< PreviousC O R P O R A TE R E C R U ITM E NTGOED pursues an aggressive course of corporate recruitment.WHERE COMPANIES CONNECThen it comes to the practice of corporate recruitment, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development leaves nothing to chance.After all, when your state is consistently ranked as one of the best states for business, growing the economy is the result of a systematic plan and a lot of hard work.“The Governor’s Office of Economic Development plays a very important role in helping the state grow and attracting businesses to the state, as well as improving our business environment and removing barriers to growth,” says Benjamin Hart, deputy director of GOED. “We help our businesses overcome any obstacle to help them expand.”One way that GOED helps companies grow is through incentives, including the EDTIF and the Industrial Assistance Fund. “EDTIF is one of our primary incentive tools to make sure we stay competitive,” notes Hart. “The EDTIF program is not capped. The sky really is the limit. If you create more jobs and more income tax revenue, you are eligible to receive more of that back. It is an up-to-30 percent post-performance refundable tax credit.”The Industrial Assistance Fund enables Utah to help with workforce and infrastructure costs related to a project or property development. IAF receives replenishment from the Utah Legislature during years of surplus.“We are never going to be the highest bidder on a project,” says Hart. “Our goal is to make sure we have the right environment in Utah Wby R ON STA R N E R28 BUS I N E SS I N U T A H“Our goal is to make sure we have the right environment in Utah to enable businesses to grow. We want our incentives to be the icing on the cake.”— Ben Hart, Deputy Director, GOEDto enable businesses to grow. We want our incentives to be the icing on the cake.”He cites the example of Thumbtack, an online service firm that matches customers with local professionals. “Thumbtack opted not to receive any local incentives,” Hart says. “They moved from downtown San Francisco and opened a back office in Draper. They now employ a number of people in Utah.”When recruiting firms, Utah targets growing companies in the I.T., fintech, med-tech, software development and other high-tech sectors, Hart adds. “We’re big in aerospace and defense too,” he notes. “When we go to California, we find a very target-rich environment. We focus on high-tech firms in high-tax locations. We target places like San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles. We also like to go to New York, Chicago, Dallas and Austin.”Thomas Wadsworth, corporate recruitment director for GOED, says a younger workforce in Utah attracts companies from other states. “In Utah, we have a younger labor pool. We also have a better price point for our workforce,” he says. “It feeds into affordability. Plus, in Northern California, firms tend to have extremely high employee turnover and attrition. We don’t experience that here. That’s a big factor.”Wadsworth says the 2002 Winter Olympics served as a turning point for Utah. “Hosting the Winter Olympic Games was huge,” he says. “Prior to that, a lot of people saw us as a fly-over state. That was really the breakthrough for awareness of Utah. Secondly, the downturn in the national economy in 2008 and 2009 showed a lot of people that we were a safe bet during a time of high risk. We saw a lot of capital come to Utah then.”By 2011, he says, “Utah became known among the Fortune 500 companies. That’s when the conversation started happening. In the last year or so, we’ve seen the benefits of that.”The financial stability of state government is a huge selling point too, Wadsworth adds. “It is constitutionally mandated that we balance our budget and have a rainy-day fund. Those factors set us up very nicely. Investors know that they will be in a safe place for years to come.”Hart adds that “our goal is to make people aware of what Utah is doing. If we get them here, they’re sold. We’re the fastest-growing economy in the country. We want to stay aggressive.”That includes bidding to host another Winter Olympics. “Our Legislature has approved that effort,” says Hart. “Right now, we’re looking at the 2030 games. A lot of the Olympians who won medals at the 2018 games in Korea trained at our Olympic facilities.”Wadsworth adds that “we want CEOs to realize how connected Utah is to the rest of the country. Our international airport has daily flights to 19 of the 20 largest markets in America. That comes as a surprise to some people. We are more connected than people think.” B U S I N E S S I N U T A H 29Utah’s education, industryand government collaborate to fi ll the state’s talent pool.by S AVANN AH K I NGT E A MW O RK forTalentUtah’s education, industryand government collaborate to fi ll the state’s talent pool.and government collaborate to fi ll the state’s talent pool.and government collaborate by S AVANN AH K I NGT E A MW O RK forTalentforTalentforW OR K F OR C E D E V E L OP M E N T30 BUS I N E SS I N U T A Hconcerning in highly technical positions like manufacturing and software/IT.In a state like Utah, which tops the rest of the country in job growth — building a pipeline of talented employees for industries is critical. As of March , Utah’s unemployment rate held steady at . percent, while the US unemployment rate was . percent. Utah’s private sector employment also rose by . percent year-over-year. To help ease the strain on companies, Gov. Gary Herbert launched an initiative in to help build a more skilled workforce for high-demand, high-wage jobs in the state. Talent Ready Utah is designed to both strengthen industry and educational partnerships to provide work-based learning opportunities for students within the industries and to connect the state’s workforce to training opportunities. Kimberlee Carlile, director of industry and talent initiatives for the Utah Governor’s Offi ce of Economic Development, says collaboration is the key to building the talent pipeline companies will need in Utah both now and for the future. Since the launch of Talent Ready Utah, Carlile says industries have shown their enthusiasm for the program through their continued involvement and input. “Something that is unique to Utah is our collaborative approach,” says Carlile. “Gov. Herbert jokes and says that’s the ‘secret sauce,’ but really it helps when we have government and industry and education all coming to the table and working together to make something benefi cial for our students to enhance our education system.” Currently, the initiative offers four pathways for students to pursue: medical innovations, aerospace, diesel tech and IT. These pathways provide high school students with the skills required to pursue a career in their chosen fi eld. Students who complete the program receive a certifi cate and are guaranteed an interview with any industry partner company in their pathway. The initiative has industry partners and works with education and government partners. “Our three education systems work extremely well together,” says Carlile. “We have K- , our technical college system and our higher education cross the US — and the globe — companies report having trouble fi nding enough qualifi ed job candidates. According to the / Talent Shortage Survey by Manpower group, percent of employers in the US report having diffi culty fi lling jobs. Skilled trades maintain their No. hardest-to-fi ll standing for the past six years. Talent shortages are especiallyB U S I N E S S I N U T A H 31AImage: Getty Images32 BUS I N E SS I N U T A Hsystem. There have been times when we’ve had companies like Boeing, for example, who might suggest what they want to make sure that we have enough talent to fill our pipeline here in Utah. And we’re willing to respond. We were able to get the Aerospace Pathways Program going in about six months. That’s unheard of to get curriculum change going that quickly. But we were able to do it because we have that flexibility and the collaborative spirit.”The newest pathway, the IT Pathways Program, was formed in August 2017 and aims to more effectively align education with the state’s more pressing workforce pipeline needs. Utah leads the country in tech job growth. More than 4,000 software and IT companies in the state employ more than 68,000 people — figures that are expected to continue to increase. “The IT Pathways Program will fill critical workforce needs in our state and ensure the continues success of Utah’s tech industry,” said Gov. Herbert. “This program will be an important investment — for education, for our growing workforce, for the IT industry and for economic opportunity — in other words, Utah’s future.” Since the IT pathway started, several education and industry partners have come together to pilot the program. Students will have the opportunity to participate in job shadowing at partner companies like Dell EMC, DOMO, Instructure, Pluralsight, Microsoft, and Vivint among others. “IT Pathways program will expand beyond coders and software engineers making it possible for people to enter the tech workforce at various stages of their careers,” said Val Hale, executive director of GOED. “Industry knows best of current needs and future demands. The next generation will have the opportunity to learn first-hand what it takes to be successful in the rapidly changing tech industry.” Additional programs are aimed at bolstering the state’s tech and STEM workforce. The Women Tech Council, a national organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, encourages high school girls to consider careers and degrees in STEM and technology through its SheTech program. In 2017, The Women Tech Council hosted SheTech Explorer Days, which brought 2,000 high school girls together under one roof with 508 STEM mentors and 150 tech companies. The students were able to participate in 40 different workshops and many hands-on STEM activities. “We’ve heard fantastic stories about how it changes their trajectory to technology careers and wanting to do computer Girls learn about STEM at SheTech event in Utah in 2017.Photo courtesy of Brock Best PhotographyB U S I N E S S I N U T A H 33science in college,” says Sara Jones, Co-founder and COO of The Women Tech Council. Jones says it’s important for girls to be exposed to careers in STEM and to see the opportunities for them at home. Jones notes that tech companies looking to find employees — from entry level to the C-suite — should take advantage of the resources and network connections the council offers. Another STEM program, Girls Who Code, began five years ago in New York City and was recently launched statewide in Utah. Girls Who Code partnered with Adobe, Dell EMC, Microsoft and the Utah STEM Action Center to launch the Utah Girls Who Code Club Network. Beginning in the fall semester, nearly 50 clubs will open at schools, community centers, libraries and other community organizations and will work with industry partners and girls in grades 7 through 12. The clubs offer young girls the chance to learn the concepts behind programing languages and help to close the gender gap in the technology. Dell EMC vice president and general manager Vance Checketts said, “Never before has technology been so core to our economy and our society at large. We have an incredible opportunity to truly drive human progress through technology, and we can’t realize the full potential without our girls. We’re so excited to partner with Girls Who Code to prepare the next generation of female leaders to grow and throve in a connected world. When we engage and empower our girls, there is no limit to what we can achieve as a global community.” 34 BUS I N E SS I N U T A HMIL L E NNI A L Stah has the third highest number of millennials in the country with . percent of the state’s population between the ages of and . The national average is . percent. Utah’s youthful population will continue for years to come, as . percent of the state’s population is under the age of while the national average is . percent. Utah also has the highest percentage of school-age children and children under in the nation. By , the number of Utahns is expected to grow from its current size of million to . million. Utah caters to young people in a variety of ways. It offers a low cost of living, high quality of life and ample opportunities for young people to advance their careers. WalletHub placed Utah No. in its Best States for Millennials ranking – ahead of other millennial hot spots like Colorado and Washington. USA Today ranked Utah No. in its Top States for Millennials. Part of the reasoning behind the rankings lies in the state’s affordable real estate. Utah boasts the fi fth highest rate of millennial homeowners in the nation. Realtor.com ranked Salt Lake City No. in its Top Cities for Millennials ranking for the city’s unique mix of hip urban culture and relaxing mountain vibes. Millennials make up a little more than percent of the city’s population. “Utah is such an amazing place,” says -year-old Annie Leither, assistant vice president of sponsorship for Zions Bank and one of Utah Business Magazine’s in their s. “It’s fascinating to see how many people move here and appreciate the beauty we have here, right in our own back yard. Between all our national parks and all the recreational opportunities, we have a lot here. I don’t think a lot Utah’s quality of life and opportunities for advancement make it a prime place for millennials to plant their fl ag. by S AVANN AH K I N GMillennials in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National ParkImage: Getty ImagesUB U S I N E S S I N U T A H 35of people know about all the arts and entertainment opportunities we have as well. Between all our concert venues and the new Broadway of the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, there are so many opportunities no matter your interests.” Additionally, the U.S. Chamber ranked Utah No. 1 for entrepreneurship and innovation and No. 1 for high-tech job growth in its 2017 Enterprising States report. After graduating from Brigham Young University, Kory Stevens, CEO and founder of Taft Clothing, opened his designer show company in Provo in 2014. Stevens who grew up in Burbank, California, and lived in Los Angeles until college, says Utah’s startup culture is very active and full of people willing to help. Stevens is also one of Utah Business’ Top 20 in their 20s.“Utah is a very special place. The entrepreneurial environment is incredible here. Everyone is very helpful and networking runs really deep here. I have been able to get access to very influential people because of my local Utah network. I think people underestimate the number of powerful businesses and entrepreneurs that are here in Utah. We are quietly crushing it out here. We have been able to find world-class talent here and it remains affordable due to the cost of living.” 36 BUS I N E SS I N U T A Hducation is an important component in Utah’s culture. In fact, . percent of adults in the state have earned at least a high school diploma, and nearly half of adult Utahns have earned a college degree or certifi cate. Perhaps that’s because earning a degree or certifi cate in Utah is extremely affordable. Utah’s public four-year universities have been ranked No. for the cost of in-state tuition. Students pay about $ , a year at a four-year university on average. High school students are also able to save tuition dollars by taking part in the state’s concurrent enrollment program, which allows juniors and seniors in high school to take college classes and earn credits tuition free. The state is home to several top-notch research universities including Utah State University, which was ranked No. in the nation by Washington Monthly, and the University of Utah, which ranks among the top universities in the world. The Beehive State also boasts innovative programs for students at every level and works with local employers to help fi ne-tune their course offerings to ensure students have the skills to fi nd gainful employment when they enter the workforce. Utah institutions have added more than new certifi cate programs in the last year as a direct result of collaborating with industry in the state. ducation is an college classes and earn credits H I G H ER ED U C A T I O Nby S AVAN N AH K I N GUtah’s higher education institutions are aligning curriculum with industry needs.Above: Taylorsville Redwood CampusPhoto courtesy of Salt Lake Community CollegeEB U S I N E S S I N U T A H 37In 2017, Gov. Gary Herbert launched the Talent Ready Initiative which is aimed at helping students earn the skills needed for the state’s high-demand, high-wage jobs. The initiative calls for industry and educational partnerships that will lead to hands-on, work-based learning opportunities for students across the state. Talent Ready Utah offers students pathways with programs in medical innovation, aerospace, diesel tech and information technology. Flexible Education Utah Valley University (UVU) is the largest public university in the Beehive State with some 37,280 students enrolled. Though UVU offers traditional degree programs since becoming a university a decade ago, its unique dual-model approach offers students abundant opportunities for career advancement all along the way. “Utah in general, but UVU in particular, has emerged as a leader in this kind of national movement of blending a community college and university together,” says Matthew Holland, president of UVU. “One of the great upshots of this is that it creates a dynamic that’s very responsive to industry and workforce development.”The university’s dual-model mission allows students flexibility in pursuing their education through various pathways leading to vocational training, a bachelor’s degree and up to a master’s degree. The model gives students an accessible and affordable opportunity to get the training and skills they need when they need it. UVU offers 44 certificate program, 62 associate degrees, 84 bachelor’s degrees, three graduate certificates and eight master’s degrees. “Our biggest growth rate has come from our junior and senior classes,” says Holland. “What that tells me is that there’s power in this model. We’re drawing in a lot of students who historically would have finished at a two-year degree or may not have finished at all or thought they were just community college bound.”Holland says the university’s 40 industry advisory boards are continuing to grow and helping to align industry needs with curriculum. He notes the benefits to students as they’re able to learn about an industry and the work involved through internships and service learning projects and local employment, saying, “When you graduate from UVU, you have a resume as well as a diploma.” In 2017, UVU added three new engineering degrees to its roster to help meet workforce needs for the state, which has experienced a shortage of engineers in recent years. The new degree programs will begin in the fall semester of 2018 and allow the learning to be more focused through internships and industry partners. It has also added a new College of Health and Public Service (CHPS), which is comprised of 14 different schools, departments and major programs, including two graduate programs. “It is no exaggeration to say the degrees and certificates offered by CHPS are in high demand by industry and communities,” said David McEntire, founding dean of the new college. “Fortunately, the administration, faculty and staff in the College of Health and Public Service are dedicated to addressing these Next >