t's a buyer's market in Salt Lake County, the major metro area in Utah. Rents on industrial space, of which there is plenty, are on the down slope as landlords seek to stem the departure of tenants and coax to the table those holding off on signing a lease. Industrial vacancy reached 11 percent in the first six months of 2002, particularly in buildings larger than 20,000 sq. ft. (1,860 sq. m.), according to research from Colliers Utah.
        "New industrial construction has slowed to a near standstill," note Colliers analysts. "Minimal speculative big box construction will take place until the market further absorbs the large amount of big box space currently available."
        But economic cycles are not permanent. Uncertainty over when economic growth will trend back up enough to trigger expansions and new investment plagues lots of markets besides Utah.
        In fact, companies are investing in new plants in Utah, and others are expanding. For companies in growth mode, Utah is worth serious consideration, specifically because it is a buyer's market – one located in the heart of the rapidly growing Mountain State region.