Utah Technology Council roundtable with Governor Huntsman
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a Governor’s Roundtable for selected Utah business leaders and CEO’s. About 25 of us met in Salt Lake for a discussion that was facilitated by the Utah Technology Council (UTC) (Doba is a new member of the UTC). Governor Huntsman wanted to address the most pressing issues on the minds of those of us leading Utah’s technology and biotech companies.
Most of the discussion centered around Utah’s blistering economy and incredibly low unemployment. (currently at 2.4%, 2nd lowest in the country) Governor Huntsman explained to us that after 3 years as Governor, he’s learned that his role in economic growth is to help facilitate an environment for good growth and good competition, but that past that, it’s up to entreprenuers and business leaders to drive the economy. The Kauffman Foundation recently released a report that ranked Utah as ”the most dynamic economy in the nation.” (you can download a news release from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development)
I was able to ask my main pressing question which is: how does Utah attract talent from out of state to address our incredibly low unemployment rate? We brainstormed some ideas that I think the UTC will start working on, and it sounds like we’ll have the Governor’s support. I hope to be able to help.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:57 AM
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[…] Though I was not in attendance, yeasterday the UTC hosted a Governor’s Roundtable with John Huntsman and several local technology leaders. Thanks go out to Jeremy Hanks for the great write up on his Blog about the event. […]
[Jeremy, it’s GOOD to see you back!! I e-mailed Doba’s Support team just to make sure you hadn’t disappeared…they wrote back that you were just very busy.]
You quoted your Governor as saying, “his role in economic growth is to help facilitate an environment for good growth and good competition, but that past that, it’s up to entreprenuers and business leaders to drive the economy.” I wish that all of the states had government that felt that way. I just signed up to be a part of our Lt. Governor’s Advisory Council for a “better Virginia.” If you have any thoughts or suggestions that I could pass on, feel free to drop me an e-mail.
My question would be “how does Utah drop it’s reputation as being a low wage state to attract talent? I don’t think that the government has anything to do this. It has to come from business leaders that care to build businesses that reward employees.
After finishing college in Utah (a few years ago), I had no interest in staying in the state because of the low wages.
Sandi, great to be back! I’ll email you some ideas about this.
David, I think you’d find Utah very different now. On a weekly basis, CEO’s I know tell me about recruiting from out of the state successfully. I’ve seen instances where employees are receiving wages here as high at Silicon Valley. And the cost of living is significantly lower. The key I think, and the one the Governor is going to try and support, is to get that message out there.
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[…] part of 2007, the Kaufmann Foundation ranked UT as the most dynamic economy in the Nation. Our unemployment was the lowest any state had every experienced back in 2007, and we’re still one of the best in the […]