represents an additional 221 jobs and capital expenditures of $310 million over 20 years. P&G received a state tax credit incentive for its latest expansion.

3. The Northern Utah Economic Alliance (NUEA) regional economic development group announces its name. Founded in 2019 and supported by EDCUtah and GOED, NUEA brands and promotes the

Northern Utah region, representing nearly 20 percent of Utah’s total population and economy. NUEA’s core mission is to create high-paying jobs in targeted industries to sustain long-term growth for the region.

NUEA’s goals to accomplish this mission include showcasing Davis and

Weber counties to attract new businesses in aerospace, technology, outdoor products, and other high-growth industries. Learn more at nuea.org.

4. Thanks to new legislation, the Sales & Use Tax Exemption, Utah’s Data

Center industry accelerates with the announcement of the new Novva campus in West Jordan. This legislation puts Utah on a par with Oregon and other states active in the industry.

5. The new Salt Lake City International Airport — a $4.1 billion project — opens ahead of schedule. Delta occupies all 25 gates in Concourse A, including the six international gates. Concourse B has 20 gates for Alaska, American, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and United airlines.

6. With the Northwest Quadrant (NWQ) Mega Site certification in Salt

Lake City, EDCUtah’s Mega Site program now has 10 sites statewide.

The NWQ site anchors the state’s emerging Inland Port.

7. After extensive training coordinated by EDCUtah, eight Utah communities become “Development Ready” certified, promising efficient and comprehensive responses to potential economic development projects.

8. Spencer Cox is elected as Utah’s 18th governor and taps State Senator

Dan Hemmert as the new head of GOED upon outgoing director Val

Hale’s retirement in early January 2021.

9. Colby Cooley is promoted to EDCUtah’s Vice President of Business

Development. Previously Cooley ran EDCUtah’s Global Strategy &

Outreach program.

10. After dozens of projects hit “pause” in March, EDCUtah sees the endof-year pipeline climb back to a typical level of 95 active economic development projects. More than half of these focus on manufacturing and distribution, a new record. Read more in EDCUtah’s Industry Profile.

In addition to these successes, EDCUtah staff assisted the state of Utah’s pandemic response efforts throughout most of 2020. The nine months of work culminated in December with a donation of 1 million+ face masks for disadvantaged children, facilitated by EDCUtah.

For more information, contact Colby Cooley, vice president of business development, at ccooley@edcutah.org.