Unified Economic Opportunity Commission

UNIFIED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION’S BANNER FIRST YEAR

By Kyle Palmer, Associate Director for the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission

In the Utah Legislature’s 2021 general session, Representative Tim Hawkes and Senator Ann Millner worked together with Gov. Spencer Cox and Go Utah Executive Director Dan Hemmert to create a new vision for economic development in the state. That vision was outlined in House Bill 348, which made several changes to economic policy and established something entirely new — the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission.

The motivation behind the commission’s creation lies in its name: to take a unified approach to foster economic opportunity for all Utahns. Chaired by Gov. Cox, the commission began its work in July. Its membership includes Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Brad Wilson, Go Utah’s Executive Director Dan Hemmert, and other executive branch and private partner leaders. The breadth of the commission’s membership signals a unified approach to expanding economic opportunity throughout the state.

Beyond the top-level commission are seven subcommittees and working groups led by dozens of Utah leaders, all tasked with tackling different aspects of the state’s economy. These leaders include legislators, local government officials, private stakeholders, and more. The groups include:

• Subcommittee on Business and Economic Development

• Subcommittee on Talent, Education, and Industry Alignment

• Working group on Rural Economic Growth

• Working group on Sustainable Community Growth

• Working group on Multicultural Economic Empowerment

• Working group on International Relations, Trade, and Immigration

• Working group on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Together, these groups have made dozens of recommendations to the commission. And, the commission has already acted on many of its subcommittee and working group recommendations, paving the way for future legislative action. Working together, Utah’s executive and legislative branches and private stakeholders are paving the way for a more strategic approach to economic development in Utah.

As the fastest-growing state in the country, growth isn’t enough. The commission plans to make the most of opportunities through good, accountable public policy that paves the way to more economic and other opportunities for all Utahns.