New Digs Key in Furthering EDCUtah's Mission
By Milt Harrison
Employees of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah are enjoying the company’s new office in the Utah One Center. Pictured from left to right: Elizabeth Johnson, Stephanie Pack, Erin Farr, Ze Min Xiao, Director, Olivia Newbold, Jill Kirsling, Michael Stachitus, Theresa A. Foxley, Colby Cooley, Matt Hilburn, Michael O’Malley, Vlada Yaremenko, Katherine Morrell, Stephanie Frohman, Jolly Karungi, Not pictured: Alan Rindlisbacher, Elvon Farrell.
The newly renovated office for the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) in downtown Salt Lake is proving key to an organization looking to promote Utah’s strongest attributes and attract project investment from out-of-state developers.
EDCUtah’s President/CEO Theresa Foxley said her team looked at 15 spaces and “ultimately decided that we love this building. We love the proximity to some of our public partners and to the hospitality assets we rely on when we have guests in town,” she said.
A downtown location was the perfect spot to show off everything that Utah can offer incoming business. As the city and state show themselves off, EDCUtah is following suit, especially with their renovation.
“We’re a non-profit that has to present well, so we tried to repurpose as much as we could from the old office,” she said.
Glass partitions offer a sense of transparency while capitalizing on great natural daylighting. Lobby spaces are inviting and comfortable, offering options for employees to collaborate in effective group settings.
“It embodies what we sell. We wanted it to be modern but cozy. You see the clean, modern lines, but with wood and colorful tones that make it inviting. We want people to know they are in Utah,” she said, referencing the great view of the city’s urban setting with picturesque mountain views to the east.
Facing Forward
Even as the sun rises on the new office space things have not been without challenges the last two years. EDCUtah has been gradually rebounding from a slight post-Covid lull, having managed 110 projects in March 2020 and seeing that drop to 80 at the nadir of the pandemic.
“Since then, our pipeline has rebuilt to 130 active projects that we’re managing today,” said Foxley.
“The interesting shift has been around the makeup of the pipeline,” she said, noting how 70 of those projects come from the industrial/manufacturing sector, which aims to alleviate future supply chain demands locally. She and the rest of the EDCU team are thrilled with what it means for the state. “Utah is strong in real estate and development—the secret is out. We are fielding a lot of interest from in-state and out-of-state developers.”
Foxley said adjustments in Site Ready Utah are continuing, including new designations for projects of smaller size and scope than Mega Site projects (400+ acres).
“We’re trying to work with local communities and real estate partners to certify sites that are 50 to 400 acres, so they can be transacted on more quickly when companies are ready to make a decision,” said Foxley, adding that those partnerships are critical to staying economically competitive with other states. Utah is thriving right now because of its strong working demographics, being open to new business, and offering paramount quality of life benefits.
Optimism Abounds
Out-of-state developer interest in Utah is as strong as its ever been, Foxley added, and likely to remain strong for the foreseeable future, and the appeal and comforts of EDCUtah’s new office can only help moving forward.
“Every other week I get an introductory email to take a phone call from an out-of-state developer asking what’s going on in your market,” she said. “We have strong demographics, a great business environment, a world-class airport, affordability, and great quality of life.”
“We’re not a call-center state,” added Michael O’Malley, EDCUtah Marketing Director. “We’re attracting life sciences and other very sophisticated construction, data centers, EV battery manufacturing. Sophisticated projects are coming our way.”
EDCUtah Office Renovation
Owner: Economic Development Corporation of Utah
Developer: Boyer Block 57 Associates, LTD
Architect: MHTN Architects Inc.
General Contractor: ICS – Interior Construction Specialists
Electrical Engineer: Hunt Electric, Inc.
Mechanical Engineer: PVE, Inc.
Plumbing: Told Plumbing LLC
HVAC: A-J Sheet Metal, Inc.
Electrical: Hunt Electric, Inc.
Fire Protection: The Hiller Companies, Inc.
Insulation: Builder Services Group Inc.
Drywall: Jordan Enterprises
Acoustics: Alternative Acoustics & Drywall
Painting: Bruin Commercial Painting LLC
Tile/Stone: Dowland Tile & Stone, LLC
Carpentry/Millwork: Montgomery Custom Cabinets, Inc.
Flooring: Floor Styles, Inc.
Glass/Curtain Wall: Midwest D-Vision Solutions, LLC
Wood Doors: Midwest D-Vision Solutions, LLC
Steel Fabrication & Erection: Uintah Steel, Inc.
Demolition: Red Rock Demolition, Inc.
Signage: Trademark Visual, Inc.
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