GOVERNMENT
UTAH GOVERNOR JON HUNTSMAN and his administration continue
to build upon a strong tradition of innovative economic development legislation and programs, developed through collaboration between the state’s public and private sectors. To further elevate economic development in Utah, the Huntsman Administration created the new Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) with the passage of House Bill 318 during the Utah Legislature’s 2005 General Session. The bill divided the former Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) into the Department of Community and Culture and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, which is under the direct supervision of Governor Huntsman. Visit www.goed.utah.gov for more information. With economic development under the direct oversight of the Governor, GOED is actively implementing Governor Huntsman’s Economic Revitalization Plan, and a variety of dynamic business development programs and initiatives in the state, such as the Centers of Excellence program, the Utah Fund of Funds, the Utah Economic Clusters and Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) initiatives.
HIGHLIGHTS
A
Utah was one of only two U.S. states to receive an A grade for governance in a major 2007 World magazine study. Utah’s government has a strong tradition of collaborating with the state’s private sector to create innovative economic development legislation. Programs such as the Utah Centers of Excellence and the Utah Fund of Funds are helping to create compelling jobs and companies in the state. In January 2005, Governing magazine’s Government Performance Project gave Utah’s state government a grade of A-, the highest grade among all U.S. states, based on four criteria: money, people, infrastructure and information.
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UTAH FACTS 2008
