Issue Position: Economic vitality

Issue Position

Fostering Economic Development on ALL Fronts.

VISION: We are all seeing businesses popping up along the I-15 corridor. They provide great jobs for our valley. And those new businesses will support many small businesses that create more solutions for a variety of industries.

Utah's economy is flourishing. People are coming here for our great work ethic, intelligent communities, moderate cost of living and talent.

We need to cut red tape and open doors to new small businesses so they can grow. We need to incorporate best practices from other states that cultivate their home-grown businesses. We need more input from community interest not only lobby interests. We need a wide range and variety of businesses to create a sustainable economic future.

Small business is the backbone of our economy. More than half of all Utahns are employed by small businesses, but current economic development schemes seem to focus their attention on attracting big businesses to the state through "economic hunting" initiatives.
HARD WORK: As an owner of many small businesses, I understand the commitment of meeting payroll. I will address the needs for growth in our small businesses so they can better serve the 78% of Utahns who work in them or for them. Taxes, health care issues and legal restrictions can become impediments for future growth and vitality. I will seek to create opportunities for Utah grown business to flourish alongside larger, diverse businesses attracted to Utah that add to economic stability.

CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT: Our district is teeming with talented individuals who can actively plant seeds for growth in business and economic development. They understand what the real issues are and where the greatest hurdles are in sustaining economic vitality. I will provide avenues for open communication to resolve the critical issues. I will support initiatives to encourage new and current business growth that strengthen individuals and the community. I will keep you informed of the policy efforts in the Legislature that affect our economic environment and help you to influence that process at each stage.

REAL SOLUTIONS:

How can we as a State continue to encourage the growth and courage of our talented entrepreneurs to provide better employment opportunities for their employees? What are the solutions?

1 Economic Gardening:
Small business is the backbone of our economy. More than half of all Utahns are employed by small businesses, but current economic development schemes seem to focus their attention on attracting big businesses to the state through "economic hunting" initiatives. In order to maintain our economic vitality, we should be focusing more on an "economic gardening" model, which will grow existing small businesses in Utah.

Economic gardening is an innovative approach to economic development that helps connect entrepreneurs with information and tools they need to grow. For example, economic gardening initiatives might provide entrepreneurs with information about demographics, competitors, suppliers, or the latest technology in their field, or they might share techniques for search engine optimization and strategy analysis.

To read more about economic gardening, click here. By focusing on economic gardening at the state level, individuals throughout the state will be able to find the expertise closer by and save literally millions of dollars as well as time and energy that can be redirected to improve the general health of the economy within Utah. I will work to encourage this focus at the legislative level.

2 Innovative Education:
Property tax pays the greatest portion for our need when it comes to education our kids. We need to be smarter in how we use the tools currently available to provide excellent learning opportunities while paying for the buildings to educate our children in. Innovative uses of existing infrastructure, technology and teaching methods all need to be utilized. It will take partnerships with business to do this.

3 Less Government Intrusion:
Too many regulations strangle economic vitality. I will work to create the best laws that protect individual citizens' rights AND protect and encourage opportunity for business to flourish.

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