Office of Rural Development Annual Report In 2019, the Governor’s Rural Partnership Board identified three priorities and recommendations to address in their strategic plan: Rural Economic Development, Rural Planning, and Rural Leadership. Within each of these three areas, top legislative priorities were chosen to guide the GRPB during the 2020 legislative session. Below is a report of each priority and recommendation. Under Rural Economic Development, four areas were identified to support: 1. Utah State University’s Rural Online Initiative (ROI) for remote workforce development. The GRPB supported monitoring numbers of individuals trained and employed and considered making a recommendation in the future for the legislature to continue funding this program. a. We are pleased to report that since October 2018, the Rural Online Initiative (ROI) has trained 844 Utah citizens in 19 rural counties.The total number of people trained also includes individuals trained on the Wasatch Front earlier this year as the ROI program responded to all Utah residents’needs in response to COVID-19. Of those taking the training to find employment, 137 now have remote jobs, with an equivalent impact of 5,216 jobs created on the Wasatch Front. ROI has also issued over 100 scholarships to continue online skills training as they seek remote employment. (View the full ROI 2020 Impact Narrative) 2. Southern Utah University made the private sector a focus of the Utah Rural Summit by launching the Southern Utah Speed Pitch competition, speakers covering city/county planning, and youth leadership and innovation with business students attending the Summit. a. We are pleased to report the Rural Summit’s continuation in 2020 modified to meet the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic with both live and virtual presenters and attendees, including the second annual Southern Utah Speed Pitch that formed an expansive partnership with Snow College. 3. The creation of a new post-performance “Rural Economic Development Tax Increment Finance” (REDTIF) incentive or modification of the existing EDTIF. a. We are pleased to report that legislation was created in SB 241 for this incentive, and opportunities were presented to address the challenges of promoting business expansion in rural Utah. 4. An additional percentage of Transient Room Tax (TRT) funds to be made available to counties of the 4th to 6th class and flexibility in spending for needed infrastructure to address the demands created by robust tourism visitation. a. We are pleased to report the legislation was supported by the GRPB and passed by the legislature (HB 280). Under Rural Planning, two areas were identified to support: 1. The Legislature — To create or expand an existing business expansion and retention grant program for rural communities to directly promote the growth of existing small business, economic diversification, job creation and strategic plans or implementation of economic development goals identified in current strategic economic development plans. a. We are pleased to report that the GRPB supported legislation of SB95. This legislation created the Rural County Grant program and allowed each county to individually identify their economic development needs and apply for grant funds to be used upon the recommendations of their statutorily mandated County Economic Development advisory boards. These boards are comprised of various private business and public sector representatives. Eight million in funds were allocated, but was reduced before disbursement to $2.4 million due to COVID-19 related budget reductions.
Office of Rural Development Annual Report 2020 Governor’s Rural Partnership Board Annual Report
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