2016 Life in Utah by Utah Media Group

2016

SLCHAMBER.COM

Utah’s Premier Lifestyle and Relocation Guide

Quality Living

The Utah Way WORK

LEARN

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The Origin of

EXPERIENCE THE

AND BEYOND!

BEST IN STATE. BEST IN WORLD.

2015

2015 Utah Business

Great Place to Work Institute “World’s Best Multinational Workplaces”

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welcome

STATE OF UTAH GARY R.

HERBERT

GOVERNOR

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR SALT LAKE CITY,

84114-2220

UTAH

SPENCER J. Cox

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Welcome to Utah! The word is out. Both Forbes and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have named Utah the No. 1 state for business and careers. Even though Utah is a relatively small state in terms of population, it leads the nation economically because government, business, education and community leaders work in tandem to build the workforce of tomorrow and ensure our state's lasting success. Life in Utah magazine, published by the Salt Lake Chamber, gives you an up close and personal look at Utah's economic and cultural landscape.

Governor Gary R. Herbert

Stories cover everything from global business, fair housing, and dynamic nightlife to skiing powder and hiking slot canyons, getting down to the details of what it is really like to live, work and do business here. You will find a high quality of life and a high quality of business climate to match. Our strong spirit of innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship continue to propel us forward. If you are just thinking about coming to Utah-it is time to plan a visit. Life in Utah will provide a glimpse of the possibilities, but we welcome you to come and experience Utah's "Life Elevated" for yourself. Sincerely,

�(4(��+Gary R. Herbert Governor

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

When you come to Utah, be sure to visit

TEMPLE SQUARE in the heart of Salt Lake City

Tours are available in more than 30 languages

•

Many venues to choose from, and all are free

Your tour group can:

Listen

to the glorious music of the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir, rehearsing and performing in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. They also perform in the 21,000-seat Conference Center. See visittemplesquare.com for details.

Discover

Meander

through two upscale visitors’ centers that include the Christus statue by Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen. Visit the interactive map of ancient Jerusalem (kids love it!) and much more.

Step into the past,

your roots in the FamilySearch Center, where helpful volunteers can assist in retrieving family history information from the world’s largest repository of genealogical records.

where the story of family life of yesteryear will unfold room by room in the Beehive House, the seat of government in early Utah.

For information on these and many other fascinating venues on Temple Square, go to visittemplesquare.com, lds.org/placestovisit, or call 800-453-3860. © IRI. PD50020206

welcome

table of contents 14 work Building on Utahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thriving economy and business

42 learn Education is the foundation of Utah's future

48 live Highlighting a few of Utahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite places to live

66 play Discovering adventure in an all-season playground

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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welcome

VOLUME

XXXI

ISSUE

2016

175 E. University Blvd. (400 S.), Suite 600 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 801-364-3631 | slchamber.com PRESIDENT & CEO

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Lane Beattie

Lori Chillingworth EDITORS

Marisa Bomis, Maria Loftis, Matt Lusty CONTENT PROVIDED BY

Uintah County Tourism, Utah Association of Realtors, Utah Media Group, 1-800 Contacts, CBRE, Inc., Envision Utah, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Prosperity 2020, Salt Lake Chamber, SelectHealth, STEM Action Center, Utah Office of Tourism, Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), Women’s Leadership Institute, World Trade Center Utah TWITTER:

@saltlakechamber Salt Lake Chamber

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Lane Beattie, Salt Lake Chamber, President and CEO. Image courtesy of Busath Photography©

Welcome to Utah Whether you are here for a quick visit or you’re considering Utah as your new home, it won’t take long for you to realize that our state is unlike any other.

No matter how long you plan to be here, we want to make you feel welcome. The Salt Lake Chamber is committed to maintaining Utah as not only the strongest economy in the nation, but to also as a welcoming, inclusive and caring community. That’s why we’ve created the Life in Utah magazine, which is designed to give you a taste of what makes Utah so unique. You may already know we’re the home of the Greatest Snow on Earth©, the Sundance Film Festival and the Delicate Arch, but don’t forget to come play in our mountains and lakes in the summer, or visit one of the “Mighty Five” spectacular national parks on your way to our vibrant capital city. We would love nothing more. We hope you’ll enjoy your time in our great state!

Lane Beattie, President and CEO Salt Lake Chamber

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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Albion Bason, Wasatch Mountains by Charlie M. Lansche CONTRIBUTORS

Marisa Bomis, Jason Brown, Hillary Bowler, Sarah Ryther Francom, Trish Hatch, Elenor Heyborne, Melanie Heath, Justin Jones, Rod Lacey, Kathleen McMillan, Jessica Nield, Sue Redington, Greg Reid, Mikael Short, Ann Marie Wallace Life in Utah is an official and yearly publication of the Salt Lake Chamber and is distributed throughout Utah. Copyright ©2016 by the Salt Lake Chamber. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any format without consent of the Salt Lake Chamber. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah Media Group and Utah Business magazine assume no liability for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. All critical information should be independently verified. Utah Media Group and Utah Business are proud to produce the Salt Lake Chamber’s official relocation magazine with a title that reflects its extended scope: Life in Utah.

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Photo by Josh Brown, Salt Lake Chamber

Utah’s Voice of Business of interest

Salt Lake Chamber Facts BUSINESSES REPRESENTED: 8,000+ EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED: 500,000+ STRATEGIC PARTNERS: Downtown Alliance, World Trade Center Utah MEMBERSHIP: 222 businesses that have been members for 25+ Years INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: 13 EVENTS & SEMINARS HOSTED: 171+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY ENGAGED: 400,000+ PASSAGE OF PRIORITY BILLS: 82%

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

Our mission: We stand as the voice of business, we support our members’ success and we champion community prosperity

s the state’s largest and longest-serving business association, the Salt Lake Chamber works to build an engaged business community and promote an exceptional statewide business climate through a mixture of collaboration, advocacy and service. We aim to create an environment for economic success by creating a gathering place for business leaders and the community. The Chamber strives to be the “Voice of Business” in Utah by supporting policies that help businesses thrive and by providing leadership on issues facing our state. We strengthen Utah’s economy through strategic and

targeted initiatives to invigorate our state’s industrious workforce, entrepreneurial spirit and innovative talents. This includes providing business leadership to invest in our future workforce and infrastructure, streamline regulations, strengthen our competitive advantages and improve our world renowned quality of life. Thanks to the Chamber, its partners and other chambers of commerce throughout the state, Utah continues to stand out as a great place to live and do business. Member benefits: Discover the advantages of belonging to the chamber at slchamber.com

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Left: Capitol Reef Fremont Gorge overlook, Top: The 2015 Summer Outdoor Retailer Show at the Salt Palace, Bottom: Applied Composite Technology in Gunnison, UT Images courtesy of GOED

Proactive Problem Solving Businesses in every industry are noticing the strong economic opportunities Utah provides

f there’s anything Utah is known for on the economic front, it’s our ability to create game plans for growth and tackle tomorrow’s issues today. In Utah, we collaborate. Thanks to the leadership of a businessminded governor, coupled with the strong presence of the state’s largest chamber of commerce, the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah leads on unprecedented partnerships between the government, business and education community. That is what keeps Utah’s economy at the top. While the rest of the country has struggled with navigating an uncertain 16

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

post-recession economy, Utah has gone on to excel in job growth, unemployment rate and economic diversity. The Hachman Index, a formula that measures the similarity and diversity of different regions, and the nation as a whole, shows that Utah has the third most diverse economy in the country. In addition to that, a month-to-month job growth of nearly 4 percent this year demonstrates that Utah understands the best practices for maintaining a dynamic economy. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) maintains

a holistic approach to economic growth, nurturing entrepreneurship and expanding local businesses while attracting new businesses and investments to the state. GOED targets their work and resources to stimulate the six Utah Strategic Industry Clusters: financial services, energy, outdoor recreation, life sciences, IT/software, aerospace and defense. When looking at the big picture, GOED aims to grow both the business and workforce for each of these driving sectors. Utah has one clear advantage in regard to long-term workforce development: the approximately 665,000 K-12 students attending education institutions in the state. The STEM Action Center, a program within GOED, drives research

work of interest About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development GOED encompasses 16 programs that do everything from attracting global companies and foreign direct investment to providing grants for entrepreneurs and health insurance options for small businesses. We have a plan to harness our state’s incredible economic growth and to improve our residents’ quality of life and your company’s bottom line.

Accolades Photo by Sophia DiCaro

and implementation of science, technology, engineering and math education best practices for K-12 students statewide. The STEM Action Center also utilizes everything from STEM Fest fairs to grant programs to generate resources and opportunities for the state’s workforce of tomorrow. For all we know, the world’s next leading synthetic biologist is in the third grade at one of our schools right now. It’s our responsibility to make sure that students have the ability to succeed. GOED is also focused on filling needed jobs today. For example, UtahTechNetwork.com is a new website that works with a digital ad campaign designed to attract IT and software professionals to the state. This campaign extends Utah’s “Life Elevated” global brand as a part of GOED’s larger workforce attraction and development strategy. The website contains everything from testimonials to job listings to links to the hottest breweries. The IT and software sector has some of the most immediate needs, with unfilled jobs estimated in the thousands. Another solution is the Utah Aerospace Pathways (UAP) program, which enables students to graduate from high school with a certificate in aerospace manufacturing and the opportunity to move right into a high-paying job within the aerospace industry. The program was developed through an unprecedented collaboration involving GOED, the Utah Department of Workforce

Services, the Utah State Office of Education, Salt Lake Community College, Davis Applied Technology College, Granite and Davis School Districts, along with Boeing and Orbital ATK—just to name some of the many industry partners. The UAP program will be expanded in 2016 to include training for underemployed and unemployed adults. The intent is to apply the program’s model to the state’s other strategic industries. During the course of the aerospace program’s development, industry representatives of national companies were quick to point out that this was the first time they’d seen something like this actually pulled off – and in only six months. Utah has welcomed a number of new companies and exciting expansion projects this past year, and every year for the last decade—even during the recession. For example, EMC Corporation and Procter and Gamble are expanding. SolarCity, one of the world’s top solar energy companies, joins our energy sector with some 4,000 jobs in the coming decade. Vivint Solar anticipates more than 3,000 jobs. To date, the recruitment and post-performance incentives program has generated more than 13,000 jobs, more than $220 million in new state revenue and more than $6 billion in capital expenditures. Companies are noticing the opportunities Utah provides.

No. 1 Best State for Business and Careers—Forbes Magazine, 2010-2012, 2014-2015 No. 1 Pro-Business State—Pollina Corporate Real Estate, 2012-2015 No. 3 Top State for Business—CNBC, 2015 Utah is the only state to rank in Top 10 for all categories (e.g.: Exports, Business Climate)—U.S. Chamber of Commerce Enterprising States Report, 2014 and 2015 4 Utah Metros made the Top 10 Safest in the West—LawStreet Media, 2015 No. 1 Best State for Business—Pollina Corporate, 2012-2014 No. 1 Economic Growth Potential— Business Facilities, 2015 No. 1 for Job Creation—Gallup, 2015 No. 1 for Most Volunteering—24/7 Wallstreet, 2015 No. 1 for Economic Outlook—American Legislative Exchange Council, 2008-2015

Look Who's Growing (Company, Location, Number of Jobs) Advice Media (Park City)............................................................................100 Cabela’s (Toole).......................................................................................................................... 85 CHG Healthcare Services (SLC).............................................503 Connolly iHealth Technologies.....................................................145 Eldon James........................................................................................................................................ 115 EMC Corporation (Draper)..................................................................700 HealthCatalyst (SLC)................................................................................................291 Jive Communications (Lehi)..............................................................576 Kihomac (Layton).................................................................................................................70 Maritz CX (Utah County)............................................................................ 425 Prime, Inc. (SLC)....................................................................................................................129 Procter & Gamble (Box Elder County)...............200 Prosper Marketplace............................................................................................... 539 Selle Royal (Ogden)........................................................................................................ 65 SolarCity (Utah County)....................................................................4,000 Vivint Solar (Lehi)..................................................................................................... 3,143

Learn more about GOED at utah.business.gov LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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An International Footprint Utah emerged onto the international stage in 2002 with the winter Olympics. Since then, Utah businesses have picked up the torch and haven’t stopped running

succeed globally. WTC Utah accomplishes this mission through three key objectives: • Motivate and educate Utah businesses to expand their global presence through training seminars, regional forums and newsletters focused on international business development, trade issues and export opportunities. • Build capacity of Utah businesses for international trade through B2B consultations to identify expansion goals, assess current capabilities, determine overseas opportunities and connect companies with market experts and potential partners. • Expand the global network of Utah businesses through trade missions and networking with foreign trade officials.

Community Partnerships

Photo by John McCarthy

of interest

Utah’s Top 5 Export Destinations of 2014: 1. Hong Kong 2. Canada 3. United Kingdom 4. China 5. Mexico • Utah exports exceeded $12.3 billion in 2014. • 85 percent of Utah exporters are small to medium-sized businesses (less than 500 employees). • 50,580 jobs in Utah are directly tied to exporting.

ew people would expect a landlocked state to export four times the national average, but Utah does. In fact, at a time when our country suffers from a trade deficit, Utah is one of a few states to boast a trade surplus. In 2010, Governor Gary R. Herbert set the goal for Utah to be recognized as a premier global business destination; and in recent years, that goal has come to fruition. Not to grow complacent however, the Governor has set a new goal to diversify our export base and increase value-added exports by $1.4 billion by the end of 2019.

International Expansion

The positive economic impact that comes from companies expanding internationally cannot be denied. According to the Brookings Institute, one traded manufacturing job creates three local jobs. For Utah to continue to be recognized as one of the top states economically, companies need to look beyond state and national borders and grow internationally. World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) has been designated as the export promotion arm of the state. The mission of WTC Utah is to help Utah companies think, act and

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

WTC Utah wants to make sure its services, most of which are complimentary, are accessible to businesses in all areas of the state. To this end, WTC Utah, partnered with the Department of Workforce Services, kicked off its rural outreach efforts in 2014. Regional forums have been held in Vernal, St. George, Logan and Richfield. With less than 5 percent of total Utah exports coming from rural small to medium-sized businesses, rural Utah is well-positioned to be a source of growth for the economy in the coming years as companies look to take their products to international markets. Partnering with other organizations is an important part of what WTC Utah does. Each year, WTC Utah works with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Salt Lake Chamber to produce the Utah Global Forum, the state’s premier international event. The Utah Global Forum is attended by more than 400 business leaders, diplomats and community leaders. The purpose of the event is to provide businesses with knowledge and resources, helping to empower them to export for the first time or expand into new markets. Seventy percent of the world’s purchasing power and 95 percent of the world’s consumers are located outside of the United States. There has never been a time where so much opportunity exists with so few barriers to entry. There has never been a better time for Utah companies to go global. WTC Utah helps Utah companies think, act and succeed globally. Learn more at wtcutah.com

Will it become a cell phone or a computer? The Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the top producing copper mines in the world. As a result, lights turn on, computers power up, music is played, cell phones get charged, cars run and apps can be downloaded. The list goes on and on. The truth is, copper makes modern life possible.

riotintokennecott.com

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Accolades No. 1 Pro-Business State in America —Pollina Corporate Best State for Business and Careers —Forbes BYU and the U - Top 25 Undergraduate and Graduate Schools Best for Entrepreneurship Studies —Princeton Review Salt Lake City the No. 1 Hot Startup City —Entrepreneur Utah is the Next Silicon Valley —The New Yorker

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

Rising to the Top With an entrepreneurial spirit and dynamic startup infrastructure, Utah is setting the bar high

n the past several years, Utah has staked its claim as being the “Silicon Slopes” of the Rocky Mountain region—and entrepreneurs and investors from around the country have noticed. Utah has received numerous accolades for its innovative culture and startup infrastructure, including being called the “Next Silicon Valley” by The New Yorker. You don’t have to look far in Utah to see why this bustling state is making waves in the entrepreneurial community. Several billion-dollar companies have been launched in the state, including Vivint, Qualtrics, InsideSales.com and Domo. And it isn’t just the high-tech

industry that is booming. Companies like Stampin’ Up, SkyWest Airlines and Ancestry were also founded here. Utah’s robust economic environment has also attracted outside companies, like Procter & Gamble, Adobe, Goldman Sachs and Boeing, all of which have major operations in the state. It’s not just one thing that sets Utah apart from the rest—it’s the unique combination of business-friendly assets that keeps our state rising to the top.

Startup Support

There’s a reason Forbes has named Utah the country’s "Best State for Business and Careers" for

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Photos courtesy of the Downtown Alliance

several years running. Despite the increasingly complex national business and political landscape, Utah’s entrepreneurial and business accomplishments remain strong. Local policy leaders have prioritized creating a supportive environment where taxes and regulatory burdens are low and establishing an infrastructure where entrepreneurs and small business owners succeed. Beyond a business-friendly government, Utah has several small business resources to help startups hit the ground running. The Small Business Administration (SBA) office provides a wealth of information and resources for those considering starting a business and those already in the trenches. The SBA’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) help entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership and help existing businesses remain competitive in the ever-changing global marketplace. There

are 13 SBDC offices located throughout Utah. The SBA also offers entrepreneurs one-on-one mentorship through its SCORE offices, also found throughout the state. Other resources include the Salt Lake Chamber’s Women’s Business Center, Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – Salt Lake Chapter, and National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) – Utah Chapter.

Culture of Collaboration

The Wasatch Front has a comprehensive network of startup incubators that breed innovative thought and action. Downtown Salt Lake is home to several startup incubators and co-working spaces that launch startups into full-fledged businesses. Impact Hub is a co-working space that offers ongoing programs and events aimed at supporting entrepreneurial work. From networking socials to skills-building workshops and one-on-one coaching, Impact Hub seeks to turn ideas into businesses. Holodeck provides a creative and educational co-working office and event space for inspired people to collaborate and build great ideas together. Church & State is a cooperative startup incubator that connects entrepreneurs with mentors,

management and team members. BoomStartup is a lean startup accelerator and mentorship-driven, seed-stage investment program for technology-based startups. BoomStartup was named the No. 12 accelerator in the country by TechCrunch, and has helped raise more than $15 million in investments for its companies.

Education the Works

Utah’s robust higher education system bolsters entrepreneurism and innovation, creating a vibrant and highly skilled workforce. Utah has three research universities: University of Utah (the U), Brigham Young University (BYU) and Utah State University (USU), as well as several public and private higher education institutions. The U and BYU have comprehensive programs for students with entrepreneurial aspirations. BYU consistently ranks as one of the country’s top universities for entrepreneurs. In 2015, Princeton Review named BYU as the No. 2 best undergraduate school for entrepreneurism. The U is home to the Center of Medical Innovation, Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, and Tech and Venture Commercialization LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

work Office, which consistently ranks as one of the nation’s leading producers of startup companies, even beating the likes of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The U and USU house the state’s primary USTAR (Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative) offices. USTAR serves as a catalyst for connecting entrepreneurs, industry, education and the financial community with the equipment and human capital assets of the regional schools and universities. Nearly 250 companies have received material support from USTAR.

Big Deals

Utah’s exceptional combination of business-friendly policies, startup support and educated workforce has created one of the nation’s most vibrant economies—and outside investors have noticed. In 2014, venture capitalists invested nearly $1 billion in local startups, making Utah the No. 1 state in dollar-per-deal average. And at the end of 2015 Q3, Utah companies had raised $774.7 million, the largest amount in the Rocky Mountain region according to the MoneyTree Report from PwC. “We’re in the third generation of tech here, so the growth of our ecosystem has evolved,” says Josh James, founder of billion-dollar companies, Domo and Omniture. “Not only do we have a better support system for tech entrepreneurs—mentors, a richer talent pool, legal counsel, etc.—we are attracting more capital to fund and grow businesses.”

Work Hard, Play Hard

Utah doesn’t just boast an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit and dynamic startup infrastructure—the state lives and breathes a "work hard, play hard" mantra. Entrepreneurs often come to the state to ski the slopes or explore its red rock country, and they end up staying. “We've got an adventurous, hardworking, loyal and smart community. To top that off, our customers always say they like working with us because our employees are so nice. You can’t manufacture that,” says James. “In addition, Utah's quality of life is the best anywhere, while our cost of living is lower than most tech hubs in the country. I’m proud that we’re part of that.” 22

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

Photos courtesy of Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah

Entrepreneurial Spirit Utah students have access to some of the country’s top entrepreneurship institutions The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is located at the University of Utah. All Utah-based collegiate students are invited to participate at Lassonde, regardless of what they are studying or which university or college they are attending. Troy D'Ambrosio, executive director of Lassonde Institute, describes it as a one-stop shop for students with any level of entrepreneurial aspirations. “If you’re a student and want to be an entrepreneur, want to know what an entrepreneur does, or already have a business and want to move it forward, we have a variety of services for you,” he says. Lassonde Institute offers workshops, mentoring sessions and entrepreneur competitions. “We want to support these students anyway we can, from giving them $500 to build a prototype to bringing in an attorney to talk about IP,” says D'Ambrosio. “We’ll help them go from having an idea to starting a business.” In August 2016, the Lassonde Institute is opening the Lassonde Studios, a residential community of entrepreneurs, innovators and creators. The living space will be

Pierre Lassonde, University of Utah

open to 400 students, and will serve as a 24/7 site for innovative collaboration. “We want students to really learn what it’s like to be an entrepreneur and live like an entrepreneur,” says D'Ambrosio. “Whether it’s 2 a.m. or 2 p.m., we want students to be able to work together to solve problems and collaborate. I’m really excited to see what comes out of this—there will be cool things that we never imagined. We’re doing some incredible things here.”

Success Beyond the Ledger Sheet

LHM.com

Larry H. Miller believed that business had a higher purpose beyond the numbers on a ledger sheet. He instilled in the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies the mantra, “Go about doing good until there’s too much good in the world.” By giving, working and serving in our communities, we enrich our lives and the lives of others. We become the very places where people want to work and where the community chooses to do business. It defines how we measure success.

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Photo courtesy of the Salt Lake Chamber

Doing Business in SLC

With events like the Outdoor Retailer Show, Salt Lake Comic Con and the Sundance Film Festival, Salt Lake City has become a premier destination in the United States

hether you’re in town to make a deal, attend a convention or just see the sights, there really is something for everyone.

Free Fare Zone Ride free if you enter and exit the bus or TRAX within the boundaries of the Free Fare Zone.

First Class Infrastructure

You could order a Lyft or take the TRAX light rail system straight from the airport into downtown Salt Lake City in just 10 minutes. Once you’re downtown, you can hoof it, ride the Free Fare Zone of TRAX, or use GREENbike, Salt Lake City’s bike share program.

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

Salt Lake City is really making its mark on the culinary world; you can always find something fresh and delicious any day of the week. From seafood at Current Fish & Oyster, Spanish tapas at Finca, vegan and vegetarian fare at Zest to Copper Onion’s locally sourced American goodness, you’re bound to find a place nearby to satisfy your appetite.

Favorite Watering Holes

World-Class Lodging

There are great hotels within walking distance of the Salt Lake Palace Convention Center that will make you feel like you're right at home. Here are some highly recommended hotels around downtown Salt Lake City: Hotel Monaco, Salt Lake

Dining Destinations

Marriott Downtown at City Creek, Hilton Hotel Salt Lake City Center, the Grand America and Little America Hotel.

After a day full of meetings, sometimes all you want is a nice cold beer. So try one of our local craft beers from Red Rock Brewing, Squatters or Epic Brewery. If you’re looking for something a bit stronger, try Bar X or Whiskey Street—where you’ll find some of the best mixologists in the city.

I am

Community

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Possibilities

I am I am

YEARS s i n c e 1985

YEARS s i n c e 198|5435.649.3991 www.discovernac.org Sport, recreation and educational programs for individuals of all abilities since 1985 ... Get involved!

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Putting the Team First PROFILE: 1-800 CONTACTS

hile many businesses talk about putting associates first, 1-800 Contacts, led by CEO Brian Bethers, has established a remarkable associate-first corporate culture. What’s more, they’ve preserved it over the course of 20 years, an IPO and three corporate buy-outs. Bethers understands the importance of an associatefriendly culture. He also is keenly aware of how Utah, in particular, has helped elevate the culture and success of 1-800 Contacts. Selling contact lenses over the phone and online has unique business challenges for 1-800 Contacts: eye doctors see their customers first to prescribe contact lenses, frequently fail to give patients a copy of their prescription and have the right to sell what they prescribe. Additionally, 1-800 Contacts’ customers have to go back to their eye doctor about once a year to update their prescription, giving their eye doctor another opportunity to try to sell them contacts. Meeting with co-founder Jonathan Coon in 2003, Bethers was intrigued with 1-800 Contacts’ response to the challenges facing their business: overwhelming attention to detail and tireless efforts to exceed customer expectations. “I could tell the company’s culture was remarkable,” Bethers said. “I soon learned that the customer service stories at 1-800 Contacts were right up there with what you’ve heard about Amazon, Nordstrom and Apple. And it all starts with the associates. When they deliver outstanding service, customers come back to reorder their contacts.”

Associates-First Mindset

From the beginning, the company has focused on taking care of associates. The tradition of endless free cereal started back when the company was run out of a house in Provo. Today, Belgian waffles, steel-cut oatmeal and locally-baked bread and rolls are also available to associates all day at no charge.

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

Brian Bethers, CEO of 1-800 Contacts. Photo by Brandon Flint

work For lunch and (if needed) dinner, the in-house chef and his staff make on average more than 400 meals per day. Each of these is expertly prepared and significantly subsidized. Of the meals provided, Bethers says with a smile, “If you want to know how amazing a $4 filet mignon can be, call me and we’ll have lunch.”

The Food is Just the Beginning The on-site Wellness Center includes free personal trainers and monetary rewards for healthy lifestyle choices. Associates, families and friends gather each summer for a themed company party. In addition, an annual film festival treats every employee and his or her family and friends to a choice of blockbuster movies in rented-out theaters, plus popcorn and a theater gift card for more snacks. Payroll-deducted dry cleaning, discount movie tickets and massage services are all available on-site for associates’ convenience. Recognition programs for extraordinary service to customers, the company and other associates reinforce the culture. And, with the company’s relocation to a new five-story building in west Draper, each employee may receive a complimentary UTA pass for their commute. “Trying to significantly improve the lives of our associates and their families has always been our goal,” said Bethers. “And in turn, they go to extraordinary measures to take care of our customers.”

Happy Associates = Happy Customers How do free breakfasts and company parties translate into happy customers? The contact lens industry as a whole is growing in the midsingle digits, while 1-800 Contacts’ new customer base is growing in double digits and profitability more than tripling in the last decade. The company is now the largest contact lens retailer in the United States. “We’ve also diversified outside of our retail contact lens business to launch Premium Vision, which provides business-to-business sourcing, fulfillment and support for vision-related retail chains such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and

Photo by Dana Sohm

We’ve been in Utah since our founding and have no intention of leaving.” — Brian Bethers others,” he said. Premium Vision already fulfills more than 100,000 orders each month. From a hiring perspective, the investment in employees is clear: the single greatest source of new employees is current employees. “Our associates are our biggest advocates,” Bethers said. “It’s something we’re very proud of.”

Utah’s Impact on Business “Our location here in Utah has been tremendously influential,” Bethers said. “Talent recruiting is terrific. Outdoor opportunities and focus on family make it attractive for people coming in from out-of-state and, perhaps most important of all, there are genuinely good people here who want to be of service to others.” In true startup fashion, 1-800 Contacts was started in a dorm room. Jonathan Coon was attending BYU when he became so frustrated with his experience getting contact lenses he decided

to do something about it. Twenty years later, the goal of 1-800 Contacts remains the same: always find better ways to do things. “We’ve been in Utah since our founding and have no intention of leaving,” said Bethers. “With major colleges just a half hour in either direction, our location here at the south end of Salt Lake County makes it easy to staff our almost 900-person company.” This includes associates working at a north campus near the airport and approximately 500 call center agents. “We can’t imagine outsourcing our call center. It’s one of our most important customer contact points and is truly the heart of the company,” Bethers continued. “Utah is an exceptional place for business,” Bethers said. “And Utahbased companies should aspire to become world class. Successful businesses attract more successful businesses, which leads to better communities, better educational opportunities and better employees… it’s symbiotic.”

Always Better “I love finding better ways to do things,” Bethers says. “We started with a 1-800 number. Since then we’ve launched a website, a mobile website, apps across two platforms – three, if you count our Apple Watch app. There’s always a way we can make the contact lens buying experience better for our customers, and there’s always a way we can make working here better for our associates. That’s what gets us out of bed in the morning.” LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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Living Healthy Lives PROFILE: SELECTHEALTH

hen Pat Richards came to Utah to serve as president and CEO of SelectHealth, a not-for-profit health plan subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare, she was looking forward to the professional opportunities the move presented, as well as the chance to learn about a new part of the country. “Coming to Utah was an incredible opportunity,” Richards said. “I’ve followed high-performing health systems for many years and have long admired Intermountain Healthcare.” Richards arrived at SelectHealth just prior to the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. During this time of significant change, she led the organization through a period of deliberate and visionary growth. Since joining the organization in 2009, SelectHealth has grown to serve more than 830,000 members and expanded coverage options to include Medicare Advantage and managed Medicaid plans. Additionally, SelectHealth has become an active participant in the online health insurance marketplaces, offering increased access to insurance for individuals, families and small employers. In 2013, SelectHealth entered into a strategic alliance with St. Luke’s Health System to provide health plans throughout southern Idaho. Richards is quick to give credit for these accomplishments to the nearly 1,400 employees of SelectHealth. “Our strength as an organization lies in our employees,” she said. “The knowledge, skill and commitment to service they demonstrate every day is extraordinary.” That focus on providing superior service has led to SelectHealth being ranked “highest in member satisfaction” from JD Power and Associates six 28

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Pat Richards, SelectHealth Photo courtesy of SelectHealth

times. Employees are happy as well. SelectHealth has been named one of Utah’s “Best Companies to Work For” seven times by Utah Business magazine, and was recognized in 2014 with the “Top Workplaces” award from Workplace Dynamics and The Salt Lake Tribune. Richards began her career in health care as a staff nurse in general surgery and trauma at the University of Michigan Medical Center. “Being a trauma nurse was wonderful training for business,” she said. “People often talk about a business crisis, but working in nursing, I learned quickly that a crisis occurs only when someone is bleeding or has stopped breathing. My training as a nurse taught me to stay calm in most business situations I’ve faced.” Over the course of her career, Richards moved into the health

insurance field, and then to integrated health delivery systems. Prior to joining SelectHealth, she served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, a subsidiary of the Henry Ford Health System. “As a nurse, I enjoyed caring for individuals on a one-on-one basis,” she said. “At the same time, I saw that there were also opportunities to help people on a larger scale.” The desire to serve others is reflected in her working diligently to help make health care more affordable and accessible, and also by being deeply involved in the larger community. As CEO of SelectHealth, Richards led efforts to support community organizations that promote health and wellness, education and literacy, and strong neighborhoods. In 2014, SelectHealth was honored with the

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Photo by Brandon Flint 2015

Corporate Spirit of Giving Award for financial support, leadership involvement and volunteer participation. “The health and well-being of our communities affects all of us,” Richards said. “When there are strong support systems in place, people can obtain the help and education they need to improve their lives. People in Utah are caring and generous, and I see that their actions truly make a difference.” SelectHealth employees are infused with a desire to give back. It’s not uncommon to see volunteers from SelectHealth donate time to various non-profit organizations. In 2015 alone, employees volunteered time to paint schools and homeless shelters, clear grounds for recreation services, fill baskets for food donations, and read and teach in classrooms with lowincome students. The strong commitment to the community is also demonstrated through SelectHealth programs targeted to address specific needs in the community. Step Express, a fourth-grade exercise and fitness program to combat childhood obesity, encourages students to

When there are strong support systems in place, people can obtain the help and education they need to improve their lives.” — Pat Richards

develop healthy habits and is taught in schools around the state. Select 25 is a statewide award program that awards $2,500 grants to 25 non-profit organizations each year. SelectHealth is also a supporter of GREENBike SLC, a bike share program that supports physical activity and gives people an

alternative to taking a car on short trips in downtown Salt Lake City. Since moving to Utah, Pat has enjoyed exploring her new home, especially the downtown area. “The ballet, symphony and opera, live theatre and other cultural activities are vibrant,” she said. “There is so much natural beauty in every corner of the state, and there are many recreational activities that appeal to individuals and families. The people are welcoming and friendly. Utah is a great place to live and to work.” With some of the lowest health care costs in the country, Utah is well-positioned to lead the nation in transforming the way health care services are delivered. The state has one of the lowest rates of obesity and diabetes in the country. As part of one of the nation’s top-integrated health care delivery systems, SelectHealth strives to provide high-value health benefits at an affordable cost. “Our mission is to help people live the healthiest lives possible,” Pat said. “This is an exciting time to be in health care. We are working to make health care services more affordable and accessible, and our future is bright.” LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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Photos by David Newkirk

Commercial Real Estate With businesses flocking to Utah and startups booming, commercial real estate remains strong

conomists at CBRE frequently refer to commercial real estate as the ‘economy in a box.’ With all property types, there is a direct relationship to economic conditions and the overall makeup of the economy. Salt Lake City is no different. Each major commercial property type comes with its own market insights and conditions that illustrate the dynamics between the local economy and the commercial real estate market.

Office: Healthy Growth The primary demand driver for office space — employment in office 30

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using sectors — continues to grow at healthy levels. The tech sector is having a particularly concentrated effect on office demand in southern Salt Lake County and northern Utah County. While growth in the tech sector is notable, employment continues expanding across other office-using sectors. Consistently healthy demand, which reflects the area’s strong economy, is impacting key market indicators; corresponding rent growth and falling vacancy has characterized recent Salt Lake office market history. Strengthening market fundamentals elicited a response from developers in the

form of new construction; several hundred thousand square feet of new supply entered the market in 2015. Although a significant amount of office construction is underway in the Salt Lake metro, the overall relationship between supply and demand is not expected to become dramatically imbalanced. With vacancy falling into the single digits in many cases, new supply will enable continued growth.

Retail: Showing Strength Changes in demographics, technology and economic realities continue to shape retail commercial real estate markets—and Salt Lake is no exception. These trends are driving the evolution of the retail industry and retailers are responding in ways that affect how

decisions regarding commercial real estate are made. For example, retailers continue to seek out highquality locations and are focused on creating an upgraded shopping experience. Also, smaller spaces that work in tandem with retailers’ online footprints are increasingly more common. Fueled by one of the best performing metro economies in the nation, Salt Lake’s retail market fundamentals continue to show strength. Active retailers in the market include grocers, gyms and quick-service restaurants. However, upon closer examination, the market is increasingly bifurcated with large gains in market fundamentals in high-quality locations, while less-desirable locations improve at a slower rate. With employment growth expected to remain strong, favorable demographics and a bright shortterm economic outlook, Salt Lake’s healthy economy will continue to positively influence retail commercial real estate.

Industrial: Strong Development The Salt Lake industrial commercial real estate market enjoys a tail wind from a strong local economy, in addition to its strategic geographic location, which enables the area to be used as a regional distribution hub. In recent years, an increase in the presence of manufacturing facilities has also influenced the market. With perhaps the strongest fundamentals of the major property types discussed in this overview, industrial developers moved to meet market demand—completed construction totals were projected to reach their highest levels in recent history by the end of 2015. Healthy demand for new, “Class A” (higher quality) product gives reason to believe that a healthy balance between supply and demand remains intact. Large occupiers (more than 50,000 sq. ft. in size) are also more active than they have been historically, which is

important to note as new supply is able to accommodate such growth.

Outlook: Looking Forward

Investment: Capital Abundance

Commercial real estate in Salt Lake will continue to reflect the strong local economy. Although a significant amount of new supply is shaping market fundamentals across property types, such levels can be considered healthy at the present time. In fact, new supply is needed to accommodate continued growth, particularly in high-demand areas where tenant requirements are not well-served by existing supply. From an investment point of view, this development is a vote of confidence in the future of northern Utah. The lifespan of commercial properties is long; therefore such investments take a long-view. This is the case for newly developed properties as well as existing properties, as evidenced by capital flows targeting Utah from around the U.S. and the globe. In short, the area’s bright economic outlook bodes well for commercial real estate in Salt Lake. This will continue to fuel investment in the area in terms of new development as well as demand for existing assets.

A variety of factors influence the demand for commercial real estate assets in the Salt Lake metro area. A strong local economy, which is reflected in commercial real estate market fundamentals, continues to underpin investor interest. Additionally, lower returns in major gateway markets (e.g. New York, Los Angeles and Seattle) are pushing investors to look for secondary markets (e.g. Nashville, Kansas City and Portland) with higher returns and relative safety. Salt Lake fits this profile on both counts. An abundance of capital and investor appetite is supporting activity in the Salt Lake investment market. However, a lack of available high-quality assets is limiting transaction volumes. This dynamic of strong demand but limited supply is expected to continue for the nearterm. Still, due to higher returns and relative safety, the area’s investment market will continue to see strong interest and activity, albeit subdued, as supply remains constrained.

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 under construction. Learn more at slchamber.com LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

When it comes to real estate, we see potential everywhere. CBRE turns scale into strength, expense into performance, and property into prosperity. How can we help you transform your real estate into real advantage?

Kami Taylor | 801 869 8000

cbre.com/slc

Build on Advantage

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The Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building on the University of Utah campus. Photo courtesy of USTAR

Driving Technology The Utah Science and Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) catalyzes research, development and commercialization activities to expand Utah’s technology economy

STAR supports Governor Herbert’s vision for the Utah economy: to be recognized as a premier global destination. USTAR seeks to create a technology ecosystem that enables ideas to seed, grow and thrive.

Building Our STEM Workforce USTAR has enabled the hiring of commercially-minded researchers, the building of state-of-the-art core facilities and the development of entrepreneur outreach centers partnered with regional universities. USTAR provides resources for tech 34

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businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the state via outreach efforts. RESEARCHERS: USTARfunded researchers have proven adept at capturing millions of dollars in federal and private research funding and building world-class research teams including undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students. To form new ventures based on their respective technologies, researchers work with their respective University commercialization offices to transfer these technologies to industries in the business community.

CORE FACILTIES: The University of Utah’s James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building is the centerpiece of a visionary plan to accelerate research, development and commercialization at the interface of medicine, nanotechnology, engineering, pharmacology and digital media. It includes a state-of-the art

nanofabrication facility with cleanroom space, a biobay, and a microscopy and materials characterization suite. These facilities are available to university researchers and can also be used on a feefor-service basis by commercial partners. Utah State University’s (USU) BioInnovations Center houses highly advanced life-sciences laboratories and provides lab space in support of synthetic bio-manufacturing, advanced human nutrition, veterinary diagnostics and infectious disease and other innovation areas. This state-of-the-art facility also houses a Bio Safety Level 3+ lab. USU has also added a biomanufacturing facility to enable industrial-scale production of synthetic biology products. Both are positioned for industry collaboration. USTAR regional outreach offices support technology commercialization activities across the state. The offices are regionally focused and provide support to community members and USTAR researchers with innovative technology ideas to establish spinout companies.

Entrepreneurial Assistance USTAR ACCELERATORS: Assists entrepreneurs in accelerating the development of startup companies by providing resources and services. Business accelerators emphasize rapid growth while providing support for obstacles that the startup company may encounter. USTAR BUSINESS INCUBATOR: Programs focus on speeding up the growth and success of startup and early stage companies by providing mentorship and support during the time it takes a company to get on its feet. Incubation time varies for each company.

or to connect startups with valuable resources helping to facilitate collaborative partnerships. Industry support also helps to identify gaps in needed areas such as education and workforce development.

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Outreach Offices USTAR North

MENTORING/BUSINESS SERVICES: Industry experts offer help and resources to companies for refining plans and strategies. One-onone mentoring can help assist with setting goals for success while developing business plans. USTAR regional offices and a network of experts combine knowledge, guidance and encouragement to help bring business possibilities to life.

218 South 200 West

PROTOTYPING SERVICES: Provides early stage companies looking to validate their business model by providing a functionally limited proof of concept device. Prototyping support includes 3D printers, engineering assistance and machine shop time.

USTAR Central

STATE AGENCY AND PARTNER SERVICES: USTAR also works closely with other state agencies and partners to provide other services to enhance their mission where possible, thus allowing USTAR to fulfill its directive of increasing innovation through research and business development. An example of this work includes the State’s Energy Triangle grant program, which is a partnership with the Office of Energy Development and the Governor’s Energy Advisor.

Farmington 385.226.8457 USTAR South 1071 East 100 South, Bldg C7 St. George 435.216.8364

815 West 1250 South Orem 385.335.5300 USTAR East 423 Wakara Way, Ste 300 SLC 801.585.9690 SBIR-STTR Assistance Center SLCC – Miller Campus Corp. Partnership Center 9750 South 300 West, Ste. 214 Sandy 801.597.5239

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

SBIR-STTR ASSISTANCE CENTER: Assists entrepreneurs and startup companies in preparing and submitting SBIR-STTR applications. The SBIR and STTR programs offer more than $2.5 billion annually to support the development of technology by small businesses across the nation. USTAR’s SBIR-STTR Assistance Center helps techoriented businesses with new discoveries or innovative concepts to get the funding they need to continue their path towards commercialization. INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Includes working with established companies and corporations to connect them with applied research and new innovations, The BioInnovations Center on the Utah State University campus. Photo courtesy of USTAR

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Image courtesy of Envision Utah

Planning for the Future of interest

A Step in the Right Direction In the late 1990s, when Envision Utah was founded, some parts of the state failed to meet national air quality standards, with pollution projected to get even worse. Since then, Envision Utah and others have worked hard to address the problem. Today, emissions across all inventoried pollutants have decreased by nearly half, even as Utah’s overall population has grown. Utah is growing. Get involved and see how you can help shape the state's future by going to envisionutah.org

Envision Utah engages people to create and sustain communities that are prosperous and neighborly for current and future residents

n short, Envision Utah helps people envision the future the way they want it, then they give them the knowledge and tools to make it a reality. Utah is thriving. Boasting the nation’s strongest economy, Utahns across the state are able to live in safe, friendly neighborhoods. Because of our state’s prosperity, most Utahns can take care of their families, live in good neighborhoods and enjoy a very high quality of life with those they love. With success, though, brings its own challenges. A high quality of life means that Utah’s population is growing, and it will continue to grow. In the last thirty years, Utah doubled its population, and is projected to nearly double it again by 2050. How will Utah maintain our quality of life with twice as many people? Utah isn’t strong today by accident. Utah is strong because every generation has made the necessary efforts to ensure the next generation could succeed. For this generation, that effort is called Your Utah, Your Future.

Your Utah, Your Future In October 2013, Governor Gary Herbert announced the Your Utah, Your Future process to examine important questions

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regarding future quality of life, such as: Will we have clean air to breathe? Will we have enough water for our needs? Will we have an affordable cost of living, with good housing options for everyone? Will we have open space, including natural lands, agriculture and world-class recreational options? How will we educate twice as many students? Will there be quality jobs for our children and grandchildren? Specifically, the Your Utah, Your Future process examined eleven critical topics: • Air Quality • Agriculture • Disaster Resilience • Economic Development • Education • Energy • Housing and Cost of Living • Public Lands • Recreation • Transportation and Communities • Water Each topic is independently important, but none stands alone. Envision Utah's goal was to help Utahns create a vision for the future they want to see—one that addresses all these topics and serves as a guide for making this state better in future generations.

Choosing Our Future This vision explores these and numerous other synergies and interrelationships that will determine what Utah's future—and our children’s and grandchildren’s future—will look like. In order to fully explore these topics, Envision Utah employed the same visioning process that put Utah on the community planning map nearly two decades ago. They convened some of the state’s brightest minds on each of the identified topic areas, studied the values that Utahns hold dear, developed scenarios that presented clear and tangible outcomes on each topic and gave those options to the public to decide what kind of state they want. More than 400 experts worked to study the outcomes of the various strategies studied in each of the eleven topic areas. By understanding values, Envision Utah was able to study and assess the strategies that the public would be most enthusiastic to adopt. All of the strategies were then vetted and substantiated through a record-

Photo by Chad Zavala

breaking public outreach effort and survey tool which allowed 52,385 individuals to give their direct input into the shaping of our state.

Shaping Utah’s Future Together Taken together, the Your Utah, Your Future process accomplishes a few key goals in ways that no previous community visioning effort ever has: it provides key decision makers with a huge, directionally significant mandate for shaping the future of Utah and its cities; it gives Utahns a sense of ownership

for the behaviors and policies that will influence how we grow; and it demonstrates that Utahns care about their state and its future, and are willing to show it. If Utah's track record for working together to tackle tough issues is any indication, it has a bright future ahead if we harness the energy, foresight and planning that went into this statewide effort. Envision Utah is founded upon the principle that the public has a right to choose its future, and when given the chance and equipped with the right information, they will make the right choices to guide their communities.

WATER EXPERTISE AT ITS SOURCE

For more than 100 years, USU has been the leading state, national and international voice of expertise on water-related issues: management, ecology, climate, education and societal impacts.

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Photo by Alex Adams, Digital Blue Photography

Breaking Down Barriers of interest

Salt Lake Chamber Women's Business Center 2015 Statistics New Clients: 221 Total Clients: 252 Consultations: 397 Consulting Hours: 605 Trainings: 127 Attendees: 4,115 81 Business plans completed 92 New businesses started 192 Jobs created $49.8M Total Revenue $1.5M Increase in Profit $2.7M Capital Accessed

Women are the fastest growing group of new business owners in the U.S, with one in three businesses owned by a woman

s the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Women in Business stated, “Understanding [women’s] character and impact will contribute to creating environments that help more women scale up their businesses and ultimately serve national and international markets in unique and groundbreaking ways.” However, becoming a successful business owner is difficult, especially for women who face existing growth roadblocks. In general, women have greater difficulty accessing capital and finding relevant, helpful resources. In order to discover opportunities to overcome and open up paths to success, women need technical knowledge, a network and professional development

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opportunities. Lastly, women need examples of those already blazing the trail and thriving in the business environment. But this isn’t necessarily the case in Utah. According to the 2015 American Express OPEN Report State of Women- Owned Businesses, Utah is ranked #8 in economic clout, which considers total number of firms, revenue and employment. By revenue alone, Utah ranks #4, with higher than the national average for growth in women-owned firms. By creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem where women find and access resources, businesses will prosper; not only elevating the state’s economy, but inspiring other Utah women.

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U.S. News & World Report evaluated Primary Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children—Salt Lake City in Pediatric Orthopaedics

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 more than 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.

To refer a patient call 801.536.3500. For more information or to make a donation visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/saltlakecity. LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com 39

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Photo courtesy of Women's Leadership Institute

The ElevateHER Challenge Research shows that businesses with a higher number of women leaders out-perform businesses with fewer women

tah is the second state in the country, behind Massachusetts, to initiate an organizational challenge to elevate women’s leadership in the state of Utah. In May 2015, the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) was launched with 43 major Utah businesses, non-profit organizations and educational institutions accepting the ElevateHER Challenge – a commitment to address issues dealing with recruiting, advancing and retaining women in the workforce. That number is now 70. At the May launch, Utah Governor Gary Herbert also took the ElevateHER 40

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Challenge on behalf of the state of Utah, stating that the challenge will “pay real dividends and shows Utah as a place where women’s leadership is valued. Utah is leading other states in this collaborative approach between government and business to elevate the stature of women’s leadership.” WLI is focused on lifting the image of Utah, helping women reach their full potential, improving society’s understanding of diversity in leadership goals and the positive impact women leaders can have on economic development, vitality and the overall health of the state.

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Efforts to Elevate Female Leadership in Utah Utah Women’s Forum: utahwomensforum.org Women’s Business Center: slchamber.com/wbc Women’s Leadership Institute: wliut.com Real Women Run: realwomenrundotorg.wordpress.com Governor’s Commission on Women Women’s Corporate Boards

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learn

Utah Valley University

University of Utah

Southern Utah University

Session Class is in

Utah boasts a healthy system of higher education that offers a wide variety of programs for students in many fields. With both private and public schools, Utah higher education is both affordable and crucial to sustainable job growth in the state

Snow College

Salt Lake Community College Images courtesy of individual higher education institutes

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tah boasts a comprehensive system of higher education, which includes eight public, non-profit colleges and universities—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. The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) is working on multiple initiatives to increase college success and graduation rates, as well as collaborating with K-12 partners to improve college preparation for Utah’s students.

Utah College Application Week Each November, Utah's public high school seniors throughout the state are given the opportunity to apply to college during the school day, with a special emphasis placed on low-income and first-generation college students. This year we reached over 20,000 students in 80 high schools throughout Utah. This program will continue to expand each year to provide statewide support. Pam Jacobsen, a Roy High School counselor, said “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 that big!”

Regents’ Scholarship

USHE also administers the Regents’ Scholarship, which encourages Utah high school students to prepare for college academically and financially by taking a course on studying and saving for college. Since its inception in 2008, Utah has awarded nearly $27 million to Regents’ Scholarship recipients. Additionally, Utah Scholars, the sister program of the Regents’

learn 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 that big!” — Pam Jacobsen

Scholarship, delivers the collegeprep message to classrooms via volunteers from businesses, to more than 32,000 students—76 percent of all public school eighthgraders—each year.

Concurrent Enrollment

One key program that continues to grow is concurrent enrollment, a program that allows high school seniors to earn college course credit before graduation. Over half of the graduating high school seniors in Utah took advantage of this opportunity to earn college credit from USHE institutions. This saved students millions of dollars in college tuition. Concurrent enrollment also gives these students the opportunity to experience college instruction and learn necessary tasks, such as how to apply for admission, register for classes and succeed in a college environment.

StepUp to Higher Education

StepUp to Higher Education is a social awareness campaign that encourages students to dream big about their future and to include college in that dream. StepUpUtah. com contains advice and resources for college preparation and success, for students, parents and educators. StepUp also hosts various events throughout the year to raise awareness about financial aid options available in the state and increases the FAFSA completion rates in Utah.

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Higher Education in Utah STUDENTS IN THE UTAH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION • Eight public colleges and universities • 170,770 students enrolled in Fall 2015 (more than 75 percent of all college students in Utah) • 32,549 degrees and certificates awarded 2013-14 academic year (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, Utah’s nonprofit 529 college savings plan, received the 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 it was two percent only for a Utahn with a bachelor’s degree SOURCE: Utah System of Higher Education

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STEM Fest STEM Fest celebrates innovations in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and introduces Utah kids to hundreds of activities that range in complexity to entertain people of all ages.

utahstemfest.com

Student participates in the Graphics and Robotics Exploration with Amazing Technology Camp at the University of Utah, which received a grant from the Utah STEM Action Center. Photo by Kaitlin Felsted

STEM Education

ow often do we hear the phrase, “I’m not a math person,” or disparaging jokes about “tech people” and their stereotypical lack of social skills? Educators in Utah, with support from the STEM Action Center, are doing something about the issues facing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. For a long time, teachers with the best of intentions were unable or unsure how to best provide students with engaging STEM lessons. Nationwide, this has resulted in a shortage of students prepared to enter STEM career fields, regardless of education level. The STEM Action Center was created and placed in the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) amidst the 2013 legislative session. During its development, the mission of the STEM Action Center was determined to focus on promoting STEM education through educational best practices, professional development practices and connections with Utah’s local industries—with the ultimate intention of aligning education and workforce efforts. Programs have included studies

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on digital math tools, training in the applied sciences and efforts to align high school programs to local STEM industry needs. As the STEM Action Center continues its efforts, programs will include elementary school teacher STEM endorsements, STEM certifications for schools, teacher and administrator professional development, classroom grants and grants specifically for students to encourage STEM participation in fairs, contests and competitions. With liaisons in the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) and Department of Workforce Services (DWS), it is clear the STEM Action Center is serious about its goal to provide Utah’s STEM industries with the employees they need. In Utah, STEM jobs are in high demand, particularly in health care and engineering. In the future, it is projected that STEM job demand will increase by 17 percent, while unemployment rates for individuals with STEM degrees maintains an average of 1.6 percent. As demand increases, students need to be prepared to fill these positions. Even more, the students of today are preparing for careers that do not yet exist.

By focusing on STEM subjects, which inherently teach critical and creative thinking skills, as well as providing explicit instruction on problem solving, students will be better prepared for the world as they will know it. By providing these opportunities for collaboration, students will be encouraged and supported throughout their education, resulting in earlier exposure to hands-on STEM activities and additional retention of students that express interest in the STEM fields of study. As students graduate high school, they will be better prepared for either the workplace or higher education. Watching students have a positive experience with the STEM fields is an achievement all its own. After one 6th grade student used a microscope for the first time to examine pond water, he exclaimed “This is my kind of subject!” The microscopes, provided by a STEM Action Center classroom grant, are unlike any the school would have been able to purchase on its own. By identifying local and state needs regarding STEM subjects, student and teacher barriers will be broken down and replaced with exciting and applicable learning opportunities that teach more than just facts and knowledge, but also valuable skills about making mistakes, and, more importantly, trying again.

INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS SMALL CLASS SIZES CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT MOTIVATED STUDENTS

Utah’s Independent Schools The Independent School Difference EDUCATION FOR THE WHOLE CHILD. Independent schools nurture students’ intellectual ability and curiosity, personal and social growth, and civic conscience. The schools listed are members of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS), an organization which promotes high educational quality through the establishment and advancement of comprehensive accreditation standards.

American Heritage School Accredited Member K to Grade 12 American Fork (801) 642-0055 american-heritage.org latterdaylearning.org

INDEPENDENT EDUCATION. Independent school teachers and administrators take the time to know each student to encourage achievement in and out of the classroom, and to generate excitement about learning. HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS. Faculty at independent schools combine top teaching skills with a passion for their subject areas. Many teachers bring to the classroom knowledge from advance degrees and successful careers. Their energy and enthusiasm create significant learning experiences for their students. INCLUSIVENESS. Independent schools are diverse and vibrant communities that welcome and respect each family.

The McGillis School Accredited Member K to Grade 8 Salt Lake City (801) 583-0094 mcgillisschool.org

Rowland Hall Accredited Member Pre-K to Grade 12 Salt Lake City (801) 355-7485 rowlandhall.org

Park City Day School Accredited Member Pre-K to Grade 8 Park City (435) 649-2791 parkcitydayschool.org

The Waterford School Accredited Member Pre-K to Grade 12 Sandy (801) 572-1780 waterfordschool.org

ACCESSIBLE EDUCATORS. Independent schools understand that parents are important partners in a child’s education. Parents are encouraged to contact administrators and teachers with questions or concerns about their child’s school experiences. SAFE SCHOOLS. Independent schools maintain up-to-date facilities and provide a safe and nurturing environment for children. Parents can rest assured that faculty know their students well and can help them when they are confronted with problems. REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE. Independent school leaders know that students benefit from interaction with people who hold different perspectives and come from difference backgrounds. They strive to provide students real-world experiences to prepare them to achieve not only in school, but also in work, in further academic pursuits, and in life. In addition to being exposed to a broad array of courses, independent school students participate in community service work and keep up with political affairs.

learn

The Salt Lake Chamber brought together business, community and education leaders to form Prosperity 2020. Photo courtesy of Prosperity 2020

Prosperity 2020 From the first day of school all the way through college, Utah recognizes the importance of education of interest

Prosperity Through Education “Prosperity Through Education” is the business community's plan to take Utah's education to the Top Ten in the Nation. The main goals include: • Improve 4th and 8th grade math • Improve 4th and 8th grade reading • Increase high school graduation rates • Increase post-secondary graduation rates

tah’s population hit the 3 million mark in October 2015. It is projected that Utah will have 4 million residents by 2031. Presently, about 31 percent of Utahns are under age 18. For comparison, in the U.S. as a whole, 23 percent are under age 18. According to Alan Hall, CEO of Tempus Global and chair of Prosperity 2020, “Across America, the most vibrant state economies put education first. Decades of research show that a person’s earning power and a society’s wealth are tied to educational achievement. This applies now more than ever, as economic prosperity is driven by those with the knowledge and skills to compete in a global market.” As a state, the entire population of Utah values education and understands that Utah’s children are the future, and their

successes will be the state’s success as well. The Salt Lake Chamber brought together business, community and education leaders to form Prosperity 2020, and they are working to help ensure economic prosperity of the state.

What is Prosperity 2020?

Prosperity 2020 is the largest businessled movement ever assembled in Utah to advance educational investment and innovation. This partnership includes 21 chambers of commerce across the state. The vision of Prosperity 2020 is to work collaboratively to ensure education remains a top focus for our state’s leaders, leading to increased prosperity and a bright future for Utah.

Goals of Prosperity 2020

For Utah to continue to succeed, we must put education first. Prosperity 2020 has established goals to elevate Utah’s education system to rank among the top ten states in the nation by improving math and reading scores and graduation rates.

Learn more about the movement, the plan, the visions and goals, and how you can get involved at Prosperity2020.com

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Image by Doug Barnes

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

Getting Around B ecause 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. 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, a high-speed commuter rails, runs from northern Utah to Provo, and TRAX light rail system has extended its reach by heading further west and now connects 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

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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. In August of 2015, UTA added service and increased frequency to TRAX, the S-Line and select bus routes throughout Weber, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties, and ridership went up by more than 30 percent on weekdays and 20 percent on weekends. 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 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

live 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, Sugarhouse, University of Utah, Draper, West Valley and to the many points inbetween.

Air Travel

The Salt Lake City International Airport is situated just west of Salt Lake City, about 10 minutes from downtown and is within 2.5 hours from most of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population. In 2014, 21 million passengers were served in Salt Lake City. It also has an increasingly strong record of on-time flights and a low percentage of cancellations. The airport ranks 27th busiest in North America and 80th busiest in the world in terms of passenger numbers. As of April 2015, there were about 318 average daily departures from the facilities to 88 nonstop destinations.

Interstate Highways

Utahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

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 plagues the Wasatch Front. The Utah Transportation Coalition, a Salt Lake Chamber initiative, 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 already done a lot 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 for a Utah way of life, go to visitutah.com

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Similarly, Fannie Mae expects total home sales to increase 3.5 percent over 2015 levels. Although the growth projections are specifically for the U.S., Utah’s housing market should also perform well. Freddie Mac recently listed Utah as the No. 5 housing market in the country based on its stability in mortgage applications, affordability, non-delinquent loans and employment. Likewise, Salt Lake City ranked No. 4 among metro areas.

Getty Images

More Sustainable Price Increases

High Times For Housing in Utah With the housing market stronger than ever, Utah is fast becoming the nation’s best for real estate of interest

Utah Real Estate The median sales price of homes sold in October 2015 registered $229,900, a nearly 6 percent increase from the median last year of $217,700. For the year, prices are up 6.5 percent. The counties with the highest price gains were Iron, Tooele and Weber with increases in the median price of 24, 17 and 10 percent, respectively. Sellers in Utah are receiving more of their asking prices, and homes don’t stay on the market for long. Statewide, it took an average of 52 days to place a home under contract. That’s down significantly from 69 days last year. SOURCES: www.trulia.com, Utah Association of Realtors

he year 2015 may be one of the best in Utah housing market history. As of the end of September, Realtors were on track to break the record for the most homes sold in a single year. If successful, Utah Realtors will have sold more homes in 2015 than during any other year, according to Utah Association of Realtors records dating back to 2003. Both sales and prices climbed steadily throughout 2015 as buyers competed for a limited supply of homes. At the end of September, the number of Utah transactions had increased 19 percent for the year. That’s up significantly from 2014, which was also a strong year. Meanwhile, the median sales price rose 7 percent and hit a record high in 2015. Moving forward, the market is positioned well for 2016. Economists are expecting continued growth in sales and prices, rising mortgage rates and more choices for homebuyers.

Continued Sales Growth

Several economists are expecting continued growth in home sales for 2016. The National Association of Realtors is projecting an increase in U.S. existing home sales of 3.5 percent for 2016.

While values will continue to increase, the gains are expected to moderate a bit. That’s welcome news for would-be homebuyers who need prices to remain affordable. A forecast from the Urban Land Institute says prices will be up 5 percent in 2015, 4.3 percent in 2016 and 3.9 percent in 2017. Over the past 20 years, U.S. home prices have increased an average of 3.6 percent per year, which means 2016 is expected to outperform.

Rising Mortgage Rates

Economists expect mortgage rates to increase in 2016. Currently, Freddie Mac is forecasts an increase in the 30-year mortgage rate next year from 3.9 percent on average to 4.3 percent. A similar prediction from Fannie Mae suggests rates on a 30-year mortgage will average 4 percent in 2016. While the cost of borrowing will likely be higher than the ultra-low levels of 2015, interest rates under 5 percent are still incredibly affordable. Today’s economic situation combined with improvements in the employment market should continue to boost housing despite an uptick in interest rates.

Improved Real Estate Selection

Finally, homebuyers should expect more choices in 2016. The last time competition for houses was as intense as 2015 was the housing boom. Nevertheless, the shortage situation is expected to improve in 2016 as builders increase production. The Urban Land Institute survey forecasts U.S. single-family housing starts will increase to 745,000 in 2015, 842,500 in 2016 and 900,000 in 2017. Although this is below the 20-year average of more than one million starts, it is a significant improvement from the extremely low levels of home-building activity in recent years. Consumers should expect the following real estate conditions in 2016: rising home prices, investment opportunities for rentals, a healthy economy, below-average interest rates and more housing choices.

Would-be buyers and sellers can learn more about the markets in their own areas at utahrealtors.com

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2015-2016 SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY SUU.EDU

NATIONAL OUTDOOR CHAMPIONS 51

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Photo by John McCarthy

of interest

Downtown Living 99 West 99 West South Temple citycreekliving.com Broadway Park Lofts 300 South 350 West clearwaterhomesutah.com Liberty at Gateway 500 South 500 West libertygatewayapartments.com Patrick Lofts 163 West 200 South patricklofts.net Providence Place Apartments 309 East 100 South isyourhome.com The Regent 35 East 100 South citycreekliving.com Richards Court 44/55 West South Temple citycreekliving.com Westgate Business Center 300 West 180 South Downtown Rising: For more information on downtown living and new developments visit downtownrising.com

Faces of the Valley Surrounded by the stunning Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains, Salt Lake City is known for its diverse blend of people

nyone 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. 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.

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.

The Avenues & Federal Heights

Downtown Living

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.

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While Salt Lake City continues to grow, downtown Salt Lake has become a hot spot for housing due to its vibrant culture and accessibility to the state’s most popular shopping venues and public transportation systems. Building upon some of the city's oldest architecture, ClearWater Homes has been developing market rate, owneroccupied housing units and condos. The Paragon Station in the WestGate Business

live Center on the corner of 200 South and 300 West will soon be home to luxury lofts that build upon the building’s history but in a luxurious, modern-day setting. ClearWater Homes will implement renewable energy and sustainable green building techniques, such as using nonconsumptive geothermal heat energy to heat and cool the building and aggressive insulation.

9th & 9th and 15th & 15th

The 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 owned stores that are both familyfriendly and eclectic. 15th and 15th stretches from Emerson Street to Kensington Street along 1500 East and is home to locally owned specialty stores and businesses, including Caputo’s 15th & 15th, 15th Street Gallery and King’s English Bookshop.

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 distinguishable 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. In late 2014, the TRAX S-Line streetcar was implemented as a single track that connects the Sugar House neighborhood to all three TRAX light rail lines at Central Pointe Station in South Salt Lake City.

Sandy & Draper

Sandy and Draper, located in the southern part of the Salt Lake Valley, have attracted businesses such as the

For Information Please Contact:

Daybreak

Located in the city of South Jordan, Daybreak is currently celebrating 10 years of family-friendly living and a community that enjoys yearround, family-friendly events. The homes in Daybreak are some of the valley’s most sustainable. They are more energy-efficient than other new homes, saving residents anywhere from $200 to nearly $1,500 annually on energy costs. Daybreak’s community plan is based on the 5-minute rule, which places all kinds of good stuff within a 5-minute walk.

Escape to Logan

Brian A. Preece Director of City Commerce 801-254-3742 or bpreece@sjc.utah.gov www. sjc.utah.gov

FrontRunner TOD

South Towne Center shopping mall, the Jordan Commons entertainment and dining complex, South Towne 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.

Pheasant Hollow

Just 90 minutes north of Salt Lake City An outdoor and cultural mecca in any season.

Logan’s pace is a little slower, and we like it Daybreak Commerce Park

RiverPark Corporate Center

that way. Relax. Hike, bike, fish, camp, ski, and snowmobile in Logan Canyon. Check out world-class musical theater, concerts, art galleries, festivals, living history and food tours.

“Best Places to Live”—#18 Money Magazine

explorelogan.com • 1-800-882-4433

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Image courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism

Business is Booming Utah Valley is racing to the forefront of the national economy, thanks to innovation, hard work, its entrepreneurial spirit and a fantastic business landscape

everal 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 internationallyacclaimed films during the annual 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 home to Utah Valley University (UVU) and Brigham Young University (BYU), totalling more than 62,000 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 nearly 34,000 students studying everything from aviation science to zoology. BYU’s campus is at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. It provides higher education to about 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 capitalizing on the area’s entrepreneurial spirit and are springing up all across the valley. Josh James, founder of DOMO, initiated the branding campaign “Silicon Slopes” to describe the technology cluster that has blossomed in Utah Valley and along the Wasatch Front, which includes businesses like Adobe Systems, Workfront, IMFlash, Entrata and Boostability. 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

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The Community Connection Known locally as “the other Utah,” the Northern Wasatch communities offer all the benefits of urban life along with incredible access to outdoor recreation Weber County

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. Lagoon’s newest ride, Cannibal, lifts passengers up 208 feet above the ground and has a max speed of 70 mph. It opened to great success in the summer of 2015. 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, Station Park in Farmington 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 Community Arts Center 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.

Kayaker in the Great Salt Lake / Salomon Center in Ogden.

Images courtesy of Kevin Dilley and Utah Office of Tourism

In the last decade, Ogden of Weber County has gained momentum as an outdoor sports destination, as well as a 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 nationallyknown 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 renovated to make room for movie theaters, high-rise condos, restaurants and more. Weber State University also calls Ogden home.

Ogden and Weber have great access to a wide variety recreation options. Learn more at visitogden.com and visitdavisareautah.com

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Homes That

MOVE

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Be inspired by innovative and beautiful home designs in one of many new Ivory neghborhoods. Be excited with the possibilities presented by our team of experienced professionals focused on exceeding your expectations. Be amazed with our simplified home buying and building process, exclusive services, and extraordinary quality. Be MOVED â&#x20AC;&#x201D; get started at one of Ivoryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decorated model homes or visit ivoryhomes.com.

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Images courtesy of Park City Chamber/Bureau

Ski, Eat, Repeat As a hotspot for year-round outdoor activities, Park City attracts people from all walks of life

of interest

Utah Olympic Park Located in Park City, Utah Olympic Park is open year-round to visitors who can tour the Olympic training sites and visit the Alf Engen Ski Museum along with the Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum. There are numerous activities guests can partake in, such as the summit adventure course, extreme zip line, bobsled and winter tubing. Utah Olympic Park is also host to many World Cup events during the winter months. Find out more at utaholympiclegacy.org

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hether you're looking for great ski resorts, a fall hike with the family or a summer music scene, this mountain town can accommodate. Home of five-star hotels and worldclass skiing, Park City offers small-town charm with international renown. Only a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport, Park City offers a relaxing getaway, or perfect vacation in the mountains. Park City isn’t just for outdoor enthusiasts, but also art buyers and appreciators. Take a walk down the historic Main Street to find contemporary and fine art on every

corner created by talented local artists. Enjoy the monthly gallery stroll or annual Kimball Arts Festival to get in your creative fix. With more than 100 restaurants and bars, galleries aren’t the only way to appreciate art in Park City. Gastronomy, the art of food, puts this small town on the map for exquisite dining you would typically only find 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 of craft whiskeys 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 winter sports fanatics can experience a wide range of family-friendly activities 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 are sure to create lasting memories. Exploring Park City: For summer or winter, enhance your resort experience by visiting visitparkcity.com

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Images courtesy of Uintah County Travel & Tourism

Dinosaur Discoveries The Uinta Basin is adventure packed with lakes and rivers, dinosaur monuments and beautiful state parks

hat’s your pleasure? Slick rock? Alpine forests? Desert canyons? Northeastern Utah has it all. Learn and experience the area’s rich history from ancestry to prehistoric times. 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 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 60

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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 History where you can experience life as a paleontologist—take a walk through 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, pedal over for some of the best trails.

Take a whitewater rafting trip down the Green River for one-day or multi-day tripand have 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. Fish for rainbow trout and largemouth bass, and enjoy sandy beaches, swim, boat, and waterski at Steinaker State Park, 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 Uinta Basin? Visit us at visitdinosaurland.com

In Utah, having it all isn’t a goal... It’s a way of life.

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Left: Kayaker on Tony Grove lake, Top: Utah Opera Festival, Guys and Dolls. Bottom: View of the Logan Valley Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism and Karen Almond

Unexpected Treasures

Cache Valley is comprised of a variety of hidden gems—rich history, beautiful buildings, stunning scenery, tasty dining, and a profitable and thriving economy

ache Valley is often referred to as Utah’s hidden treasure. Comprised mainly dairy farms, small towns, stunning mountains and modest cities, Cache Valley offers excitement and adventures for everyone. Logan, the heart of Cache Valley, houses a large student population thanks to Utah State University, where agricultural, aerospace, science and engineering programs reign. Locals and visitors enjoy performances at the Ellen Eccles Theatre in Logan, which is also home to the Utah Opera Festival and features world-famous operas, Broadway productions and other musical performances. The Ellen Eccles Theatre and the surrounding cultural arts complex, including the 62

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Thatcher-Young Mansion and the Bullen Center, are gathering places for the community to enjoy tradition and family entertainment. The American West Heritage Center, a living history attraction in Wellsville, offers a taste for early Cache Valley farm life with hands-on historical exhibits. Rockhill Creamery in Richmond is another must-see and operates out of a historic farmstead. The creamery uses traditional cheesemaking techniques and offers samples to Saturday visitors. Nearby recreation includes boating and water sports at beautiful Bear Lake, camping, canoeing in the Cutler Westlands Maze and exploring natural cave formations in the halfmile tour through Minnetonka Cave. Fishing locations in Cache Valley

include Blacksmith Fork River, Logan River and Bear Lake. Skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the perfect powder at Beaver Mountain Ski Resort, and at Sunrise Campground on U.S. Hwy. 89, which overlooks Bear Lake and is near the Logan Canyon summit. You can also enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on a beautiful winter day in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Many Utahns flock to Hardware Ranch in Blacksmith Fork Canyon, bundling up for a sleigh ride to meet hundreds of grazing elk. The area (just southeast of Logan) is the winter feeding area for Utah’s official state animal. Up north: Looking for a getaway close to home? Check out Utah’s top-tier region at explorelogan.com

1438 East Main Street, Ste 7 - Lehi, Utah Store Hours: Everyday 9am - 9pm Sundays 11am - 7pm Phone: 801-901-6452 www.tetontoys.com Follow Us on Facebook @ Teton Toys - Lehi LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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Left: Rainbow Bridge National Monument in Southern Utah. Top: A biker explores the Santa Clara River Reserve in St. George. Bottom: The city of St. George at night. Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism

Adventures Down South With its stunning red rock and vast canyonlands, Southern Utah possesses a big “wow” factor

ith the north rim of the Grand Canyon located along its southern edge, five national parks and five national monuments, Southern Utah is a hotspot for adventure. Locations such as Lake Powell, Brian Head Ski and Summer Resort, the world famous luxury hotel Amangiri, and the countless opportunities to enjoy arts and outdoor recreation around the friendly cities of Kanab, St. George and Cedar City, make Southern Utah a great place to live and play. Now an internationally-recognized hub for outdoor recreation, Southern Utah offers visitors the adventure of their choice. Rent a houseboat on Lake Powell, or take an evening cruise to 64

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Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Dare yourself on Angels Landing in Zion, one of the best-rated hikes in the world. Go horse-trekking in real cowboy country. Take advantage of the exceptional outdoor adventure guides throughout the region, and enjoy everything from rappelling to visiting ancient petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks. At the end of the day, unwind at a luxury spa like Red Mountain or Green Valley, or take a memorable private flight over the national parks. Whether your choice is to bring hiking shoes, an ATV or fishing rod, everyone should bring a camera! The arts play their part in the rich diversity of activities here. The Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare

Festival in Cedar City, Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins and music under the stars at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheatre in Springdale are a few of the good choices for performance arts. In Mount Carmel, the Thunderbird Foundation provides historic tours and gallery exhibits honoring Maynard Dixon, America’s “Father of Western Art.” Celebrate the Colorado Plateu at the annual Amazing Earthfest in Kanab with a week of outdoor activities and performances. Or, experience the “Old West the way it was” at the Western Legends Round-Up. In the very southern corner of the state, St. George offers a trove of things to do and places to see. From skydiving to ATVing to scenic tours, recreation is all around you. With 16 museums and more than 12 shopping centers, historic downtown is also a great place to explore while you visit.

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ARCHES

Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park

Photos by Utah Office of Tourism/Tom Till & National Park Service/Jacob W. Frank/Neal Herbert

Utah’s Paradise

Utah’s five national parks, all in the state’s southern half, are a treasure trove of endless possibilities for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Visitors from all over the world have come to enjoy the rich resources and wonders that make up Utah’s stunning and diverse landscape. 66

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Behind the Arches National Park visitor center, craggy sandstone rises like a castle’s curtain wall between towers and turrets. The 40mile scenic drive climbs high onto the plateau and crosses a vast and glorious landscape of panoramic views with distant snowcapped mountains. At sunset, you’ll swear photographers coined “magic hour” here as the red rock becomes saturated with the radiance of the sun. At sunrise, rays of light break over dramatic horizons. It’s no surprise that Arches National Park is one of the top national parks in America: it’s a 73,234-acre wonderland of eroded sandstone fins, towers, ribs, gargoyles, hoodoos, balanced rocks, and, of course, arches. Arches is conveniently located northwest of Moab— one of America’s best adventure capitals. Top Hike: Delicate Arch, pictured, is a symbol of Arches National Park and the state of Utah, which is somewhat surprising because it is barely visible from the road. You’ll have to work to get to it. You’ll pick up more than 500 feet in elevation over the 1.5-mile hike to the arch, but the payoff is huge. You’ll want to linger awhile, perfect for catching your breath.

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BRYCE CANYON

CANYONLANDS

CAPITOL REEF

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At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon. The alpine environment is home to dozens of mammals and birds, all acquainted with a spectacular truth: this is no ordinary forest. Water and wind over millions of years of freezes and thaws have carved into the plateau endless fields of the park’s distinctive red rock pillars, called hoodoos, creating the park’s series of natural amphitheaters. Seek out the canyon floor on foot or stick to the overlooks by car. Bryce Canyon National Park invites discovery. Every year, Bryce Canyon awes visitors with spectacular geological formations and brilliant colors. The towering hoodoos, narrow fins, and natural bridges seem to deny all reason or explanation, leaving hikers gazing around with jaws agape in wondrous incredulity. Top Hike: The Navajo Loop–Queen’s Trail Loop is one of the best 3-mile hikes anywhere. The popular trail drops from the canyon rim at Sunset Point to the floor of the canyon, visiting favorite formations such as Wall Street, Twin Bridges and Thor’s Hammer. Complete the loop through Queen’s Garden and a decent ascent back up to the rim.

Located to the west of Moab and a short distance from Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park is wild, wonderful and diverse in its landscapes and travel opportunities. Due to the park’s massive size, Canyonlands has four separate “districts,” including three land districts and the mighty Green and Colorado rivers, each with their own characteristic landscapes and experiences. In Canyonlands National Park, opportunities abound for day hiking and backpacking. Mountain bikers can tackle challenging dirt roads that lead through the heart of the park. Canyonlands is also a great place to view incredible scenery from the paved roads that lead to awe-inspiring viewpoints over wave after wave of deep canyons and rugged mesas. Top Hike: The short Mesa Arch hike in the Island in the Sky rightfully gets a lot of attention—particularly at sunrise—but families looking for a solid introduction to the geology of Canyonlands should visit the Needles District’s Slickrock Foot Trail. The 2.4-mile loop stays high and gives an overall perspective of the entire southeastern corner of Canyonlands National Park.

Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness; of broad, sweeping vistas; of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape; of limitless sky and desert rock. Capitol Reef is an evocative world of spectacular colored cliffs, hidden arches, massive domes and deep canyons. Some hikes give a feel for what the Earth might have been like millions of years before life appeared. Wildlife dances across the lush path of the Fremont River and springs from unlikely places along surreal trails. Even fertile orchards live within the park, a testament to pioneer fortitude and this land’s inspiring aura. Stick to the hikes and sites along S.R. 24 or visit with a ranger to learn how to safely travel into the backcountry for more daytime solitude and nighttime stars than you can imagine. Top Hike: Hickman Bridge is perhaps one of the best park walks in all of Utah, with quintessential scenic views and glimpses of Fremont Culture ruins. It is a moderate 2 miles round-trip concluding in the massive natural bridge, which spans 133 feet across a small streambed.

Carved by water and time, Zion National Park is a one-of-a-kind canyon that invites you to participate in the very forces that created it. In the warm climate of southwestern Utah, step into the Virgin River and see the colorful strata that mark the ages rising for thousands of feet up to a narrow strip of sky, then hike to seemingly impossible places and heights. Zion National Park’s canyons and mesas boast an especially exquisite beauty, even in a state known for dramatic landscapes. Breathtaking Zion Canyon is the centerpiece of this 147,000-acre parkland that protects a spectacular landscape of high plateaus, sheer canyons, and monolithic cliffs. Top Hike: No doubt your visit to Zion National Park will include stops at Angels Landing and the Narrows. These bucket-list hikes are among Utah’s best outdoor adventures. Make sure to also hit the short (1-mile round trip) Zion Canyon Overlook Trail. Not only will you get to see the famous Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel on the way to the trailhead, you’ll also experience the wellcarved traverse along the Pine Creek slot canyon to a spectacular view of lower Zion.

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A Grand Tour of the South Exploring the beauty of Southern Utah beyond the Mighty Five

tunning images and promise of big adventure lure travelers from around the world to The Mighty 5® national parks. Once here, visitors soon realize Utah’s natural beauty extends well beyond the borders of the Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks—and in many directions it is seemingly without any end in sight. Some of Utah’s best state parks dot the landscape of Mighty Five country, swaddled by adventurous national forest or the rugged Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument. Additionally, many great state parks offer museums like Edge of the Cedars (Blanding), Anasazi (Boulder) and Frontier Homestead (Cedar City). Southern Utah offers several enticing state parks along a similar path of The Mighty 5 road trips: Dead Horse Point (near Arches and Canyonlands), Goblin Valley and Escalante Petrified Forest (near Capitol Reef), Kodachrome Basin (near Bryce Canyon) and Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Sand Hollow, Quail Creek and Snow Canyon (near Zion). You’ll have the option to stop at the national parks if it’s your first time to Utah, or leave them for the other travelers if you’re looking to see Utah from another angle. Best of all, Utah State Parks offer a wider array of recreation opportunities, many of which are off-limits in the national parks, including mountain biking, ATV riding, kayaking, SUPing, boating and fishing (with a Utah fishing license)—and have overnight camping options. While they aren’t as highly trafficked as the national parks, you can still improve your trip by making reservations, where permitted, as some state parks near national parks are popular basecamps. 43 state parks: Find a park, make a reservation or discover a new adventure at stateparks.utah.gov

of interest Utah offers plenty of great fishing destinations for anglers of all disciplines. Some of Utah’s best fishing occurs on the reservoir impoundments of top rivers and streams, many of which are classic Utah State Parks. In Northern Utah, check out Hyrum, Willard Bay, Jordanelle and Deer Creek. Eastern Utah’s Starvation, Steinaker and Red Fleet are refreshing stops through the Uinta Basin, while Central Utah boasts Yuba, Palisade, Piute and Otter Creek. And since they’re state parks, you’ll also discover a variety of intriguing trails for hiking, biking or ATV riding, alongside great camping and other outdoor activities. Between Utah’s best reservoirs and the colorful state parks of Southern Utah, you’ve still only explored a fraction of Utah’s 43 diverse state parks. Ready to see them all? Consider the $75 annual day use pass for Utah State Parks. Goblin Valley in Green River / Escalante Petrified Forest in Escalante/ Aerial view of Dead Horse Point in Moab. Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism

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11282 SOUTH STATE ST • SANDY, UT • 801.948.7080

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Discover Utah Backcountry Ten beautiful and distinct Utah hikes to explore in 2016

n Utah trails, sandstone monoliths dwarf and waterfall oases refresh deep in red rock country. Summits tower over the headwaters of Northern Utah’s mightiest rivers, and offer glimpses into pristine wilderness, only miles from bustling cities. On Utah trails, you’ll set out on well-carved paths to the tops of peaks in wild places, follow cairns across otherworldly slickrock to panoramas of geologic time, even lock eyes with American bison as you humbly explore their fascinating environment. When hiking, remember to carry plenty of water, give yourself plenty of time, check current conditions and avoid hiking alone.

Fisher Towers The Fisher Towers Trail explores one of Utah’s most bizarre landscapes. The area is a maze of soaring fins, pinnacles, minarets, gargoyles and strangely shaped rock formations, 21 miles east of Moab on the Upper Colorado Scenic Byway, U.S. 191. The towers are soaring monuments to erosion and composed of dark red Cutler sandstone topped by harder Moenkopi sandstone. The 2.6-mile trail twists through the towers, dipping into sharp canyons and traversing beneath vertical cliffs, forming a 5.2-mile round-trip hike.

Lakeshore Ntl. Recreation Trail Pando is a clonal colony of a single Quaking Aspen spread across a 106-acre thicket in Fishlake National Forest. Consisting of approximately 47,000 trees in the grove that are genetically identical, all the trees in Pando share a single root system. The Lakeshore National Recreation Trail is particularly attractive in autumn. Park at the Doctor Creek Campground on Highway 25. For a full-day affair, hike the 15-mile loop trail circumnavigating Fish Lake.

Top: Calf Creek Falls From left to right: Lake Blanche / Fisher Towers / Frary Peak Trail on Antelope Island Images courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey and Utah Office of Tourism/ Howie Garber/Steve Greenwood

Wildcat Trail The Wildcat Trail is a 4-mile loop hike into one of the most scenic areas that Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has to offer. This trail lets hikers feel like they stepped back in time into the Wild West. Hikers will travel around some of the most famous rock buttes in the park, and at one point will find themselves surrounded by three towering buttes. The Wildcat Trail is the only self-guided trail in the park but offers world-class scenery as it takes hikers for a walk through the world-famous Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte.

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Calf Creek Falls Calf Creek is a perennial stream located in the Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument. At the lower falls, a clear stream descends 126 feet into a pool lined with mineral-stained sandstone, where many folks take a swim. Aside from the falls, the trail offers several points of interest, all indicated with numbered posts along the trail and a handy guide that is picked up at the trailhead. The 6-mile out-and-back hike is relatively flat, and the trailhead is located just off of Highway 12, between Escalante and Boulder.

Little Hole Much of the brilliant colors that impressed John Wesley Powell to name this section of the Green River as Flaming Gorge were submerged when the Flaming Gorge Dam was built. But peeking through is a small section called Red Canyon. The Little Hole National Scenic Trail runs along the Green River and is used widely by naturalists, photographers and fall foliage seekers. Start downstream of the boat ramp. Continue on, and after six miles, you’ll exit Red Canyon as you approach Little Hole. The moderate trail is 7.2 miles each way, but you can turn around at any point.

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Lake Blanche

Lake Blanche lies in the upper section of Mill B South Fork, and after a moderately strenuous hike, offers a taste of awe-inspiring nature in a protected watershed. This area has been popular with hikers since the late 1800s. The trailhead to the 6.5-mile roundtrip hike sits just before the S curves in the road on the right (south) side of the road. You cannot see Lake Blanche until you’re right upon it. Follow the old dam wall to crest the rock and look down upon the lake. The old dams were built in the 1930s to contain much larger lakes. Sundial Peak is the majestic mountain that overlooks Lake Blanche from the east.

Bald Mountain This hike begins at the well-marked Bald Mountain trailhead, located at the base of Bald Mountain on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. You will start climbing immediately and soon find yourself traversing a series of switchbacks on the western slope. Near the summit, the trail follows a thin ridge with steep drops off on either side—though there’s really no danger if you stick to the trail. Then take a natural rock stairway to what feels like the top of the world. Allow about four hours for a round-trip, which should give you plenty of time at the top to enjoy the views over the four major headwaters in the Uinta Range.

Frary Peak The Frary Peak Trail offers consistent views across the Great Salt Lake and often provides glimpses of Antelope Island State Park’s bison herds. The top of Frary Peak is the only vantage point from which the entire island can be viewed. The southern twothirds of the island contain rocks dating back 2.7 million years, older than the rock at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. For peak baggers, Frary Peak is one of the easiest in the Wasatch Front, but no slouch at more than 6.5 miles round-trip and picking up 2,000 feet in elevation. Frary Peak is particularly spectacular at sunset, just be sure to set out early enough and carry a headlamp and jacket.

Skyline Trail/ Great Ogden Divide

Tony Grove Nature Trail

The unofficial tagline for Ogden is “Ogden is Awesome.” We can’t argue against that. Head to the North Ogden Divide Trailhead, at the top of North Ogden Divide Canyon Road, which affords access to five area summits. The trails are open to not only hikers, but mountain bikes, horses, dirt bikes and ATVs. Ben Lomond is the must-hike trail for athletic and adventurous hikers. The area’s highest peak will allow for the best views, naturally. It is about 8 miles each way, and the climb is 3,500 vertical feet. Hike from the trailhead up switchbacks, and then continue along the North Skyline Trail.

The Tony Grove Nature Trail is a terrific stop on the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway. At 8,000 feet above sea level, the 1.2-mile stroll around the glacially-carved lake showcases beautiful wildflowers in the summer and colorful leaves in autumn. Adventurous souls might set off on a more strenuous climb deep into the forest, such as the 6.6-mile round-trip hike to the 9,979 Naomi Peak, amid a 44,523-acre designated wilderness area. Drink in the rewarding views of the Cache Valley high in the Bear River Mountains—it’s also the highest peak in Cache County, a bonus for peak baggers.

Luxury Suites within steps of the Zion National Park Entrance reserve one of our new conference rooms Easy access to outdoor recreation, restaurants and more! for group information: sales@cablemountainlodge.com

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Skiing through fresh powder in the San Juan Mountains. Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism

of interest

Utah Ski Resorts Alta Ski Resort, (skiers only) Little Cottonwood Canyon alta.com Beaver Mountain, Garden City skithebeav.com Brighton Ski Resort Big Cottonwood Canyon brightonresort.com Brian Head, Cedar City brianhead.com Canyons Resort, Park City canyonsresort.com Cherry Peak, Richmond skicherrypeak.us Deer Valley Resort (skiers only) Park City, deervalley.com Eagle Point, Beaver skieaglepoint.com Park City Mountain Resort Park City, pcski.com Powder Mountain, Eden powdermountain.com Snowbasin, Huntsville snowbasin.com Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort Little Cottonwood Canyon snowbird.com Solitude Ski Resort Big Cottonwood Canyon skisolitude.com Sundance Resort, Sundance sundanceresort.com Wolf Creek Resort, Eden wolfmountainutah.com

Hitting the Slopes With the freshest powder, diverse terrain and nonpareil views, it’s no wonder Utah has The Greatest Snow on Earth

ith 10 resorts less than an hour from the Salt Lake City International Airport, visitors and residents spend more time enjoying the slopes and less time in the car. Utah is known for its white winters and boasts some of the best skiing in the world. With “The Greatest Snow on Earth®", unparalleled access is available in Utah unlike anywhere else. Just in time for the 2015-2016 season, Vail Resorts, based in Colorado, has invested over $50 million linking Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest ski resort in the United States, with 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, the new interconnecting Quicksilver Gondola, upgraded lifts, new restaurants and snowmaking improvements. On the other side of the mountain, Little and Big Cottonwood Canyon host a slew of fantastic ski resorts. For the snowboarding enthusiast, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is considered one of the best

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resorts in the state to fly through the cold mountain air. They offer a 125-passenger aerial tram that zooms from an elevation of 8,100 feet to about 11,000 feet in eight minutes. And with a number of diverse restaurants, festivals and retail opportunities, Snowbird gives guests a full mountain community experience. Created by Robert Redford and made famous by the annual film festival, Sundance Resort is a beautiful and secluded resort at the base of the majestic Mount Timpanogos. Sundance is a haven for discovery and inspiration that offers diverse mountain recreation all year long. And if visitors want to go further afield, additional resorts dot the Wasatch Range. Utah’s national forests and other scenic places also lure snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Ski and snowboarding spots: Find the winter playgrounds in Utah by visiting skiutah.com

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Short track speed skating at the Olympic Oval. / The Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors play in Oakland, California. Images courtesy of Utah Olympic Oval/Jerry Search & Associated Press

It’s Game Time

Utah’s professional and collegiate teams bring out the competitive spirit of Utah's dedicated fans of interest

Utah Sports Teams Utah Jazz NBA Basketball nba.com/jazz Real Salt Lake MLS Soccer realsaltlake.com Utah Grizzlies ECHL Hockey utahgrizzlies.com Salt Lake Bees AAA Baseball slbees.com Orem Owlz Pioneer League Baseball oremowlz.com Ogden Raptors Pioneer League Baseball ogden-raptors.com

ou don’t have to spend much time in Utah to understand how much residents love their sports. Two major league professional teams, a variety of minor league clubs and top-notch collegiate sports keep Utahns cheering year round. The Utah Jazz is the most popular team in town. From November to April (and often beyond), the Jazz fills Vivint Smart Home Arena to capacity and captures the attention of basketball fans throughout the state—and the world. And with 50+ home games per season, you have plenty of opportunities to see your favorite NBA stars up close and personal. Real Salt Lake is Utah’s Major League Soccer franchise. Real (pronounced RAY-al, the Spanish word for royal; also known as RSL) claimed the MLS Cup in 2009, and finished the 2013 season in second place in the Western Conference. The team plays at state-of-the-art Rio Tinto Stadium, which hosted the 2009 MLS All-Star Game. With an incredible 10 Olympic records and eight world records, the Utah Olympic Oval, located in Kearns, stands uncontested as the "Fastest Ice on Earth" following the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The

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Utah Olympic Oval is home to the U.S. Speedskating team and also hosts regular speedskating competitions, including the World Cup in long and short track. Each September, hundreds of triathletes descend on Ogden to participate in the Xterra Games USA Championship race. This grueling test of endurance calls Utah home, thanks to our challenging mountains, a vast variety of lakes and, of course, our boisterous fans. The Utah race serves as a qualifier for Xterra World Championship held in Hawaii. Tour of Utah, the state’s world-class bicycle race, has attracted top-level international talent for years with a picturesque course that winds through some of Utah’s most exciting places. The Tour of Utah is a seven-stage journey through Utah, spanning from Zions Canyon Village to the mountaintops finish on Historic Main Street in Park City. Utah is also home to some great minor league baseball like the Salt Lake Bees (Triple A), the Orem Owlz and the Ogden Raptors (both short season A-ball), that keep fans entertained during the summer. If you'd like to take in a hockey game, the Maverik Center hosts our minor league hockey team, the Utah Grizzlies. Go team! For a jumping off point on viewing sporting events in Utah, check out utahsportscommission.com

Luxury homes from $650,000. Estate homesites from $195,000. Luxury homes from $650,000. Estate homesites from $195,000. Golf |Luxury Tennishomes | Equestrian | Dining | Swim & Fitness | Ski Lounge from $650,000. Estate homesites from $195,000. Golf | Tennis | Equestrian | Dining | Swim & Fitness | Ski Lounge RedLedges.com | Heber Valley, Utah | (877) 733-5334 Golf | RedLedges.com Tennis | Equestrian | Dining | Swim & Fitness | Ski Lounge | Heber Valley, Utah | (877) 733-5334 RedLedges.com | Heber Valley, Utah | (877) 733-5334 Exclusively Brokered by Red Ledges Realty, LLC. Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. All descriptions, depictions, and renderings are provided solely for illustrative purposes and are subject to change. ©2016 Red Ledges Land Development, Inc. Exclusively Brokered by Red Ledges Realty, LLC. Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. All descriptions, depictions, and renderings are provided solely for illustrative purposes and are subject to change. ©2016 Red Ledges Land Development, Inc.

Exclusively Brokered by Red Ledges Realty, LLC. Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. All descriptions, depictions, and renderings are provided solely for illustrative purposes and are subject to change. ©2016 Red Ledges Land Development, Inc.

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Bartenders serve drinks on a busy night to patrons at Under Current in Salt Lake City. Images courtesy of Billy Yang

A Taste of Utah Utah offers a wide selection of fine dining, an elegant night out on the town or just a simple cup of joe

rom coffee to beer, pizza to tapas, Utah has all the fixin’s to squander your appetite while taking it easy on your wallet.

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If you’re looking for a bite to eat, you don’t need to look far. Salt Lake is fast becoming one of America’s biggest foodie cities. A staple in Salt Lake’s food culture, Copper Onion is home to a number of Utah’s best chefs that offer delicious options for a big meal or a quick bite. In keeping with the small-plate theme, Finca’s expansive menu of Spanish tapas is made entirely from scratch daily, while offering high-quality wines and the best craft cocktails from around the world.

Sautéed mushrooms with a fried egg, potato sticks, parsley and garlic at Copper Onion in Salt Lake.

of interest

Utah Food Trucks Some of the best and most popular food-on-wheels options around Utah: Chop City: Serving bacon in a variety of interesting and creative ways. www.facebook.com/chopcityslc Cupbop: Korean style BBQs (beef, pork and chicken)with rice and veggies. www.facebook.com/Cupbop Fiore Pizza: Mobile wood-fired brick oven pizzeria. www.fiorepizza.co Chow Truck: Haute Asian cuisine. www.chowtruck.com Fat Kid Mac N Cheese: America’s favorite comfort food, fast and fresh. www.fatkidmacncheese.com Saturday’s Waffle: Authentic liege waffles. www.saturdayswaffle.com Urban Press: Gourmet hot-pressed sandwiches. www.urbanpresstruck.com Ramen Mobile: High quality authentic Japanese ramen. www.theramenslc.com

Archibald’s Restaurant, located at historic Gardner Village, features a menu serving a variety of dishes, including salads, sandwiches, pastas, steaks and seafood to name a few. The pot roast in pad-dripping gravy has been a classic for more than 25 years. And of course, Mexican staple Red Iguana offers classical dishes that were proudly prepared for generations in regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. It has

become so popular since its inception, they had to open two more locations— one right next door (Red Iguana 2) and one inside the City Creek Center Food Court in Downtown Salt Lake (Taste of Red Iguana). If you’re looking to sit down and enjoy a cup of joe, Utah is home to a slew of charming coffee shops. Starting in downtown Salt Lake City, The Rose Establishment offers a wide variety of craft coffees, espresso and

cold-brew selections as well as a full bakery and lunch service. Just south from The Rose lies Blue Copper Coffee Room, a comfortable yet eloquent place to enjoy your coffee. The passionate staff has an extensive knowledge about the art of brewing coffee, and the sophisticated steampunk-esque brewing machines not only look impressive, but produce one of the most unique and delicious cups of coffee you’ll ever have. As the sun goes down and the city lights come up, Salt Lake’s vast array of bars and pubs really give you a taste of Utah’s nightlife. Bar X offers prohibition-era cocktails as well as a big selection of craft beers. And if you’re feeling hungry, just next door is Beer Bar, which serves a variety of bratwursts, Belgian fries and also offers a menu of 150+ craft beers. Created to complement Current Fish & Oyster next door, Under Current provides an elevated club experience with stellar cuisine from Chef Logen’s kitchen, some of the best new craft cocktails, a thoughtful wine program and extremely knowledgeable staff. The Bayou has the most extensive beer list in Utah, with usually around 300 different beers available, and their Cajun-influenced menu offers an assortment of foods to please everyone in your group. If you’re heading down south for the weekend and are looking for a nice place to get a drink and bite to eat after a long day of recreation, Eddie McStiff’s in Moab offers mouthwatering burgers, tender steaks and a top-shelf bar. LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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Images courtesy of David Newkirk, Downtown Alliance and Dave Becker

State of the Arts Whether it’s film, music or fine art, Utah has always been an epicenter for the arts

tah has always been a hot spot for the arts. Whether it’s film, music or fine art, there is plenty to explore within a variety of mediums to entertain around the Beehive State. Utah’s striking, iconic and diverse landscapes make it a prime destination for filmmakers, providing set locations for a number of big-budget movies and TV shows, bringing hundreds of jobs for film crew, actors and producers. And, according to the Utah Film Commision, three movies and two reality TV shows are already slated to shoot in Utah for summer of 2016. If you want more than just a night out at the movies, Utah has many options to get your film fix. As part of the non-profit Salt Lake Film Society, the Broadway 78

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Centre Cinema and Tower Theatre showcase independent, foreign and arthouse films, while also screening select films from the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival held in Park City. Or if you are looking for dinner and a movie, try Brewvies Cinema Pub in downtown Salt Lake that screens a wide selection of newrelease and classic films in addition to pub grub, craft beer and a full-service bar (21+ only). Home of the Utah Symphony, and a true landmark of Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall is Utah’s premier provider of orchestral and opera music. The organization employs 85 fulltime musicians and presents four full operas and more than 70 symphony performances in each regular season.

If modern music is more your taste look for a show at The Depot, the four-story venue with headliners from around the country. Or, if you’re looking for underground music check out the Urban Lounge, where they not only feature live music from the best next up-and-coming musicians but some homegrown favorites too. Utah also sits center stage for theatre, performance art and ballet. The Pioneer Theatre Company produces a seven-play season running from September through May, including a mixture of classics, largescale musicals and contemporary dramas and comedies. Or, spend an evening at one Utah’s great theatres such as Capitol Theatre featuring plays from Broadway Across America and ballets from Ballet West, Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Southern Utah for some classic musicals, or for a more quirky theatre-going experience, the Off Broadway Theatre in Salt Lake offering comedy shows, improv nights and Broadway-style musicals with an offbeat, comedic twist.

S LC C Some would say it stands for

Surprisingly Large Community Contributor

How large? Millions of dollars large. You see, 85% of SLCC graduates stay in Utah, spend their income here and pay taxes. They graduate from SLCC in droves every year prepared to be immediately productive and profitable in our business community’s trenches – especially in the fast-growth technology, manufacturing, composites and medical fields. Think of them as a great investment.

But, most of all, they’re proof that SLCC excels at elevating Utah’s economy, workforce and quality of life.

Step ahead. slcc.edu

An AA/EO Institution

Learn more about how much SLCC contributes at slcc.edu/business-community.

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Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism

of interest

Utah Museums The Leonardo, SLC www.theleonardo.org Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi thanksgivingpoint.org/visit/ museumofancientlife Museum of Natural Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi thanksgivingpoint.org/visit/ museumofnaturalcuriosity Natural History Museum of Utah, SLC nhmu.utah.edu Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA), SLC umfa.utah.edu Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), SLC utahmoca.org Clark Planetarium, SLC clarkplanetarium.org Discovery Gateway, SLC discoverygateway.org This is the Place Heritage Park, SLC www.thisistheplace.org

Learning on Display Curiosity doesn’t have to kill the cat, and learning doesn’t have to come from a classroom, especially in the Beehive State

alt Lake City houses several spots ideal for learning from astronomy, art, science, music, books and more— sometimes integrating two or more areas. For art aficionados, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art and Utah Museum of Fine Art make fine places to visit. The monthly Salt Lake Gallery Stroll is also a great way to visit the city’s vast art galleries, and discover great local artists. Combine the mechanics of science and technology with the creativity of art, and you get Utah’s critically acclaimed three-story museum, The Leonardo. The Salt Lake City Public Library is also right next-door, so you don’t have to travel far for research. Be sure to visit the library rooftop garden for the best view of the city and mountains. For younger minds, Discovery Gateway will turn playtime into a learning opportunity with science, art and music exhibits. As for aspiring space cadets, they can find the answers they want about the

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universe at Clark Planetarium (also at The Gateway). If you dare to uncover past history, the Utah Museum of Natural History is an ideal spot to go. It houses advanced research and collection facilities for the scientists who curate the 1.2 million objects on display. Get up close with dinosaurs by following Utah’s claim to a real-life “Jurassic Park” with museums, sites and even a byway dedicated to showcasing dinosaur skeleton collections, sculptures, dig sites, bones and tracks. The Dinosaur National Monument in Vernal is only two hours away from Salt Lake City. Thanksgiving Point, an entertainment and learning mecca just 30 minutes south of Salt Lake in Lehi, has a dinosaur history museum as well as the Museum of Natural Curiosity which features hundreds of interactive experiences that explore science, arts, history and culture for children and their families.

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Inspiring Children to Achieve Since 1963 An independent private school offering preschool through eighth g rade LIFEand IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com © 2015, Challenger Schools • Challenger School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin.

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of interest

Farmers Markets by Area BOX ELDER/CACHE COUNTY Cache Valley (Saturdays) Logan Historic Courthouse, 199 N. Main, Logan Garden City Farmers and Artisans Market (Saturdays) Rockhill Creamery, 536 S. State St.,50 S. Bear Lake Blvd., Garden City Paradise Market (Wednesdays) 9000 S. 100 W., Paradise CENTRAL / SOUTHERN UTAH Cedar City (Wednesdays) 100 W., Hoover Moab (Thursdays) Swanny Park, 400 N. 100 W. St. George (Saturdays) Courtyard at Ancestor Square, St. George Blvd. DAVIS/WEBER COUNTY Bountiful (Thursdays) 100 S. 100 E. Utah Botanical Center (Thursdays) 875 S. 50 W., Kaysville Ogden Farmers Market (Saturdays) Municipal Gardens, 25th Street and Grant Avenue Ogden Valley Open Market (Thursdays) 2419 N. Highway 158, Eden Syracuse (Wednesdays) Centennial Park, 1891 W. 1700 S. SALT LAKE COUNTY Downtown Harvest Market (Tuesdays) Pioneer Park, 350 S. 300 W., SLC Downtown Farmers Market (Saturdays) Pioneer Park, 350 S. 300 W., SLC Gardner Village Farmers Market (Saturdays) Gardner Village, 1100 W. 7800 S., West Jordan Image courtesy of Downtown Alliance/David Newkirk

A Taste of Home

9th West Farmers Market (Sundays) International Peace Gardens, 1060 S. 900 W., SLC

Utah is quickly developing a love affair with handmade locally-produced food, beverages and crafts

Wasatch Front Farmers Market (Saturdays) Gardner Village, 1100 W. 7800 S., West Jordan; (Sundays) Wheeler Farm, 6351 S. 900 E., Murray

tarting in late spring and continuing through to the fall harvest, local farmers markets emerge in nearly every community in Utah. Utahns have their pick of the seasons’ best local offerings. Since its creation in 1992, the national award-winning Downtown Farmers Market (slcfarmersmarket. org) attracts nearly 10,000 visitors each Saturday. With more than 150 food vendors and 80 art and craft vendors, this market has become one of the West’s largest farmers markets. The Downtown Farmers Market connects local growers to the public, providing not only fresh produce, but also flora, cheeses, eggs, meats, jellies and more. The popular, eco-friendly open air market and street festival, Park 82

Murray (Fridays and Saturdays) Murray City Park, 200 E. 5200 S.

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Silly Market, is located on Historic Main Street in Park City. The market includes activities for kids and families, live music, art, gourmet food, a beer garden, arts and crafts, local produce and more. Held each Saturday in Provo’s Pioneer Park, the Provo Farmers Market brings fresh produce and more to the community. Market shoppers can purchase fresh local, seasonal produce as well as other goodies from local artisans. The Winter Market at the Rio Grande Depot in Salt Lake City runs November through April, featuring fresh local produce, grass-fed meats, artisan cheeses and unique packaged foods. Farmer's markets: To find the market nearest you, visit utahsown.utah.gov

South Jordan (Saturdays) South Jordan City Hall, 1600 W. Towne Center Dr. Sugar House (Fridays) Sugarmont Plaza, 2232 S. Highland Dr., SLC

Holiday Market-Wasatch Front (December 11 - 13) Holladay City Hall, 4580 S. 2300 E. SUMMIT L’Oakley Market (Saturdays) 911 W. Center St., Oakley Park City (Wednesdays) Park City Mountain Resort Park Silly Sunday Market (Sundays) Historic Main Street, Park City TOOELE COUNTY Benson Grist Mill (Saturdays) Stansbury Park, 325 SR 138, Tooele UINTAH COUNTY Ashley Valley (Saturdays) Old Dinosaur Gardens, 225 E. Main St., Vernal UTAH/SANPETE COUNTY Hee Haw Farms Market (Fridays) 150 S. 200 W., Pleasant Grove LaVell Edwards Stadium Farmers Market (Thursdays) 1700 N. Canyon Road, Provo Mapleton Farmers Market (Saturdays) Mapleton City Center, 125 W. 400 N. Pleasant Grove Promenade (Thursdays) Historic Downtown Park, 200 S. Main St. Provo Farmers Market (Saturdays) Pioneer Park, 500 W. Center St.

CMY

Your yard, localized.

Landscape for where you live.

Take a class!

For dates, information or to register, visit:

www.ConservationGardenPark.org/events

801-256-4400

We teach do-it-yourself homeowners the best way to landscape in Utah. Create a landscape that takes care of YOU for a change! Join the movement. 8275 South 1300 West - West Jordan, UT

www.ConservationGardenPark.org LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

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Left: Twilight Concert Series in Salt Lake City. Top: Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. Bottom: Festival of Trees at the South Towne Expo Center. Images courtesy of Dave Brewer, Utah Office of Tourism, Festival of Trees

A Celebration of Us

across the country and around the world, with advance tickets costing only $5. twilightconcerts.com

UTAH ARTS FESTIVAL: As downtown Salt Lake City’s premier summertime festival, the Utah Arts Festival in Library Square features everything between local and internationally renowned artwork and takes place in June. uaf.org

Utah’s many cultural events and festivals are a great way to get to know the state’s unique culture hroughout the year, there are annual events and festivals for just about everyone—heritage, music, arts, agriculture, outdoor recreation—and so much more. Below are many of the festivals you’ll hear Utahns talk about that you won't want to miss.

DAYS OF ’47: Utahns celebrate the state’s “birthday” on Pioneer Day—July 24—the day the first group of Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Today many communities around the state observe their heritage with parades, fireworks, rodeos and a day off. daysof47.com FESTIVAL OF COLORS: In May, Salt Lake City celebrates Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors. The traditional Indian holiday celebrates the arrival of spring with singing, dancing and throwing colors on each other. FESTIVAL OF TREES: With more than 800 beautifully decorated trees and other holiday gifts to be auctioned off, the Festival of Trees is a remarkable winter wonderland. All proceeds 84

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benefit the Primary Children’s Hospital. festivaloftreesutah.org OKTOBERFEST: Voted one of America's "10 Best Oktoberfests" by Men's Journal magazine, Snowbird's annual Oktoberfest attracts over 60,000 visitors who celebrate the fall harvest with beers, brats and lederhosen. snowbird.com SALT LAKE GREEK FESTIVAL: The Salt Lake Greek Festival is the largest ethnic festival in Utah. It’s held in downtown Salt Lake City and celebrates the Greeks’ heritage with food and performances. saltlakegreekfestival.com TULIP FESTIVAL: Thanksgiving Point's annual Tulip Festival takes place throughout April and May. Featuring 100 different varieties of tulips and 250,000 tulips displayed in the 55-acre Thanksgiving Point Gardens. TWILIGHT CONCERT SERIES: July through August, the Twilight Concert Series in Pioneer Park features a wide range of outstanding musicians from

UTAH BEER FESTIVAL: The Utah Beer Festival in downtown Salt Lake at Library Square in downtown Salt Lake takes place in mid-August and provides over 100 different beers from around the country and all the local favorites as well. UTAH PRIDE FESTIVAL: Over the first weekend of June in downtown Salt Lake City, the state comes together to celebrate Utah’s LGBTQ community at the Utah Pride Festival. utahpridefestival.org UTAH SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL: The Utah Shakespearean Festival, a Tony Award-winning festival in southern Utah, features remarkable talent paired with the most classic and modern offerings of theatre. bard.org Keep celebrating! For more festivals in Utah, go to visitutah.com

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Photos courtesy of Days of '47

Ribs and Rodeo

Celebrating 168 years of Utah with ribs, rodeo and tradition

ince 1857, Utahns have marked the entry of the Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, with community celebrations, including local rodeos. Over the years the Days of ’47 rodeo has developed a stellar reputation as one of the top PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) rodeos in the nation, with more than sixty of the top cowboys and cowgirls in each discipline competing for the biggest purse ever—more than $300,000—on their way to the National Finals Rodeo. This year’s Days of ’47 Komatsu Equipment Rodeo, being held July 19-23 at Vivint Smart Home Arena, will feature the toughest riders and the meanest livestock in the country, facing off in a world-class competition of grit and endurance. It’s the perfect family event, offering fast-paced thrills for every age that brings out the cowboy heritage in each of us.

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The Days of ’47 Ribs & Rodeo also brings new activities and smoky flavors of BBQ to the long-standing tradition of the Days of ’47 Rodeo. Each night of the rodeo, from 4-7pm, the Vivint Smart Home Plaza will be filled with the smoky flavors of ribs from some of Utah’s top BBQ restaurants, along with fun for friends and family such as mutton busting, a petting zoo, pony rides, a mechanical bull, roping demonstrations and instruction, live concerts and much more! The activities and BBQ fare on the Plaza are open to the public and will provide the perfect introduction to the main event, the Days of ’47 Rodeo, at 7 p.m. each night. The Days of ’47 Komatsu Equipment Rodeo is a private, non-profit, volunteer, charitable organization. Days of ’47: For more information and a list of events, visit ribsandrodeo.com

Trevor Brazile IF YOU BLINKED, YOU MISSED IT. 6.9 seconds is all it took for Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, to clinch the top spot for Tie Down Roping at the 2015 Days of ’47 Rodeo. He went on to rank in the Top 5 cowboys at three different events across the nation. Brazile was drawn to the Days of ’47 Rodeo because it’s simply one of the best around—the best riders competing for the best prizes—which keeps the competition fresh for him after 19 years of roping. Brazile was blown away by this year’s improvements, like new fourwheelers for all first-place winners. New perks didn’t just increase bragging rights; it upped the whole level of competition. Brazile believes it encouraged riders to gamble harder to win—instead of just getting in a good ride—which made for an excellent show with record-breaking attendance.

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Image courtesy of Downtown Alliance

Shop Around For being a “little” big city, Salt Lake City has all you can ask for when it comes to retail therapy of interest

Utah Shopping City Creek Center, 50 Main St., Salt Lake City shopcitycreekcenter.com Fashion Place, 6191 State St., Murray fashionplace.com Foothill Village Shopping Center, 1400 Foothill Dr., South Salt Lake foothillvillage.com The Gateway, 18 N. Rio Grande St., SLC shopthegateway.com Outlets at Traverse Mountain, 3700 Cabela's Blvd., Lehi outletsattraversemountain.com Sugar House Shopping Center, 2274 S. 1300 E., SLC sugarhousecenter.com Trolley Square, 600 S. 700 E., SLC trolleysquare.com

tah’s status as a business-friendly state has resulted in national retailers making their way to the Beehive State, while also allowing local boutique stores to open and flourish. From the outdoor shopping at The Gateway to the high-end elegance at City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City, to the little boutique shops in between, there’s nothing you can’t find. Take a short TRAX ride to Trolley Square or Sugarhouse, where there are even more unique shops and businesses. In the heart of the Salt Lake Valley is Gardner Village, just 12 miles south of downtown, which has a slew of stores to shop where you can find furniture, home decor, jewelry, candy, women's and children's clothing and so much more. You never know what you might find. The downtown urban center is also home to the Downtown Farmers Market, Art & Craft Market, Harvest Market and

LIFE IN UTAH 2016 | SLCHAMBER.com

Winter Market. These markets are perfect for finding locally produced food and goods. If you want complete shopping experience, destinations like The District in South Jordan, Jordan Landing in West Valley City and Station Park in Farmington offer shops, restaurants, theaters and other entertainment venues to keep you occupied all day. Main Street in Park City is also a hot spot for great shopping and entertainment. You can also find shopping mall centers across the Wasatch Front, most of them located right off the main I-15 highway, all the way from up north in Ogden through Salt Lake City and down to Provo. Some popular malls include Provo Towne Center in Provo, South Towne Center in Sandy and Fashion Place Mall in Murray. If you're a bargain hunter looking for good deals on quality merchandise from well-known brands, check out one of the several outlet malls Utah has: Outlets at Traverse Mountain in Lehi, Tanger Outlets in Park City or the Outlets at Zion in St. George. The possibilities are endless. Where one shop is, there’s probably another close by, so keep your eyes peeled while out and about.

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Bringing the Past Back to Life Utah’s historic Temple Square is a 35-acre block in the heart of Salt Lake

long with landscaped open spaces— historic buildings, libraries, a museum and the Conference Center have been added to the original 10-acre block, creating today’s 35-acre Temple Square. The centerpiece is the magnificent Salt Lake Temple, a six-spired granite edifice, which took Mormon pioneers 40 years to complete. The unique domed Tabernacle, built in 1867, is home to the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Organ recitals are presented daily and the public is invited to choir rehearsals on Thursday evenings and the Sunday morning broadcasts of Music and the Spoken Word, which is the longest running continual network radio broadcast in the world. Travelers with layovers at the Salt Lake International Airport can use the free shuttle service to Temple Square, and take a tour while waiting for their next flight. Temple Square includes two visitor centers where people can learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The North Visitors’ Center features an 11-foot replica of Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue and the South Visitors’ Center includes a scaled model of the Salt Lake Temple, providing a glimpse inside the historic building. In the southwest corner of the Square is Assembly Hall, which hosts free concerts and recitals on the weekends. Complimentary tours of Temple Square are offered in more than 40 languages.

of interest

Book a Tour Free tours of the 35-acre historic Temple Square are a must-do on your visit to Salt Lake City. Volunteer guides are available for tours and information about Utah’s number one tourist attraction. Tours start on the hour from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m at the flagpole west of the Salt Lake Temple, or for your convenience you can book your free Temple Square tour online. Temple Square visitor activites are free and open to the public. For more information, templesquare.com

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Images courtesy of Utah Office of Tourism

Utah Business has been Utah’s leading source of business news and industry recognition for 30 years. With 12 monthly issues and three core custom publications - Life In Utah, Business In Utah and the Book Of Lists Utah Business is Utah’s premiere business publication. To learn more visit our website or call us today. PRINT September 2015

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