Cities tabbed 'business-friendly'

Four Utah communities have been honored for their efforts in making their towns friendly to businesses. The Salt Lake Chamber, Gov. Gary R. Herbert and the Utah League of Cities and Towns named Clearfield, Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan and Park City with the 2016 Utah Governor’s Business Friendly Community Award for efforts to reduce burdensome regulations at the local level and strengthen Utah’s pro-business climate.

The awards were presented by Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox at the Utah League of Cities and Towns annual meeting in conjunction with the Utah Business Friendly Cities Initiative. To be eligible for the award, each city reviewed business regulations and made critical changes to help cultivate an environment where businesses can thrive.

The Utah Business Friendly Cities Initiative asks local elected officials to make a survey of business leaders in their community, review city regulations and collaborate to revise and repeal unnecessary ordinances, regulations and procedures currently in place. Cities then summarize their efforts in a report.

“This is just a tremendous effort. Most regulations happen at the local level and our cities being proactive and collaborating is critical,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber.

The initiative, started in 2013, has honored more than 30 cities for efforts at the local level to create the best business climate in the nation.
“The conscientious examination of regulations on our businesses will always lead to increased opportunities for Utahns, Herbert said in a statement. “Our state shines when businesses can thrive, innovate, and improve Utah’s quality of life. I applaud the communities that have undertaken this effort and hope that others will follow their lead.”

“Energizing business growth through business-friendly regulation is critical to Utah’s economy and quality of life,” Ken Bullock, executive director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, said. “We’re hoping every city in the state undertakes this effort and works toward improved and streamlined regulations at the local level.”