Salt Lake City — The Salt Lake Chamber hosted the annual Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute to release its 2025 legislative priorities. The Chamber identified 11 focus areas for public policy this year, chief among them being affordable housing, transportation and infrastructure, and workforce development.
“As Utah continues to grow, it becomes even more imperative for us to adapt and enact changes that navigate the complexities of expansion while forging sustainable paths forward. Legislative policies are a critical component of enabling that agility within our communities,” said Mary Catherine Perry, vice president of public policy and government affairs at the Salt Lake Chamber. “This legislative session is a window of opportunity – a launching point where we, together, can create an elite economy that delivers prosperity for both current and future generations.”
In addition to highlighting the business community’s priorities for the coming 45-day legislative session, the Summit also discussed leadership in an era of constant change and uncertainty. General David Petraeus, a former CIA Director and distinguished Army General, had a keynote conversation entitled, “Leadership in a Complex World.” General Petraeus drew from his military career as well as from government and private sector leadership roles to demonstrate the qualities necessary to lead organizations in the complex and ever-changing world we live in.
“With all the opportunities and challenges facing Utah, it is vital that the public and private sectors come together to advance policies that will increase the quality of life in Utah and strengthen our economy,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “The guidance of the Utah Rising plan, when supported by legislative policy, has the potential to unlock an even greater era of growth and success to make Utah a place where businesses and individuals can thrive both now and in generations to come.”
The Summit presents an unrivaled opportunity for attendees to gain insights into the future of Utah’s economy and the business community’s policy priorities. At this year’s Summit, government and business leaders discussed Utah Rising, the free enterprise vision for Utah’s economy and what the business community can expect in the next decade. Utah elected officials also discussed best practices for advocating this upcoming legislative session and methods for finding common ground with officials.
A complete copy of the Salt Lake Chamber’s 2025 Public Policy Guide can be found here. (Downloadable version here).
This year’s Summit premier sponsor is Merit Medical Systems and presenting sponsors are Zions Bank and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Altabank, AT&T, Enbridge Gas and Mountainland Technical College are major sponsors. The Larry H. Miller Company, Mountain America Credit Union and Visit Salt Lake are event sponsors.
ABOUT THE SALT LAKE CHAMBER
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000-plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champions community prosperity.
ABOUT THE KEM C. GARDNER POLICY INSTITUTE
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute serves Utah by preparing economic, demographic, and public policy research that helps the state prosper. We are Utah’s demographic experts, leaders in the Utah economy, and specialists in public policy and survey research. We are an honest broker of INFORMED RESEARCH, which guides INFORMED DISCUSSIONS and leads to INFORMED DECISIONS™. For more information, please visit gardner.utah.edu or call 801-587-3717.
ABOUT GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS
General Petraeus is currently a partner at KKR investment firm and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, which he established in 2013. Prior to entering the private sector, General Petraeus served as Director of the CIA, where he was known for establishing important Agency digital initiatives and making substantial investments in the Agency’s most important asset – its human capital. In addition to his CIA leadership, General Petraeus spent 37 honorable years serving in the U.S. Army, including six consecutive commands as a general officer.