3. • 97% College Bound
• All Faiths Welcome
• Diverse Community
• Infant - 12th Grade
Where Knowledge and Faith Meet
NOW
ENROLLINGTours available at
16 schools along
the Wasatch Front
(Ogden to Draper)
www.UtahCatholicSchools.org
Visit us online
5. Luxury at every level.
®
8 0 1 . 2 7 0 . 6 4 0 0
O A K W O O D H O M E S U TA H . C O M
COME IN TODAY &
EXPLORE OUR NEW HOME CENTER
2 0 6 E a s t W i n c h e s t e r, M u r r a y, U T
( S o u t h o f F a s h i o n P l a c e M a l l )
MORE THAN 25 COMMUNITIES... IN 6 COUNTIES
GROTTO KITCHENS DESIGN YOUR DREAM HOME
10. 8 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
welcome
Welcome to Utah!
As Governor of the great state of Utah, it is my pleasure to recommend Life in Utah. I am
pleased the successes of our vibrant economy, excellent education system, and principles of
good government have sparked your interest. What is more, I am proud of our most valuable
asset—the friendly and hospitable residents of Utah.
This year’s publication focuses on the theme, “The Utah way of doing business.” We are a
state of collaboration. We find solutions and take action. And, we are always looking for
ways to improve. From tourism and transportation to energy development, water, and
education, Utah comes together to lead the way and get things done.
Utah’s spectacular natural environment, lively arts and culture, and thriving business truly
offer what we call “Life Elevated.” Our wonderful state has something for everyone, and I
invite you to come and discover the many reasons for you to love Utah. I am confident your
experiences will increase your desire not only to return time and again, but perhaps to
relocate to Utah as well.
Sincerely,
Gary R. Herbert
Governor
12. 10 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
welcome
table of contents
16 work
Building on Utah’s thriving economy and business
38 learn
Gaining an education is the foundation for Utah’s prosperity
44 live
Highlighting a few of Utah’s favorite places to live
64 play
Discovering adventure in an all-season playground
Image courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism
ON THE COVER:
Sunrise Arch, Canyonlands National Park
by Charlie M. Lansche
Western Landscape & Wildlife Photography
www.CharlieLansche.com
15. Visit our website ESPOKES.COM
to learn which ebike is right for you.
Electric assist bicycles, or “ebikes,” are the latest technology in bicycles. An eBike
allows riders of all fitness levels to enjoy riding a bike. While pedaling, a discrete,
quiet, electric motor assists you depending on the assist level you need or desire.
Who is eSpokes?
We are electric bikes. We are the largest electric bike dealer in Utah, with stores
in St. George and Daybreak in South Jordan. We offer the largest selection of
high-quality, industry-leading electric bikes. We take pride in our knowledgeable
employees, outstanding service, and our certified ebike technicians.
A BETTERBETTER WAY
TO COMMUTECOMMUTE
16. LAKE HOMES THAT ARE SO NOW … AND THEN
DESIGN
FOR ALL TIME
“Have nothing in your houses that you do
not know to be useful or believe to be
beautiful.” Famed 19th Century designer
William Morris was, to put it mildly, a
stickler for the details. We’ve taken this
older, more meticulous approach to form
and function, and combined it with a
fresh, almost whimsical sense of light
and lifestyle to create the new homes of
Daybreak’s Lake Village.
LAKE HOMES THAT ARE SO NOW … AND THEN
DESIGN
FOR ALL TIME
“Have nothing in your houses that you do
not know to be useful or believe to be
beautiful.” Famed 19th Century designer
William Morris was, to put it mildly, a
stickler for the details. We’ve taken this
older, more meticulous approach to form
and function, and combined it with a
fresh, almost whimsical sense of light
and lifestyle to create the new homes of
Daybreak’s Lake Village.
17. AT 10 YEARS OLD, DAYBREAK IS A
MODEL OF COMMUNITY DESIGN.
A place where the homes are a
short walk or bike ride from parks.
Community gardens. A fresh-baked
pastry. Even a light rail station.
And Lake Village is the pinnacle
of Daybreak design, a fitting tenth
anniversary celebration.
THESE HOMES EMBODY LAKESIDE LIVING.
They welcome sunlight and cross breezes into every room.
With an ingenious use of glass and space, they blur the
barrier between indoors and outdoors. And every detail,
from a metal roof above a wrap-around porch to a “kayak
garage,” is a reminder that you’re among the privileged
few who get to live steps from a big, freshwater lake.
TOUR THE MODEL HOMES OF LAKE VILLAGE.
Start your tour at the Lake Cottage. From I-15 go west on 10600 S., cross Bangerter Hwy
and follow the signs to the Lake Cottage.
(801) 446-9022 A RIO TINTO/KENNECOTT COMMUNITY
DAYBREAKUTAH.COM
18. Our Mission: We stand as the voice of business, we
support our members’ success and we champion
community prosperity.
Utah’s Voice for Business
of interest:
chamber fast facts
MEMBER BUSINESSES 8,000+
MEMBER SPAN All 29 Utah counties,
14 states, 2 countries
LENGTH OF MEMBERSHIP
220 businesses have been members
for 25+ years
INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER
AGREEMENTS 10
SMALL BUSINESS MEMBERS
79 percent
HOSTED EVENTS / WORKSHOPS
150+ per year
STRATEGIC PARTNERS Downtown
Alliance, World Trade Center Utah
Member benefits: Discover the
advantages of belonging to the
Chamber at slchamber.com
As the state’s largest and longest-
serving business association, the Salt
Lake Chamber provides a new kind
of business leadership on a statewide
level through a blend of collaboration,
advocacy and service. We aim to create
an environment built for economic
success, now and in the future.
We continue to enhance business-
strengthening programs to make
membership in the Chamber more
valuable and to help us achieve our
mission.
As the “Voice of Business” in Utah,
we support policies that help
businesses thrive. We fight for a
greater investment in Utah’s future
workforce through the Prosperity
2020 movement. We help to
strengthen Utah’s health system,
sustain investment in transportation
and enhance community prosperity
through innovation. The Chamber will
continue to provide leadership in the
issues facing our state—to serve the
business community as well as Utah
citizens.
Thanks to the Chamber and its
partners’ work in securing good
business policy, Utah is one of the best
states to start a business, expand a
business or simply to do business.
Salt Lake Chamber is the largest and longest-running business association in Utah.
Images courtesy of Salt Lake Chamber
16 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
work
19. ”
“Thankyou, ZionsBank,
for35yearsofa
greatrelationship.
Gail Miller — OWNER,
LARRY H. MILLER GROUP OF COMPANIES
Gail Miller has trusted Zions Bank for over three decades — and for good reason.
“What makes a banking relationship work is knowing you can count on each other. Zions Bank
helps us do business in a way that perhaps we couldn’t without their support.”
To hear the rest of Gail’s story, visit
zionsbank.com/thankyou.
20. Innovate. Invest. Grow.
You’ve probably heard comments that Utah is the place to be for business. We’re happy
to report that the talk is true. With a business-minded governor leading a business-
friendly community, the Beehive State is continually growing and gaining recognition
both nationally and internationally.
Exceeding Expectations
Part of Utah’s major industries—energy, agriculture, IT/software.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism, University of Utah Tech Ventures
18 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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21. 19LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, is a
hive of activity. Multiple national
corporations are locating headquarter
operations, and other major business
units are opening in the newly rebuilt
city center. The arts are flourishing
with a new ballet training facility and
multiple stage performance centers
being filled nightly, plus a nationally
ranked symphony and our own summer
jazz festival—all helping to add to the
full sense of community in Salt Lake
City. On the economic front, the city is
home to the state’s largest chamber of
commerce and provides a center place
for the business community to gather.
Utah’s statewide economy is thriving,
as evidenced by an unemployment
rate of 3.6 percent and 3.3 percent job
growth as of December 2014.
A state long-identified with mining
and agriculture, Utah has steadily
diversified its industry mix through
economic ups and downs. All of this is
underpinned by the Governor’s Office
of Economic Development’s (GOED)
commitment of resources to target and
stimulate economic clusters around
strategic industries that have sufficient
critical mass to drive major economic
expansion. Aerospace and Defense,
Finance, IT/Software, Energy,
Life Sciences, Agriculture, High
Tech Manufacturing, and Outdoor
Products and Recreation round out
the key industries that drive the state.
The Hachman Index, which measures
the similarity and diversity of different
regions and the nation as a whole,
has found Utah to be the fourth most
diverse economy in the country.
Working with GOED, a wide range
of companies have expanded and
relocated operations in the state this
year. To mention a few: Goldman
Sachs, ATK, Varian Medical Systems,
Young Living, Jive Communications,
Oracle, Vista Outdoor and others
have expanded, thanks in part to the
state’s sensible business regulatory
environment and competitive incentive
programs.
The state consistently encourages new
businesses to relocate to Utah, and
we also promote existing businesses
through specialized in-state programs.
For example, the GOED Business
Resource Centers in conjunction
with its local educational and business
sector partners offer convenient
one-stop shop business services for
addressing the needs of new or growing
firms. The Procurement Technical
Assistance Centers provide assistance
to small and mid-sized Utah companies
to help them obtain government and
military contracts. Utah also offers an
online health insurance marketplace,
Avenue H, geared toward helping
small businesses control costs and
give employees access to health care
coverage.
GOED also propels rural economic
development, offering grants and
incentives to companies that locate
their business in small communities.
The agency proactively helps rural
communities, placing staff directly
in rural regions to assist them in
accomplishing economic development
projects.
In addition to all of this, GOED’s Office
of Tourism, Outdoor Recreation
Office and Utah Film Commission
work to bring visitors and film projects
to all corners of our state.
of interest:
look who’s growing
UTAH’S EXPANDING BUSINESSES
Goldman Sachs: Salt Lake City,
350 jobs
Overstock: Midvale, 333 jobs
Viracon: St. George, 300 jobs
Vista Outdoors HQ: Salt Lake County,
90 jobs
SyberJet: Cedar City, 1,000 jobs
Young Living: Utah County, 445 jobs
ATK: Clearfield, 1,002 jobs
OOCL: Salt Lake City, 300 jobs
Allstate Corporation: Ogden, 700
jobs
Varian Medical Systems: Salt Lake
City, 1,000 jobs
Houseling Nurseries Oxnard, Inc.:
Juab County, 282 jobs
Oracle: Lehi, 351 jobs
Utah’s economic mission is to
excel in job creation, innovation,
entrepreneurship, global business,
a quality workforce and also have
a stable and sustainable business-
friendly environment. Learn more
about GOED at utah.business.gov
While maintaining Utah’s current
economy, we also look to the
future. Utah continues to provide
for its 665,000 strong K-12 future
workforce to ensure our long-term
competitiveness. One example is the
Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math (STEM) Action Center,
a program that drives research and
implementation of STEM education
and best practices for K-12 students.
The STEM Action Center supports
the governor’s education plan and the
Chamber’s Prosperity 2020 initiative.
Utah No. 1 for 2011-2013, 2015 “Best State for Business and Careers” –
Utah No. 1 Best State for Business, 2014 —
Utah the only state to rank in Top 10 for all categories (e.g.: Exports, Business Climate)
—.. ,
Utah No. 1 Economic Dynamism — ,
Utah No. 1 for Economic Outlook — ,
22. 20 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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Competing in a global economy has become a necessity not only for businesses,
but also for states. Utah is certainly one of the brightest stars on the flag when
it comes to export growth. The mission of World Trade Center Utah is to help
Utah companies think, act and succeed globally.
Going Global
Utah continues to emerge as a premier
global business destination despite being a
landlocked state.
Small business owners are encouraged
to build their customer base, not just
within the state or country, but outside
of the United States. From 2008 to 2013,
Utah’s exports grew by 36 percent, which
is double the U.S. average of 18 percent.
In 2013, Utah businesses exported $16.1
billion dollars to more than 200 countries.
World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah)
is a voice for international business in
the state. It supports Utah businesses in
international expansion efforts by offering
training seminars, regional forums and
newsletters focused on international
business development, trade issues and
export opportunities.
WTC Utah is a strategic partner with
the Salt Lake Chamber in helping Utah
of interest:
wtc utah facts
UTAH’S TOP FIVE
EXPORT MARKETS
Hong Kong: $5,529 million
China: $1,412 million
Canada: $1,324 million
United Kingdom: $1,293 million
Thailand: $835 million
FEDERAL TRADE
AGREEMENT PARTNERS
In the past 10 years, Utah exports
to Federal Trade Agreement
partners grew by 127 percent
WTC Utah helps Utah companies
think, act and succeed globally.
Learn more at wtcutah.com
businesses enter into profitable global
markets. Not only do international
exports bring revenue to Utah businesses,
they also create and support Utah and
American jobs. In 2013, more than 60,000
jobs were supported by Utah exports.
WTC Utah partners with the state
to bring businesses to Utah and take
Utah businesses to new countries. This
past fiscal year, Utah’s International
Trade and Diplomacy Office, housed
in the Governor’s Office of Economic
Development (GOED), led seven trade
missions to various countries.
The success of last year’s Utah Global
Forum, returning August 2015, is
evidence of the collaborative nature of
these three organizations that all work
toward the common goal of supporting
Utah businesses.
World Trade Center Utah offices at City Creek Center.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism
24. HOW TO GET AROUND
You can ride the TRAX light rail
system straight from the airport into
downtown Salt Lake City in just 20
minutes, and beyond as well. The Free
Fare Zone of TRAX is centered in
downtown and can get you to anything
you need at absolutely no charge within
the area. Then, once downtown, with
GREENbike, SLC’s fast-growing bike
share program, you can hop a bike and
get from point A to point B in a fun and
active way—no activewear required.
WHERE TO STAY
A handful of hotels are within short
walking distance of the Salt Palace
Convention Center and even more
call downtown home. With more than
7,000 rooms available, there’s no
shortage of space for visitors, whether
for business or leisure, from motels, bed
and breakfasts, and even the fanciest
of hotels. Hotels that come highly
recommended include Hilton Hotel Salt
Lake City Center, Salt Lake Marriott
Downtown at City Creek, Hotel
Monaco, the Grand America and Little
America Hotel.
WHERE TO EAT
Salt Lake City is expanding its palate
one restaurant at a time, and so can
you on your trip. From the seafood
delights at Market Street Grill and
Oyster Bar, sushi at Naked Fish,
Bambara’s American cuisine to Copper
Onion’s locally sourced contemporary
goodness and beyond, you’re bound to
find a restaurant close by to close your
business deal—all over a delicious lunch.
HAPPY HOUR AND BREWS
Wind down after a busy day with
some locally made brews at the likes of
Squatters and Red Rock Brewery. If
Utah is securing its place as a hot spot for national and
international conventions thanks to events such as the
Outdoor Retailer Winter / Summer Markets, Salt Lake
Comic Con and Fan Xperience, the Sundance Film
Festival, and more putting up shop in the heart of Salt
Lake City at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
Coming to Salt Lake City
on a Business Trip?
RIDE FREE If you enter and exit the
bus or TRAX within the boundaries
o f t h e F R E E FA R E Z O N E
Free Fare Zone
500 N
North Temple
South Temple
1st Ave
100 S
200 S
300 S
400 S
StateSt
MainSt
WTemple
200W
200E
State
Capitol
300W
500 S
400W
500W
600W
DOWNTOWN SLC
Arena
Station
Planetarium
Station
OldGreekTown
Station
SaltLake
CentralStation
Temple
Square
Station
City
Center
Station
Gallivan
Center
Station
Courthouse Station
Library
Station
you want more spirit-based drinks, Bar
X provides a relaxed speakeasy ambience
with wonderful mixologists behind the
counter.
Of course, being downtown also puts
you in the most central location for
anything and everything. If you forgot
something at home or want some
groceries, Harmons is right next to City
Creek Center (closed Sundays), where
you could spend an afternoon window
shopping. If you need a shopping fix on a
Sunday, The Gateway is Utah’s premier
outdoor shopping destination just west
of downtown. And, with a new year-
round market system downtown, you
could hit up the local farmers and crafts
markets on weekends. The possibilities
are endless!
Make your business trip an enjoyable
one in Salt Lake City, and just explore!
You never know what you might find.
P.S. Keep an eye out for the alleyway
featuring a larger-than-life line of
favorite classic novels.
Plan ahead for your next business or
leisure trip at visitutah.com
of interest:
four seasons
SALT LAKE AREA CLIMATE
AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE
52˚F
JANUARY TEMPERATURE
Avg High: 36.4˚F / Avg. Low: 19.3˚F
JULY TEMPERATURE
Avg High: 92.2˚F / Avg. Low: 63.7˚F
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRECIPITATION
16.2 inches
AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOW FALL
58.6 inches
SOURCE: National Weather Service
Forecast Office climate-zion.com
Images courtesy of Red Butte Garden, Mischelly Media
22 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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26. 24 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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Bringing the World Outside
profile
vista outdoor hq
Vista Outdoor’s
customers expect
rugged and
dependable—and
invest in products
they can trust.
Our company is committed to
leveraging our capabilities, experience
and passion for outdoor sports
and recreation into products that
help outdoor enthusiasts achieve
independence and success in the
outdoor activity of their choice.
We’ve chosen to locate our corporate
headquarters in Utah to help facilitate
that mission.
Utah is a great place to do business,
with Forbes magazine naming Utah
as the best state for business in 2014.
From skiing to hunting to camping to
mountain biking and golfing, Utah is
an epicenter for individual outdoor
recreation.
I was born and raised in Utah, and love
the outdoor lifestyle the state has to
offer. Utah has a talented and well-
educated workforce and a great quality
of life. These qualities, along with the
state’s appeal to outdoor enthusiasts
and recreation companies, support our
decision to establish the headquarters
for this new and exciting company in
the Beehive State.
Vista Outdoor is a $2.3 billion global
designer, manufacturer and marketer
in the growing outdoor sports and
recreation markets. Our company is
a leader in outdoor recreation and
owns 30 widely known and respected
outdoor brands, including Federal
Premium, CCI, Bushnell, Primos,
Weaver Optics, BLACKHAWK!, Bollé
and Savage Arms.
The headquarters in Utah will house
Vista Outdoor executives, including
the CEO, CFO, General Counsel and
Senior Vice President of Human
Resources, and corporate employees in
the legal, finance, human resources, IT,
sales, marketing and communications
departments. Our intent is to establish
new high-paying corporate jobs in
Utah over the next several years as
we expand and grow. In addition,
the Vista Outdoor brand Gold Tip
currently employs approximately 50
skilled people in Orem, manufacturing
archery products. The company
employs approximately 5,800 skilled
Mark DeYoung, CEO of Vista Outdoor. Image courtesy of Vista Outdoor
workers worldwide with facilities in
the United States, Canada, Europe,
Mexico and Asia.
Outdoor sports and recreation is a
$63 billion industry with a passionate
and devoted customer base. We’re
passionate too, because we use the
products we make. We know our
customers expect products that are
rugged and dependable—they invest
in products they can trust.
Vista Outdoor is proud to partner with
the State of Utah as we establish a new,
global headquarters for this publicly
traded company (VSTO on the NYSE).
We’re committed to bringing the world
outside—and that mission starts in
Utah.
27. 25LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
8770 jeremy road | park city, utah | 435·649·2700 | thejeremy.com
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28. 26 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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Investing in People
profile
the buckner company
Terry Buckner is the CEO of The
Buckner Company, an insurance
brokerage founded in 1936 by Buckner’s
grandfather. When Buckner got involved,
the company had eight employees; now
the company has 125 employees with
offices in Utah, Idaho and Colorado. The
Buckner Company is a strong, diverse
business that champions creativity,
integrity and community service.
When Buckner came into the business
in 1979, he had investigated the nature
of joining a family business and instead
negotiated to become the sole purchaser
of the company in the future. He was
aware that not many family businesses
survived into their fourth generation and
he wanted to make sure that The Buckner
Company lasted and did well. Now
Buckner is the only member of his family
in this thriving business.
Early in his career, Buckner had a pivotal
experience that shaped the way that he
did business. He had a specific client
that was as much as 38 percent of the
company’s revenue, but unfortunately
they lost the client. Buckner reflected
on how such an event makes you step
back and look at yourself. This lost client
forced the company to test their mettle,
make sure they were committed to
what they were doing and diversify so
that not one client has as big of a stake
in their firm. He says, “Now we don’t
have one client that has more than 2
percent of our revenue. The year this
happened we saw a dip in our revenue,
so we responded by diversifying and
strengthening our portfolio to redefine
ourselves.”
At The Buckner Company, they are
always striving for excellence and
recruiting top talent. They work hard
to be in tune with new trends in the
marketplace and to deal with security
threats facing clients’ identities; they
work hard to craft technology that will
address those needs. Buckner says, “We
are always thinking about the future,
trying to stay abreast of trends in our
field, which is challenging. What we
really sell is our knowledge. We are a
people company and work meticulously
to provide our clients with excellent
information to make the best decisions.”
Service is an essential component of The
Buckner Company. Buckner believes that
service in the community is the rent that
we pay for the privileges that come our
way. He states, “Serving the community
not only helps the community, but our
business because it allows others to get
to know us. People will do business with
people they know and trust. Service
helps build a great community and a
strong business.”
Buckner enjoys doing business in Utah.
“Leadership in Utah is approachable.
Our economy is stable. People want to
do business here and Utah is family
friendly.”
As a business professional interested
in millennials, Buckner says, “I am
passionate about attracting young
talent to my company. The insurance
industry is not always perceived as a
dynamic environment, but truth be
told, there is a tremendous amount of
opportunity for young people looking to
build a career for themselves. We have
focused our outreach and recruitment
efforts on reaching out to bright young
students. I am looking to grow the next
group of leadership and talent based on
the culture we have built in this firm,
specifically related to ethics, community
service and integrity.”
As a successful CEO, Buckner’s advice
for someone beginning their career is
to focus on people. “Business is about
people. It is about relationships with
people and doing the right thing for
people.” Buckner encourages young
professionals to be creative and
passionate about the field that they
pursue. “It is about passion! Find
something you feel passion for when
you get out of bed. Find that passion and
enjoy the people that you work with. This
is what makes a career successful and
gratifying.”
The Buckner Company is a strong, diverse business that
champions creativity, integrity and community service.
Terry Buckner, CEO of The Buckner Company.
Image courtesy of The Buckner Company
30.
Over the last several years, Utah has outperformed a sluggish national economy.
Consequently, the state’s commercial real estate market has maintained above-
average performance in most areas. Looking ahead, Utah’s stable, business-friendly
environment will attract new companies and foster the expansion of those businesses
already in Utah.
Commercial Offerings
Aerial view from the Key Bank Tower of downtown Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake Valley.
Image courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism
28 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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office
positive demands
While job creation remains positive as
the year continues to unfold, office-
using sectors trending toward efficiency
will continue to influence office
markets. Healthy demand for office
space is allowing the Salt Lake market’s
office vacancy rate to fall. Limited
amounts of space were completed
during 2014, which allow vacancy to
decline further. However, declines will
slow as new office space is completed
in 2015.
Overall, Salt Lake City’s office market
is expected to remain healthy with
particular strength in Sandy and
Draper due to the area’s strategic
location and growth in the tech sector.
retail
healthy growth
Salt Lake’s retail market is influenced
by a range of factors, from employment
and wage growth to housing and
sentiment. Overall, the commercial
real estate demand is healthy.
Currently, high-quality space with
good accessibility is in high demand
by retailers to ensure their focus on a
quality shopping experience. This trend
is expected to continue and developers
are moving to meet the needs of the
market demand.
Completed retail construction
during the first three quarters of
2014 surpassed the total for all 2013
and is expected to continue rising
through year-end. Current commercial
projections indicating healthy growth
Leasing and construction across all property types continue to increase in Utah’s commercial real estate
markets. Of note is the amount of new space that is under construction. Learn more at slchamber.com
Utah Receives “A” Grade in Government Technology Survey —
Utah No. 2 in Business Facilities / Climate — ,
Utah Ranks High “2013 Manufacturing and Logistics National Report” —,
will continue during the coming year.
Such being the case, retailers will
continue to find opportunity in Utah.
industrial
strong development
Salt Lake’s strategic regional location
continues to support strong levels
of demand for warehousing and
distribution space. The rise of
e-commerce, driven by advances in
technology, has further enhanced this
demand.
Professionals are noting an increase
in activity from manufacturers, which
is significant due to the fact that it
represents a greater concentration of
jobs created relative to warehousing
or distribution centers. Additionally,
such facilities often require a
significant investment in the local
economy. Strong demand is spurring
development.
A high level of construction is expected
to continue through at least mid-2015.
Availability was favorably low at 8.4
percent at the end of the third quarter
of 2014, but large amounts of new
supply entering the market will put
upward pressure on that figure in the
near-term. The demand is expected
to maintain a healthy relationship
with supply, ensuring vacancy and
availability will remain below national
averages for the foreseeable future.
investment
good fortune
The same type of optimism that is
motivating developers to commit
capital to new local projects is
motivating investors in a broader
sense. Utah’s strong economy is
supporting demand for commercial real
estate properties and providing new
opportunities. Investors are attracted
to the area due to bright long-term
outlook for the local economy and a
resilient commercial real estate market.
A business-friendly climate, favorable
demographics and geographical
constraints are all factors contributing
to this positive outlook. Moving
forward, investor activity is expected
to remain strong with higher levels
of market activity through the end of
2015.
confidence
looking forward
Constructive growth indicators for all
major commercial real estate property
types continue to affirm a positive view
of the local economy. Furthermore,
the amount of construction activity
in the market represents confidence
in the long-term outlook for Salt
Lake’s economy because commercial
structures typically have a long life, and
new construction can be viewed as a
bet on long-term demand.
As these trends develop, changes in
composition of growth are likely, but
commercial real estate is expected
to continue to reflect a healthy local
economy.
SOURCE: Excerpts from the 2014 Fall
Economic Outlook were used for this
article. Produced by CBRE
in partnership with the
Salt Lake Chamber
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USTAR is a long-term, state-funded investment to strengthen Utah’s tech
economy through three investment areas of research infrastructure, recruited
researchers and regional technology development all aimed at commercialization.
Driving Technology
Since its inception in 2006, more than
50 researchers at the Utah Science
Technology and Research Initiative
(USTAR) have begun the work of
filling the research pipeline with new
technologies. These new inventions
will support the existing industry and
are the seeds for new tech start-ups.
One example of a research invention
commercializing and establishing a new
Utah business is the launch of Wireless
Advanced Vehicle Electrification
(WAVE).
WAVE, a USTAR spin-out company
from Utah State University (USU),
launched their first commercial
wirelessly powered electric bus on the
University of Utah (U of U) campus in
October 2014.
“We are excited to see a project USTAR
played a role in become a viable
spin-out company,” says Greg Bell,
chairman of the USTAR governing
authority board. “It is a reminder of
the entrepreneurial spirit here in Utah,
and the ability our universities have
to take an amazing idea and develop
something that will truly change the
lives of those living in our cities.”
The WAVE technology operates by
transferring energy wirelessly to
stationary vehicles using infrastructure
embedded in the roadway. This
wireless charging capability allows
for continuous use of the electric
vehicle without requiring it to plug
in. The service route that crosses the
University of Utah campus is the first
to feature WAVE’s state-of-the-art
Wireless Power Transfer (WPT)
technology and includes a 50 kW
wirelessly powered electric bus.
Using wireless power transfer
technology developed at USTAR’s
Advanced Transportation Institute
at USU, researcher Hunter Wu and
his team have eliminated the need for
heavy and expensive electric vehicle
batteries. By using inductive power
to magnetically transfer electricity
between the vehicle and the roadway
without wires or cables while the
vehicle is stopped, the WAVE system
represents the most powerful and
efficient single pad wireless charging
system developed for use in public
transit.
“The development of the Aggie Bus
marked a historic achievement in the
science of electric vehicles,” says Ivy
Estabrooke, Ph.D., USTAR executive
director. “And now with the launch of
the first commercial project, WAVE is a
demonstration of the potential USTAR-
funded research has in the future of
technology development in the state.”
WAVE is just one example of the
potential impact that USTAR can have
on the State of Utah.
USTAR works with innovators and
entrepreneurs around the state. Learn
to maximize your innovative business
potential by collaborating with USTAR.
Learn more at innovationutah.com
visitdavisareautah.com
University of Utah and Utah State University “WAVE” buses. Images courtesy of USTAR
33. cbre.com/slc
MARKET
LEADERSHIP
REDEFINED
With a passion for everything that
makes our city so special, CBRE is
the unrivaled leader in commercial
real estate services in Salt Lake City.
Strategic, forward-thinking and
results-driven, our professionals
are committed to delivering the
best of Utah to our clients and the
communities we serve.
For more information on how CBRE can
assist you with your real estate needs
please contact:
Mark Bouchard
+1 801 869 8000
34. Utahns love living in Utah and enjoy a
tremendous quality of life, and as a result
our population continues to grow. Envision
Utah believes that if we make the right
choices, life in Utah can get even better as
our population gets bigger.
BIG DECISIONS AHEAD
As Utah adds another 2.5 million people by
2050, ask yourself:
• Will we have clean air to breathe?
• Enough water for our needs?
• Transportation choices that
promote a high quality of life?
• An affordable cost of living, with
good housing options for everyone?
• Open space, including natural
lands, agriculture and recreational
options?
• Quality jobs for all of us? An
educated population?
• Affordable energy supplies
that don’t damage our air and
environment?
The answers will depend on the choices we
make and Envision Utah is bringing these
questions to every Utahn to answer.
HISTORY OF PLANNING
Utah has a long history of planning for
and preparing for the future dating back to
early pioneer settlers planning the layout
of cities before arriving in the valley.
Fast forward to 1997 when Envision Utah
hosted a historic series of workshops
and surveys that ended up laying the
groundwork for actions including TRAX,
FrontRunner, Daybreak, City Creek, water
conservation and more. Planning for the
future has worked for Utah in the past and
will work in the future.
PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE NOW
Envision Utah is making history again
with the “Your Utah, Your Future”
Envision Utah engages people to create and sustain
communities that are beautiful, prosperous, healthy
and neighborly for current and future residents. Utah is
growing and how our state grows matters.
Quality of Life?
of interest:
growth spurt
BE PART OF THE FUTURE
Envision Utah needs 50,000 Utahns
like you to help make history and
participate in the “Your Utah, Your
Future” project.
Your input is essential to helping
create a collective vision for our future,
because no vision will succeed unless it
is a shared vision.
Show your support for Utah’s future
by going to envisionutah.org to build
your own Utah. You can also sign up
to add your voice to the “Your Utah,
Your Future” survey, which will take
place this spring to determine how Utah
should address the challenging growth
questions ahead.
You’ll be able to make decisions about
how Utah grows and then watch them
come to life. Your choices will be used
to develop Utah’s future.
Utah is growing. Get involved and see
how you can help shape the state’s
future by going to envisionutah.org
project, a statewide process that invites the
public to get involved and decide how Utah
will grow. Throughout 2015, Envision Utah
will be asking Utahns to help create a voice
for the future that’s strong enough to drive
positive action.
To facilitate the planning process, Envision
Utah invites you to explore several issues
and voice your opinion about how we
should grow. These issues include:
• Agriculture
• Air Quality
• Disaster Resilience
• Education
• Energy
• Housing and Cost of Living
• Jobs and Economy
• Public Lands
• Recreation
• Transportation and Communities
• Water
Envision Utah believes that through good
information and transparent, collaborative
problem solving, people in Utah can
plan for a prosperous future. Given the
significant and complex challenges we’re all
facing today, we can only be successful by
pulling together toward common goals.
Energy and air quality are objectives
for Envision Utah. Current projects in Utah
are Milford Wind Farm, Beaver / TRAX and
GREENbike, downtown Salt Lake City.
Images courtesy of Mischelly Media
and Utah Office of Tourism
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36. Though it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly why Utahns are healthier than their
neighbors, it is evident that Utah’s comprehensive health care system plays a
vital role in keeping Utah families healthy. Utah is home to a robust and innovative
health care system that is among the nation’s best.
Feeling Good
Utah’s health care options are many and varied, but all rank nationally high in quality and affordability, including
Primary’s Childrens Hospital (top), Huntsman Cancer Institute (left), Shriners Hospital for Kids (center) and Intermountain Healthcare (right.
Images courtesy of individual healthcare facilities
’ -
WRITTEN BY: Sarah Ryther Francom
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The state’s diverse health care system
offers services that are both high in
quality and affordable; in fact, Utahns
enjoy the lowest health care costs of
any state, according to the Wall Street
Journal. Utahns also claim some of the
nation’s lowest rates of cancer deaths,
heart disease, infant mortality and
obesity, according to the United Health
Foundation.
high quality
low cost
Utah has been named one of the
nation’s healthiest states by the
United Health Foundation. Integral
to this success are Utah’s major
health care systems, three of which
are Intermountain Healthcare,
MountainStar Healthcare and
University of Utah Health Care.
Each offer highly specialized services,
participate in ground-breaking research
and have received national acclaim.
Intermountain Healthcare is one of
Utah’s most celebrated health care
systems. A not-for-profit organization,
Intermountain is the West’s largest
health care provider. It includes 22
hospitals and more than 185 clinics,
as well as a health insurance division,
SelectHealth.
“The combination of services helps
us achieve our mission, which is
helping people live the healthiest lives
possible,” says Greg Poulsen, senior vice
president and chief strategy officer at
Intermountain. “We also try to offer
care in the most affordable fashion
possible. We believe that by putting the
components together, we’re able to help
people maintain their health in a cost-
effective manner.”
Utah No. 1 as Happiest State in America —,
Utah No. 9 Nationally “Percentage of Commuters who Bicycle to Work” — ,
Utah No. 11 “Fittest State in the Union” — ,
Intermountain’s unique services
attract individuals from all over the
western region. One such example is
The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
(TOSH), which is one of the country’s
premier facilities for orthopedic
care. From professional athletes to
veterans, TOSH provides quality
care in orthopedic surgery, sports
medicine, athletic training and more,
participates in research with partnering
organizations.
Intermountain’s impact extends
beyond providing care to conducting
ground-breaking research. Because
Intermountain is a not-for-profit,
it is able to cycle generated profits
back into research and services. The
organization has received national
awards for its innovative processes
and research that have directly led to
better care and lower costs. Poulsen
points to the organization’s renowned
pneumonia research as an example.
After recognizing that there were
135 pneumonia treatments across
the nation, Intermountain clinicians
collaborated and researched to
determine which treatment was best.
The results were extraordinary.
“Cost of pneumonia treatment dropped
40 percent over three years in Utah, and
the mortality rate lowered,” Poulsen
says.
care where
you need it
No matter your health care needs, you
will find some of the nation’s best and
most innovative providers and services
in Utah. MountainStar Healthcare is
another nationally acclaimed system in
the state. Part of Hospital Corporation
of America (HCA), one of the nation’s
leading health care providers,
MountainStar focuses on, “increasing
access to quality health care—where
it’s needed and in a variety of settings
and locations,” says Gregory R. Angle,
president at MountainStar Healthcare.
Providing quality care that is
easily accessible is a key part of
MountainStar’s mission. “We know our
patients deserve excellent care, and
that increasingly patients are concerned
about the complexity, availability
and cost of that care,” says Angle. “At
MountainStar, we are committed to
continuing to identify innovative ways
to increase value to patients.”
According to Angle, MountainStar
hospitals were the first in Utah to be
designated as Accredited Chest Pain
Centers, an initiative that continues
to improve cardiac care throughout
the state. The system was also first
to establish a satellite emergency
department in an area where that level
of care was not available locally.
Another award-winning health care
organization is the University of Utah
Health Care system, which is the
Intermountain West’s only academic
medical research and teaching
organization. Consistently ranked
among US News & World Report’s Best
Hospitals, the University of Utah
Health Care system is renowned for its
highly specialized treatment in several
areas, including stroke and cardiology,
genetic-related diseases, and organ
transplantation. The system also offers
several specialty centers, including
the John A. Moran Eye Center, the
Cardiovascular Center, the Clinical
Neurosciences Center and the Utah
Diabetes Center.
The Huntsman Cancer Institute
(HCI), which is part of the University
of Utah Health Care system, is one of
38. the nation’s premier cancer care and
research centers. Individuals with
cancer travel from all over the United
States to seek cancer treatment from
HCI. Beyond world-class cancer care
and treatment, HCI has conducted
ground-breaking research that has
helped to identify genetic mutations
responsible for several cancers. HCI
is also a National Cancer Institute
(NCI)-Designated Cancer Center,
which means it meets the highest
standards for cancer care and research.
the heart
of the matter
Having a seriously sick or injured child
is among every parent’s worst fears.
In Utah, parents rest a little easier
knowing that they are near some of
the nation’s best child health care
organizations, two of which include
Primary Children’s Hospital and
Shriners Hospital for Children. These
renowned institutions offer child
health care that is unmatched in the
Intermountain West, healing children
for life and giving their families a
greater peace of mind.
Primary Children’s is part of the
Intermountain Healthcare system and
is affiliated with the University of Utah
School of Medicine. Primary Children’s
is the only full-service children’s
hospital in the five-state Intermountain
area. “Many of our services for children,
such as heart surgery, cancer treatment,
transplants and many others, are not
available in adult hospitals,” says Katy
Welkie, CEO of Primary Children’s.
“We are also the only Pediatric Trauma
I Center in the Intermountain West.
As a result, we see some of the sickest
and most seriously injured children
from Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming,
Nevada and beyond.”
Primary Children’s is nationally ranked
in eight specialties, including cancer,
cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes,
and neurosurgery, according to the
U.S. News World Best Hospitals Report.
Primary Children’s also participates
in nearly 700 research projects, many
of them in collaboration with other
children’s hospitals, to further improve
health care practices.
Though the hospital has received
several accolades, Welkie says the real
reward goes beyond the statistics. “I
have watched as doctors, nurses and
others have stepped up to provide not
just the medical care for a child, but the
emotional support the parents need to
cope with the child’s illness,” she says.
“It’s difficult to quantify that kind of
service. It’s about healing, supporting
and caring, and we partner with
patients and families.”
Kevin Martin, administrator at
Shriners Hospitals for Children, agrees
with Welkie, adding that patients are
considered family. “Once you become
a patient at Shriners Hospitals for
Children, you will have follow-up visits
and interventions as needed until you
are as old as 21,” he says. “This could
span 10 to 15 years.”
Celebrating its 90th year in Utah
during 2015, Shriners Hospital services
children in Utah and six surrounding
states, including parts of northern
Mexico. “We deliver care to children
regardless of their ability to pay. We
are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization
that is not interested in making money,
only caring for the children that need
our services,” says Martin. “If someone
needs financial assistance, they can
qualify for help if they are within 400
percent of poverty level, which far
exceeds any other charity care policy in
the Intermountain region.”
Martin says Shriners Hospital is proud
to play a role in Utah’s robust health
care system. “We have high quality
health care services in this state for
which we should be truly grateful.”
of interest:
avenue H—utah’s
innovative health
exchange
Before the Affordable Care Act was
passed, Utah innovatively launched one
of the nation’s first health exchanges
known as Avenue H. Avenue H is an
online health insurance marketplace
that is designed to help Utah’s small
businesses control the escalating
costs of health coverage. It uses a
defined-contribution model, which
means employers give their employees
a set dollar amount to use toward an
insurance plan. Three major providers—
UnitedHealthcare, Regence BlueCross
BlueShield of Utah and SelectHealth—
participate in Avenue H and together
offer more than 100 insurance plans.
Today nearly 4,000 employers are
participating in Avenue H.
Patricia Conner, director of Avenue
H, describes the exchange as a cost-
and time-saver for small businesses.
“You could have 10 employees on
10 different plans, and the employer
would get one invoice. Employers can
give their employees whatever they
can afford, and they don’t have worry
about premiums going up,” says Conner,
adding that it takes the tricky task of
selecting health insurance plans out of
the employer’s hands.
It’s also a win for employees, who now
have the opportunity to select a plan
that works for their personal needs.
“Because [employees] have a choice in
their plan, they become accountable
for their own selection and many start
monitoring their own health,” says
Conner. “It benefits everyone.”
Healthy markets for Utah small
businesses. Learn more about this
program at avenueh.com
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happy
to us!
th
1925-2015
At Shriners Hospital for Children our mission is simple: deliver world-class care to children who
need it most — whether their families can afford it or not.
For 90 years we’ve helped tens of thousands of children affected by various orthopaedic
conditions. While expertise, dedication and generosity make it possible, we believe our hospital
is fueled by love. Thanks to the generous support of the community we serve, we’re helping
children make the journey from patients back to kids.
801.536.3500 | shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/saltlakecity
facebook.com/shrinershospitalsforchildren Salt Lake City
40. Utah boasts a healthy system of higher education that offers a wide variety of
programs for students in many fields. Through both private and public schools,
Utah higher education is both affordable and crucial for job growth in the state.
Class is in Session
Utah’s higher education covers every region of the state with public and private universities: University of Utah (Salt Lake City), Brigham Young
University (Provo), Utah State University (Logan), Utah Valley University (Provo), Salt Lake Community College
(Salt Lake City), Southern Utah University (Cedar City), Weber State University (Ogden), Dixie State University (St. George).
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism and University of Utah Media Relations
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of interest:
utah’s higher ed
STUDENTS IN THE UTAH SYSTEM
OF HIGHER EDUCATION
• Eight public colleges and
universities
• 167,317 students enrolled in Fall
2014 (more than 75 percent of all
college students in Utah)
• 32,491 credentials awarded in
spring 2014 (about 75 percent of all
credentials)
• Enrollment projected to increase by
51,000 students in the next 10 years
TUITION AND STUDENT DEBT
IN UTAH
• Third lowest four-year tuition in the
nation
• Third lowest student debt as
percent of the cost of living
• Second in number of degrees
awarded per $100,000 spent
• Of those who borrow, average
student debt ($22,418) is lower than
national average ($29,400)
• In 2014, the Utah Educational
Savings Plan received Morningstar
Analyst Rating of Gold for the
fourth consecutive year
IMPORTANCE OF A COLLEGE
EDUCATION
• College grads earn $830,000 more
over a lifetime than those with only
a high school diploma
• College grads are three times less
likely to be unemployed and four
times less likely to live in poverty
than those with only a high school
diploma
• In 2013, the unemployment rate
of a Utahn with only a high school
diploma was 12 percent, while for a
Utahn with a bachelor’s degree, it
was 2 percent
SOURCE: Utah System of Higher
Education
Utah’s comprehensive system of higher
education includes the eight public,
nonprofit colleges and universities in
the state: two research universities,
the University of Utah and Utah
State University; four regional
universities: Weber State University,
Southern Utah University, Dixie
State University and Utah Valley
University; and two community
colleges: Salt Lake Community College
and Snow College.
“We are focused on increasing
participation and completion in the
Utah System of Higher Education
(USHE),” says Utah Commissioner of
Higher Education David L. Buhler. “As
more and more of today’s jobs demand
a certificate or college degree, we are
working to ensure that all Utahns have
access to a high quality and affordable
postsecondary education.”
USHE is working on multiple
initiatives to increase college success
and graduation rates, and also work
with K-12 partners to improve college
preparation for Utah.
utah college
application week
An example of this is Utah College
Application Week. More than 20,000
Utah high school seniors in 49 high
schools throughout Utah are given
the opportunity to apply for college
during the school day, with a special
emphasis placed on low-income
and first-generation students. Utah
College Application Week will continue
expanding each year to provide
statewide support for students. Pam
Jacobsen, a counselor at Roy High
School, says, “Utah College Application
Week has provided seniors with the
support and structure they need
to begin and complete the college
application process. Attending college
is now an attainable dream for many
seniors who never dared to dream big!”
regents’
scholarship
USHE also administers the Regents’
Scholarship, a statewide merit-based
scholarship that encourages a college-
prep course of study. The Regents’
Scholarship has seen 54 percent
average year-over-year growth since its
inception in 2008. As a sister program
to the Regents’ Scholarship, Utah
Scholars delivers the college-prep
message to classrooms via business
volunteers to more than 29,000 eighth
graders in 133 junior high schools.
concurrent
enrollment
One key program that continues to grow
is concurrent enrollment. Last year,
more than 27,000 Utah high school
juniors and seniors earned college credit
from USHE institutions. By taking
concurrent enrollment courses while in
high school, these students saved $27
million in college tuition they would
have paid as traditional college students.
fifteen to finish
campaign
A recent effort to increase affordability
and degree completion is the Fifteen to
Finish campaign. In order for students
to finish an undergraduate degree in
four years, they must take at least 15
credit hours a semester, one more class
than the 12 credits defined as “full-
time.” By taking the full load, students
not only graduate on time, but often
save money on tuition since seven of the
eight Utah public institutions charge the
same tuition for 15 credits as they do
for 12.
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Did you know that Utah boasts the
largest population of young people in
the United States? As a percentage of
our total population, the population
of young people here is greater than
that of any other state. There are 2.9
million people in the state, and about
32 percent are under age 18. For
comparison, in the U.S. as a whole, 24
percent are under age 18.
Providing our children with
opportunities is a big deal in Utah.
Education is highly valued here. From
the first years of school through college,
Utah recognizes the importance
of education in our students’ lives.
Currently, there are about 620,000
students enrolled in Utah’s public K-12
education system and another 170,000
in Utah’s higher education system. The
headcount at the applied technology
colleges is approaching 35,000.
These students are Utah’s future.
And their successes will be the state’s
successes. Business and education
leaders want our communities to
flourish—they want individuals to have
greater opportunities in their lives,
and they want to strengthen Utah’s
economy with an educated, skilled and
adaptable workforce. That’s why the
Salt Lake Chamber brought together
business leaders from across the state
to form Prosperity 2020.
WHAT IS PROSPERITY 2020?
Prosperity 2020 is an unprecedented
partnership to enhance education and
place Utah on the path to enduring
prosperity. Prosperity 2020 is the
largest movement ever assembled in
Utah to address the importance of
education to the future of the state of
Utah. Working together, educators,
business executives and community
leaders are developing the next
generation into a highly educated
workforce. This continuous flow of
well-qualified people will be prepared
to meet the needs of businesses in the
future.
GOALS OF PROSPERITY 2020
Prosperity 2020 has established goals
to make Utah’s education system a
top performer in the nation. Utah
will be working to see improved
student performance year-to-year
and improved rankings for Utah
compared to other states in reading
assessments, math assessments, high
school graduation rates and completion
of postsecondary certificate/degree
programs.
Building for the future: Learn more
about the movement, the plan, the
vision, the goals and how you can get
involved at prosperity2020.com
Quality education is crucial for Utah’s economic growth as well as the state’s
present and future quality of life. Prosperity 2020 goals strive to build supportive
partnerships for successful students with needed support.
Creating Successful Students
To keep students’ learning up to date, districts are utilizing programs like iSchools and STEM (science, techology, engineering and math).
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism
46. Residential construction is on the rise in Utah, not only in valley neighborhoods, but in mountain getaways and urban apartments.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism and Downtown Alliance
The past three years have marked a return to normalcy in Utah’s housing markets
as buyers have re-emerged and owners have regained equity. The year 2014 was
no exception. In fact, as of October, Utah Realtors®
were on track to exceed the
number of homes sold in 2013—making 2014 the strongest year for state real estate
activity since 2006.
Fair Housing
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increasing
home sales and
construction starts
An improving employment forecast
bodes well for the state’s housing
market. The department of Utah
Demographic and Economic Analysis is
predicting a slight drop in the Beehive
State’s unemployment rate for 2015
combined with growth in wages.
This momentum will likely translate
into higher home sales and
construction. Demographic and
Economic Analysis economists are
expecting a 17-percent rise in the value
of state residential permits. For the
United States, the National Association
of Home Builders is projecting a
17-percent increase in total residential
building and a 26-percent gain in
single-family home construction.
Along with increases in new sales, the
National Association of Realtors® is
also forecasting a 7-percent rise in
the number of existing homes sold
nationally.
“The improving job market has
consumers feeling more confident, and
the rebound in home prices is building
household wealth for homeowners
and giving them the ability to sell
after waiting the last few years,” says
Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the
National Association of Realtors®.
The increased flexibility is evident
among data that tracks the amount of
homeowner equity. In the past year,
nearly 10,000 Utahns have gone from
owing more than their homes were
worth to having equity, according to
CoreLogic.
“With more and more borrowers
regaining equity, we expect
Utah consumers can learn more about the housing trends in their own neighborhoods by contacting a local
Realtor®. A searchable index of Utah Realtors® is available at utahrealtors.com
homeownership to become an
increasingly attractive option for many
who have remained on the sidelines in
the aftermath of the great recession,”
says Anand Nallathambi, president and
CEO of CoreLogic. “This should provide
more opportunities for people to sell
their homes, purchase a different home
or refinance an existing mortgage.”
Home sales will also receive a boost
from greater credit availability. The
National Association of Realtors® is
forecasting that tight lending standards
will be transitioning to normal during
2015. That is already beginning to
happen with the announcement from
mortgage giants Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac that qualifying first-time
buyers may be eligible for a loan with
a 3 percent down payment. This is
significant because it may promote
purchases among first-timers.
Additionally, Yun, of the Realtors®
Association, says Fair Isaac Corp.’s new
FICO score calculation could help first-
time buyers.
rising
interest rates and
home prices
As consumers keep buying, real estate
values will keep rising. The National
Association of Realtors® is forecasting
a 4-percent increase in existing home
prices for 2015 and 2016. Similarly,
Utah Realtors® expect home prices will
increase between 3 and 5 percent in the
next 12 months in Utah, according to
an NAR survey.
At the same time, the cost of borrowing
money will likely increase as the
Federal Reserve deals with inflationary
pressures. Both Freddie Mac and the
National Association of Realtors® are
predicting the average rate on a 30-year
mortgage will be close to 5 percent
in 2015, up from around 4 percent in
2014. Neither group, however, believes
the inevitable rise in rates will hinder
the market recovery.
“The impact of rising interest rates
on affordability will be minimal as
long as job creation keeps pace,” Yun
says. “Furthermore, if the credit box
slowly begins to open up, that will also
mitigate the impact of rising rates.”
Frank Nothaft, chief economist of
Freddie Mac, agrees rising interest
rates will likely not damage the housing
market momentum.
“While higher interest rates generally
detract from housing activity, when
they occur with strong job and income
growth, the net result can be increases
in household formations, construction
and home sales,” Nothaft says in a
market outlook commentary. “Our
view for 2015 is exactly that, namely,
income and job growth offset the
negative effect of higher interest rates
and translate into gains for the nation’s
housing market.”
In Utah, homeowners who bought just
five years ago are already benefitting
from those gains. The Federal Housing
Finance Agency reported that in five
years, home prices in the Beehive State
have gone up 12 percent. Since 1991,
house prices statewide have increased
197 percent.
“The typical homeowner today has
a household net worth of around
$200,000,” Yun says. “Meanwhile,
renters aren’t benefitting from the
rise in prices and are facing annual
increases of their own in the form of
higher rents.”
SOURCE: Utah Association of Realtors®
48. The Intermountain Relocation Council
(IRC) has helped thousands of people move
to Utah, and just like anywhere, relocators
should plan ahead and do some research
before they go. Here are some guidelines
customers have found to be helpful in the
transition.
Movers need to keep in mind everything
they are leaving behind, including their
doctors, dentists, specialists and other
professional services. It is important to
find these services in your new area, and
current contacts may be able to provide
recommendations. Just as it is important to
find new doctors and medical professionals,
it is also important to ensure that your
health insurance covers your new area.
Check in with your homeowners or renters
insurance to inquire whether moving is
covered and arrange any changes that need
to be made. Notify your utility companies
about a month ahead of time that you are
moving and choose a shut off date. Also
make sure to do a change of address for the
following businesses:
• Post Office
• Credit Cards
• Banks
• Drivers License
• Car Insurance
PREPARE FOR THE SEASONS
Utah has all four seasons, so be prepared
for the hottest temperatures and the
coldest. Prepare your home and vehicles for
these seasons with tires that can handle
well in the snow. Insulation in your home
can cut heating and cooling costs as well.
EASY NAVIGATION
Utah streets are laid out on a grid system
with the major streets running north-to-
south and east-to-west. In Salt Lake City,
the Salt Lake Temple Square is the center
of this grid. It is easy to tell what direction
you’re facing by looking to the mountains.
Relocating to Utah can provide new and exciting
opportunities. Like any other state or country, there are
culture differences that many relocators find to be the
most difficult part of their transition. Here’s some help:
Thinking of Moving?
of interest:
moving resources
SOCIAL CONNECT
Intermountain Relocation Council
ircouncil.net
Enjoy Utah
enjoyutah.org
RELOCATION AGENCY
Odyssey Relocation
odysseyrelo.com
TEMPORARY HOUSING
Paragon
paragon.com
SuiteAmerica
suiteamerica.com
Oakwood
oakwood.com
REAL ESTATE
Influence Real Estate
influencerealestate.com
GLOBAL MOVE SERVICES
Global Mobility Tax
glomotax.com
Wilner & O’Reilly
wilneroreilly.com
TravelGuard
travelguard.com
MOVING COMPANY
United - Mesa Moving
mesamoving.com
UniGroup - Mesa International
unigrouprelocation.com
MOVE REPAIR
Specialized Repair Co.
specializedrepairco.com
HEALTH CARE
Intermountain Healthcare
intermountainhealthcare.org
ADDRESS / DRIVERS LICENSE CHANGE
Department of Motor Vehicles
dmv.org
The large Wasatch Mountain Range is
to the east and the smaller Oquirrh
Mountains are to the west.
PLAN AHEAD FOR DINING OUT
Be aware of the time and day. One thing
people new to Utah need to know is to
plan ahead for food and drinks. Utah’s
hours of operation vary from other states;
many restaurants close at 9 or 10 p.m. on
the weekdays and 10 or 11 p.m. on the
weekends. If you are having company over
for drinks, prepare ahead of time. The only
place to buy liquor besides a bar is at a
state-operated liquor store, which opens at
10 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. and is closed
on Sunday. Last but not least, last call is 1
a.m. everywhere in Utah.
A WELCOMING PLACE
Utah and its surrounding communities
are known for their friendly and helpful
people, so be sure to get to know your
neighbors and community.
Adjusting to a new move can be difficult
when you’ve moved away from the familiar,
especially friends and family. Groups
and organizations are designed as places
to meet new people and make friends.
Whether it is a sport, hobby, social club,
charity group or religious organization,
there are many ways to get involved with
the community.
The Intermountain Relocation Council has
a social connect group that holds events
once a month with the sole purpose of
helping new people to Utah meet others
who are new to the area, while also
exploring some of the best that Utah
has to offer. You can request to be added
to the IRC events list and request more
information on the group at ircouncil@
rocketmail.com
SOURCE: Letitia Campbell, United Van
Lines / Thomas Whitaker, IRCImage courtesy of United Van Lines and IRC
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50. For most of its history, Utah has been an
important stop on the trail for travelers,
earning the title “Crossroads of the
West.” The transcontinental railroad,
Pony Express, stagecoach and Lincoln
Highway all crossed through the Salt
Lake area in their time. Today the region
benefits from the intersection of two major
interstate freeways—Interstate 80 and
Interstate 15—a major railroad hub and an
international airport.
Utah is also undergoing major changes in
commuter transportation. Infrastructure
is a big deal for Salt Lake Valley as it is a
crucial piece of a prosperous economy.
FrontRunner, high-speed commuter rails,
run from northern Utah to Provo, and the
TRAX light rail system has extended its
reach by heading further west and even
connecting the Salt Lake International
Airport with downtown Salt Lake City.
Both light rail and commuter rail feed into
Salt Lake Central Station, just west of
Salt Lake City near The Gateway shopping
center. Salt Lake Central Station serves as
the junction for bus, train, light rail and
commuter rail traffic.
MASS TRANSIT
Public transit has become a way of life
in Utah and more Utahns than ever are
using it to get to work, school, special
events and other daily activities. More
than 44 million trips are taken annually in
the 1,600-square-mile service area Utah
Transit Authority (UTA) covers.
2014 was the first full year running the
recently finished TRAX and FrontRunner
expansion project, which has helped
boost to UTA’s rail system’s to record-
breaking ridership levels. Through great
collaboration with municipalities, chambers
of commerce and the public, UTA built more
than 70 miles of rail in a five-year period.
UTA provides public transit to the 80
percent of the state’s population that lives
along the Wasatch Front.
Services provided include buses,
paratransit, TRAX light rail, FrontRunner
Because of Utah’s commitment to improving available
transportation to residents and visitors, major
improvements are moving forward on the state’s
highway and transit systems.
Getting Around
commuter rail and streetcar in addition to
vanpool and carpooling services.
FrontRunner provides high-speed rail
service from Pleasant View in the north to
Provo in the south with key connections
to bus and TRAX routes throughout the
service area. TRAX provides connections
across the Salt Lake Valley to places such
as the Salt Lake International Airport,
University of Utah, Draper, South Jordan,
West Valley and many points in between.
AIR TRAVEL
The Salt Lake City International Airport
is situated just west of Salt Lake City and
about 10 minutes from downtown. The
airport is within 2.5 hours from most of
the state’s population. In 2013, 20.2 million
passengers flew through Salt Lake City,
representing a .41 percent increase from
2012. It also has a strong record of having
on-time flights and a low percentage of
cancellations. As of April 2013, there were
more than 645 scheduled airline departures
and arrivals per day to 89 nonstop cities in
the United States, Canada and Mexico, as
well as a daily nonstop to Paris. There are
about 318 scheduled daily departures from
the facilities, serving around 91 cities with
nonstop flights.
INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS
Utah’s transportation infrastructure
includes 45,120 miles of federal, state
and local highways and roads. Interstate
80 (east to New York City/west to San
Francisco), Interstate 15 (north to Canada/
south to Mexico), and Interstate 70 (east to
Denver) are vital to the efficient movement
of goods and materials throughout the
region. Both I-80 and I-15 converge in Salt
Lake, allowing convenient access to the
Wasatch Front and points beyond. The I-215
belt route offers expanded access along
the eastern and western perimeters of the
valley.
of interest:
commuterlink
Utah’s CommuterLink website, one
of the most advanced and intelligent
transportation systems in the country,
uses the latest technologies and
professional expertise to reduce traffic
congestion and increase efficiency
by alerting commuters to potential
trouble on the road. The result is a more
efficient transportation network that
saves taxpayers more than $100 million
annually and reduces carbon monoxide
emissions by an estimated 5.1 million
kilograms per year.
On the move: As Utah’s population
increases, the state is working to reduce
traffic congestion. To keep ahead of
driving conditions, plan your route with
commuterlink.utah.gov
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51. 49LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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RAILWAYS
Amtrak provides daily passenger service
on the California Zephyr to and from
points throughout the nation. Experienced
travelers say the California Zephyr is one
of the most beautiful train trips in the
country. The Zephyr runs daily between
Chicago and San Francisco, coursing
through the plains of Nebraska to Denver,
across the Rockies to Salt Lake City, and
then through Reno and Sacramento into
Emeryville/San Francisco.
Amtrak trains arrive at and depart from the
Salt Lake Central Station intermodal hub.
They accommodate passengers transferring
among local bus service, automobile,
bicycle, Amtrak and Greyhound.
THE FUTURE
With the steady and robust population
growth of the Salt Lake Valley, reliable and
eco-friendly transportation is becoming
ever more important. Public transportation
continues to play a critical role in combating
poor air quality and congestion that plague
the Wasatch Front.
The Salt Lake Chamber’s Transportation
Committee continues to advocate for
adequate funding of transportation
initiatives that focus on environmental
quality as well as roadway efficiency and
expansion. While the Utah Legislature has
done much already to increase funding for
clean air initiatives, more must be done to
maintain and improve our transportation
infrastructure. To keep things growing, we
must keep things flowing.
Plan your trip: Prepare for your Utah
vacation or perhaps prepare for a Utah
way of life, go to visitutah.com
Utah’s transportation infrastructure takes into account all modes of movement
with a focus on environmental quality and roadway efficiency.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism (left) and Utah Transit Authority
52. Surrounded by the stunning Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains, Salt Lake City is
known for its diverse blend of people. Anyone who has ever been to the Salt Lake
Valley has probably noticed its friendly and helpful people as well as the lively and
vibrant culture found in every aspect of life in and around the area.
Faces of the Valley
Whether your neighborhood is near the university, part of a historic district or a planned development, many residents value
trails, open space, safety and convenience to amenities when looking for a home to buy.
Images courtesy of Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism and Daybreak Community
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From quiet, family-friendly bedroom
communities, to vibrant, walkable
neighborhoods, Salt Lake has its share
of locales that have made it one of the
best places to live.
the avenues &
federal heights
The Avenues and Federal Heights
neighborhoods perch on a hilltop
directly above Salt Lake City and lie on
the northeast bench of the Wasatch
Mountains. The neighborhood to the
east of the lower Avenues is known as
Federal Heights.
The “lower Avenues” (between 6th
Avenue and South Temple) is a
neighborhood of mostly charming
Victorian-era houses. Avenues/
Federal Heights are two of the oldest
neighborhoods and contain some of the
first homes to be built in the valley.
The Avenues/Federal Heights is also
especially popular due to its proximity
to downtown, the large and remote
Memory Grove and City Creek
Canyon recreation area to the west,
and the University of Utah to the
east/southeast.
9th and 9th &
15th and 15th
The hip 9th and 9th district has some
of the most unique restaurants and
outdoor art in Salt Lake. Located in
the eastern portion of Salt Lake City at
the intersection of 900 East and 900
South, 9th and 9th is home to locally
Utah No. 1 for Volunteerism — ,
Salt Lake City No. 1 “Best Cities for Kids” —
Utah No. 3 in “Best Places to Live” —,
Utah No. 3 “10 Best States for Retirement” —.,
Utah ranks No. 3 in household income growth — ,
owned stores that are both family
friendly and unique. In May 2014,
the First Annual Art Walk Weekend
kicked off with patrons enjoying great
artwork and local businesses. 15th and
15th stretches from Emerson Street
to Kensington Street along 1500 East
and is also home to unique locally
owned stores and businesses, including
Caputo’s 15th & 15th, 15th Street
Gallery and King’s English Bookshop.
The proximity to downtown and the
picturesque tree-lined streets make
these two neighborhoods desirable for
working professionals and families.
sugar house
Sugar House is known to be one of the
best old-home neighborhoods in the
United States, according to This Old
House magazine. It runs from 700 East
to 2000 East and from about 1300
South to 300 South. Sugar House is
not only a convenient place to live,
located just minutes from downtown
Salt Lake, the University of Utah and
Westminster College, but also has
unique architecture and natural beauty.
Most neighborhoods in Sugar House
are just a short walk from many of
Salt Lake’s most popular restaurants
and boutiques. It is also a great place
for cycling enthusiasts as it is located
just minutes from great trails, such
as Millcreek Canyon and Bonneville
Shoreline Trail.
In the summer, Sugar House is also
the home of annual arts festivals, and
one of the most popular Fourth of July
fireworks shows in the city.
sandy &
draper
Sandy and Draper, located in the
southern part of the Salt Lake Valley,
have attracted businesses such as the
South Towne Center shopping mall,
the Jordan Commons entertainment
and dining complex, Southtowne
Exposition Center, Rio Tinto Stadium
and the Draper Amphitheater.
Draper was ranked No. 25 in Time’s “50
best places to live in America”.
The cities offer miles of biking and
hiking trails along with easy access to
four of Utah’s most popular ski resorts.
daybreak
Located in the city of South Jordan,
Daybreak is currently celebrating 10
years of family-friendly living and a
community that enjoys year-round,
family-friendly events.
The homes in Daybreak are some of the
valley’s most sustainable homes. They
are more energy-efficient than other
new homes saving residents anywhere
from $200 to nearly $1,500 annually
on energy costs.
Daybreak is designed on the “five-
minute rule,” meaning that every
home is within a five-minute walk of
restaurants, shopping, transit line,
schools and more.
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Several of the cities in Utah Valley, such
as Orem, Lehi and Provo, are known
for their rich heritage and unique
festivals.
In the winter, locals enjoy skiing and
snowboarding at Robert Redford’s
Sundance Resort, which also screens
internationally acclaimed films during
the Sundance Film Festival.
In the spring, patrons enjoy more than
100 varieties of tulips at the Tulip
Festival at Thanksgiving Point, which
is also home to Cornbelly’s Corn Maze
and Pumpkin Fest in the fall.
Summer includes Fourth of July
celebrations such as America’s
Freedom Festival Stadium of Fire,
one of the biggest Fourth of July
firework celebrations in the state,
which also features popular musical
performances.
Utah Valley is racing to the forefront of the national economy, in part, thanks
to innovation, hard work, entrepreneurial spirit and a fantastic business environment.
Business is Booming
Utah Valley is also home to Utah
Valley University and Brigham Young
University, totalling more than 60,000
students between them.
Situated on the border of Orem/Provo,
the UVU campus is easily accessible for
the community it serves. UVU hosts the
largest student body in the state with
more than 32,000 students studying
everything from aviation science to
zoology. BYU’s campus is at the base
of the Wasatch Mountains. It provides
higher education to more than 30,000
full-time and part-time students. The
“Y” mountain can be seen by visitors
and locals entering the Utah Valley and
acts as a sign guiding them to the Provo
campus.
Technology companies are capitializing
on the area’s entrepreneurial spirit
and are springing up all across the
valley. Josh James, founder of DOMO,
coined the phrase “Silicon Slopes” to
describe the technology cluster that
has blossomed in Utah Valley and along
the Wasatch Front, which includes
businesses like Adobe Systems,
AtTask, IMFlash, Property Solutions
International and Boostibility.
Utah Valley is home to hundreds of
thriving businesses, comprising an
economy that is being recognized as
both diverse and robust. A host of
organizations have pointed to Utah
Valley as among the best places to
work, play and retire.
Entrepreneurial spirit: Looking for
family-friendly fun, livable communities
or innovative ways to do business?
Check out utahvalley.com
Rainbow over Brigham Young University, Provo / Tulips at the gardens at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi /
Riding bikes by Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism
55. POWERFUL NETWORKPOWERFUL NETWORK
EXPERIENCED TEAMEXPERIENCED TEAM
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We offer unparalleled advice and expertise to clients by providing the most advanced brokerage, asset
services, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate service solutions. With an unwavering commitment to
furthering economic development, we look forward to advising you with all your commercial real estate needs.
Corporate Headquarters | 6550 South Millrock Dr., Suite 200 Salt Lake City, UT 84106 | 801.947.8300Corporate Headquarters | 6550 South Millrock Dr., Suite 200 Salt Lake City, UT 84106 | 801.947.8300
56. 54 LIFE IN UTAH 2015 | SLCHAMBER.com
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Kayaking the Great Salt Lake near Antelope Island State Park, Layton / Nighttime off 25th Street, Ogden.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism
Known locally as “the other Utah,” this land corridor offers all the benefits
of urban life along with incredible access to the outdoors. Its diverse
commerce base ranges from aerospace dynamics to outdoor innovations,
from transportation crossroads to academic institutions.
Connecting Communities
davis county
Davis County, just north of Salt Lake County, is home to
some of the greatest activities and recreation in Utah.
Lagoon Amusement Park, located in Farmington, is the
one of the largest amusement parks in the West. Currently
under construction is Lagoon’s newest ride Cannibal, which
is expected for the 2015 season.
Antelope Island State Park is the largest island on the
Great Salt Lake, and is accessed by a 7-mile causeway. The
park takes up 28,000 acres, stretching 15 miles long and
nearly five miles wide.
As for nightlife, Farmington Station is a premier outdoor
shopping area with fine dining, excellent shopping and
frequent live performances on the weekends. Those who
like the arts do not have to go far. Farmington City Arts
has a variety of plays and concerts sure to please.
Davis County is one of Utah’s most exciting destinations,
whether vacationing or doing business. Find out more at
visitdavisareautah.com
weber county
In the last decade, Ogden of Weber County has gained
momentum as an outdoor sports destination for being the
center for skiing and adventure sports. Ogden is the gateway
to three Utah ski resorts: Snowbasin, Powder Mountain
and Wolf Mountain. It is also home to the Salomon Center,
one of the world’s top 10 man-made adventures, offering
most notably iFLY, a vertical wind tunnel; FLOWRIDER, an
indoor river that provides wakeboarding, surfing and boogie
boarding; as well as other adventure activities.
Probably the most dramatic changes have been the influx
of nationally-known outdoor companies and the gradual
redevelopment of downtown Ogden. Historic 25th Street
has been given a major facelift in recent years, while
neighboring blocks have been leveled to make room for
movie theaters, high-rise condos, restaurants and more.
Weber State University also calls Ogden home.
Ogden and Weber County have great access to a wide
variety of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. Learn more at
visitogden.com
57. 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
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#1
12,609
#2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9
Larry Mitchell, honored recently as Ivory’s leading Sales Consultant, has closed over
$90,000,000 in the past 11 years he’s been with Ivory Homes. A significant factor in his
success is his passion to truly listen to homebuyers and offer professional, experienced
advice regarding what options best meet their needs. Larry also attributes his remarkable
success to the entire Ivory team and their commitment to excellence in all areas.
For over two decades, Ivory Homes has been Utah’s number one homebuilder*. A record
like that requires a constant focus on improvement. Ivory continually finds ways to maintain
high levels of quality and design while simplifying the home buying process.
Ivory also leads the way in location and design with 65 beautiful communities across the
Wasatch Front and over 100 floor plans to choose from. In addition, they’ve achieved a
customer satisfaction rating of over 90% for the past 15 years.
Number of homes built by
Ivory Homes vs other homebuilders
For all your home buying needs contact Larry Mitchell
at 801-918-7240 or larrym@ivoryhomes.com
“It takes a team effort to produce such remarkable results...and there is not a better team out there
than Ivory Homes.”
* Based on number of homes built from 1990-2014.
Source: Wasatch Front Construction Monitor
MEET THE NUMBER ONE
SALES CONSULTANT AT UTAH’S
NUMBER ONE HOMEBUILDER.
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Home of five-star hotels and world-class
skiing, Park City offers small-town
charm with international renown.
Only a 35-minute drive from Salt Lake
International Airport, Park City offers
a relaxing getaway close to the Salt Lake
City, or a perfect vacation home in the
mountains.
Its appeal isn’t just for outdoor
enthusiasts, but also art buyers and
appreciators. Take a walk down the
historic Main Street, and find fine
and contemporary art on every corner
created by talented local artists. Or
enjoy the monthly gallery stroll and
yearly Kimball Arts Festival to get in
the yearly creative fix.
With more than 100 restaurants and
bars, galleries aren’t the only way to
appreciate art in Park City. The art of
As a hot spot for year-round outdoor activites, Park City attracts people
from all walks of life. Whether looking for great ski resorts, a fall hike with the
family or a summer music scene, this mountain town can accomodate.
Just Warming Up
food through gastronomy puts this
small town on the map for exquisite
food and dining you would typically find
only in a big-city scene. Experience fine
dining at the Glitretind, a four-star
restaurant located at the Stein Eriksen
Lodge, or keep your spirits up at the
local High West Distillery, which offers
a variety local whiskey sure to warm you
up on cold winter days.
As if that isn’t enough incentive to
visit Park City, its many activities
should. Spend time skiing at the resorts
including Deer Valley Resort, Canyons
Resort and Park City Mountain
Resort. Those who are not skiers can
experience a wide range of family-
friendly activities for winter from
fly-fishing trips to snowmobiling, sleigh
rides and snow tubing.
In the summer, enjoy a variety of music
series and summer festivals that keep
this small town booming all year long.
Locals and visitors alike enjoy shopping
at boutiques on historic Main Street, or
discounted Tanger Outlet stores.
Another way to appreciate Park City lies
in its extraneous outdoor activities, such
as the Alpine slide, zip lines, horseback
riding and hiking trails—all of which
sure to create lasting memories.
Exploring Park City: For summer or
winter, enhance your resort experience
by visiting visitparkcity.com
Park City hosts mountain biking, family-friendly activities and celebrations on historic Main Street.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism
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Utah’s Dinosaurland is located in the
northeastern corner of Utah in the
heart of Uintah County. Dinosaur
National Monument is located 15
miles east of Vernal and is home of the
world-famous Wall of Bones, which
showcases more than 1,500 dinosaur
bones that can be viewed from the new
Quarry Exhibit Hall.
The dinosaur remains don’t stop at
the national monument; track over to
Red Fleet State Park located 11 miles
out of town and hike the Dinosaur
Trackway. Here you will find hundreds
of dinosaur tracks embedded in hard
sandstone. Another Dinosaurland gem
is the Utah Field House of Natural
There’s more to Dinosaurland than dinosaurs. What’s your pleasure? Slick rock?
Alpine forests? Desert canyons? Northeastern Utah has it all. The Uintah Basin is
packed with lakes, rivers and reservoirs perfect for a long, lazy boat trip. Learn and
experience the area’s rich history from ancestry to prehistoric times.
Tracking Traditions
History where you can experience
life as a paleontologist—take a walk
though time and explore the dinosaur
gardens (home to several full-size
replicas of Jurassic period dinosaurs).
The Ashley National Forest and
Uinta Mountains offer year-round
recreation. Enjoy camping, hiking and
four-wheeling during the summer and
snowmobiling, cross-country skiing
and snowshoeing in the winter. If you
enjoy mountain biking, peddle over for
some of the best trails.
A whitewater rafting trip down the
Green River for one-day or multi-day
trips is an experience you will not soon
forget. If spending time on the lake is
something you enjoy, your boat can be
launched and in the water within 15
minutes from town. Steinaker State
Park is only five miles out of town. Also
enjoy water sports at Red Fleet State
Park and Flaming Gorge National
Recreation Area. World class fishing,
ancient Native American petroglyphs,
scenic drives, hunting, wildlife viewing
and much more await you in beautiful
Uintah County.
Want to know more about recreating
and living in the Uintah Basin? Visit us
at visitdinosaurland.com
Kayaking on Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area / Visiting Cobble Rock Park, Vernal /
Visiting the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument, Vernal.
Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism and Uintah County Travel and Tourism
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