Orem, UT — Over 500 business and community leaders will convene at the Growth and Prosperity Summit to discuss Utah County’s future. Co-hosted by the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce and Utah Valley University (UVU), the Summit is a premier annual event that features nationally renowned speakers, fosters in-depth collaboration, facilitates meaningful networking and promotes knowledge sharing among leading professionals to drive economic opportunity and prosperity in Utah Valley.
This year’s extensive speaker lineup includes:
- John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Advisor & United Nations Ambassador
- Spencer Cox, Utah Governor
- Astrid Tuminez, Utah Valley University President
- Mike Lee, U.S. Senator
- Gary Herbert, Former Utah Governor
- Natalie Gochnour, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Director
- Curtis Blair, Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce President & CEO
With its unprecedented business growth over the past decade, Utah County has quickly become an economic powerhouse, catapulting Utah to the top of dozens of national rankings. Utah is the best state in the country to do business, has the brightest economic outlook and boasts one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates. According to researchers at the Kem C. Gardner Institute, Utah County has consistently grown at more than twice the state average and nearly three times the national average. Utah Valley businesses have generated an eye-popping 75,000 jobs at an annual growth rate exceeding eight percent. Since 2010, 40 percent of Utah’s overall job growth has occurred in the 25-mile stretch between Midvale and Pleasant Grove.
“Business is booming in Utah County. From our vibrant tech community at Silicon Slopes to our family-owned businesses, our entrepreneurs and business leaders directly contribute to the growth and prosperity of Utah Valley,” said Curtis Blair, Utah Valley Chamber president and CEO. “Our Chamber members are the lifeblood of the regional economy, providing high-quality job opportunities that allow Utahns and their families to flourish.”
Utah County’s economic successes are also supported by its population boom. By 2065, Utah County will add one million people to its population. On average, Utah County residents are young, well-educated and increasingly diverse. How business and community leaders proactively plan for growth will directly affect Utahns across the state for generations due to the region’s robust influence in the statewide economy.
“The Growth & Prosperity Summit provides an ideal forum for collaboration about issues we are all facing, growth and the economy,” said former Utah Governor Gary Herbert and UV Chamber Executive Board Chair. “This year, we are pleased to host former U.S. Ambassador and National Security Advisor John Bolton who will provide insights from his decades of policymaking experience. I’m looking forward to hearing his unique perspective just two days after a historic election.”
“Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of traveling the world to represent our country on the global stage. I have served several U.S. presidents, worked with Congress to pass legislation critical to our national security and managed tenuous diplomatic relationships with foreign adversaries. Negotiations can be tough, and consensus isn’t always easy to achieve,” said John Bolton, former U.S. national security advisory and U.N. Ambassador. “I am impressed with Utahns’ willingness to collaborate on difficult issues. Utah stands out at a beacon of hope in divided times that the rest of the country can learn from as we seek to maintain our leadership role around the world.”
The Growth & Prosperity Summit is organized into key growth-related topics that community and business leaders have agreed will be critical to the future prosperity of Utah Valley. The Summit theme is “THRIVE,” an acronym for the following concepts:
- Transportation and Infrastructure
- Healthcare and Housing
- Recreation and Resources
- Innovation and Business
- Valley Vision and Values
- Education and Workforce Development
More information can be found at bit.ly/Growth-Prosperity. All keynote speeches will be broadcast live at https://youtube.com/live/lDebpuIY72Q. Complimentary registration is available to members of the media upon request.
About Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce
The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce advocates for the business community, fosters meaningful economic opportunity and improves the quality of life for Utahns in the region. As the voice for Utah Valley business, we lead, convene and influence to strengthen an already dynamic business climate that supports all sectors of our economy and delivers unmatched value to our members.
About Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public PolicyThe Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy opened in 2021 and honors Utah’s 17th Governor Gary Herbert and his 31-year legacy of community service. The Institute is a non-partisan, public policy institute with a mission to develop future policy leaders, gather the community, and build trust in civic institutions that are the foundation of our democratic republic and the principles of the United States of America.