By Tom Westmoreland
Our community continues to gain recognition as the future of growth in Utah County. It comes as no surprise to those of us who have been working hard to set the tone for business development, housing and efficient government.
In the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Eagle Mountain was found to have just over 42,000 residents. That makes us the fourth-largest city in Utah County and puts Eagle Mountain in the top 20 cities for population in the state of Utah.
Given Eagle Mountain’s growth, we find ourselves on the cutting edge of community planning while working to attract investment from some of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Last year, Facebook announced it would be constructing an expansion of its data center in Eagle Mountain. That facility is expected to be operational around the end of 2022 and add more full-time employees once the next project phase is completed.
The $1.9 billion investment Facebook is making in our community will contribute funds toward affordable housing and has already paid dividends for community parks and infrastructure needed to keep up with growth.
Eagle Mountain, however, did not want to stop with Facebook.
What can be described as another enterprise-level data center is also locating here. This project, expected to be situated in the Sweetwater Industrial Park adjacent to the Facebook data center, will be another major investment in Eagle Mountain by a household brand name. The city anticipates a capital investment of $600 million for the proposed 300,000-square-foot data center during Phase 1 of the project. Building of this new facility will create around 1,000 construction jobs. The site will host 30-50 full-time employees once complete. It should be noted the company has left room for additional phases in future years.
These projects have been positive for Eagle Mountain, but the economic benefits extend to the rest of Utah County. Businesses that support the data centers, construction companies and retail locations are all benefitting from additional dollars now circulating in the local economy.
One gas station and convenience shop recently reported that their Eagle Mountain location is the top-performing store in the state. This is a direct result of construction work in the area, combined with organic growth.
But Eagle Mountain’s major projects should not overshadow some of our smaller — and very necessary — economic development wins. A new Maceys grocery store, Dollar Tree, McDonald’s and AutoZone have either just opened or are expected to open soon.
This is good news for newer residents of Eagle Mountain — and there are plenty of them. In fact, our city has processed 1,474 new home permits over the past fiscal year. Eagle Mountain expects at least that many in the coming fiscal year. These figures translate to about 6,300 new residents on an annualized basis.
This is even more amazing when considering some of the supply shortages and anticipated price inflation reported across the country. Challenges presented by COVID-19, as well as market friction following the state of Utah’s pandemic reopening, have not slowed Eagle Mountain’s home construction. The city astonishingly reported a year-over-year increase in homebuilding projects between fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
New homes, new residents and new retail establishments are not only the result of Eagle Mountain’s data centers. Development is also an extension from another major business undertaking: the Tyson Fresh Meats project. Construction, which broke ground in late 2019, is nearing completion.
Tyson is known for being one of the nation’s major food processors and expects 800 jobs will be necessary to operate their Eagle Mountain site. That number could be expanded to 1,200 jobs in the not-too-distant future. The company expects to begin operations at the Eagle Mountain facility this year. Those employees will need a place to call home and Eagle Mountain is confident the city can meet the demand.
But with major employers locating in Eagle Mountain, a greater need for infrastructure is present. More efficient access to the Salt Lake City International Airport, the metro’s interstate system and the Utah Inland Port tops the list for businesses and residents alike.
That is why Eagle Mountain was thrilled following a major announcement in state transportation funding. In May, $350 million was designated for the Mountain View Corridor project. Its completion will significantly benefit Eagle Mountain and the surrounding region. This section of Utah County has never seen an investment of that size in transportation. This new section of freeway will parallel Redwood Road, extend through Camp Williams and connect with the upper section of Mountain View at Porter Rockwell.
With the June opening of Mountain View Corridor north from 4100 South to SR-201 in Salt Lake County, Eagle Mountain residents will be able to access the Mountain View Corridor at Pony Express Parkway or SR-73 and, if all goes to plan, be able to drive to the airport without using I-15 in a few years.
Each of these projects is exciting on its own. Combined, we believe something special is happening in our community. Eagle Mountain City anticipates a continuation of creative and dynamic economic development efforts for years to come. At the same time, we are staying mindful of our community’s desire to have a rural feel.
Only 20 percent of Eagle Mountain’s available land has been developed. This leaves tons of room for new projects that can ultimately set the tone for the future of business in Utah County. When combined with conservation, this can be a great place to call home.
In years past, Eagle Mountain has been considered a rural northwest corner of a county primarily developing along the I-15. That is no longer the case. We are now a community where Utahns can raise a family, have a career, send their children to good schools, experience open spaces and work with major employers to grow and change.
We invite the business community to get curious about Eagle Mountain. Drive our new roadways, check out our new schools, take a look around our housing developments and enjoy our recreational spaces.
Well-managed and balanced growth is here. Find yourself in Eagle Mountain.
Tom Westmoreland was elected mayor of Eagle Mountain in 2017 after serving on the city council for four years. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indiana and attended Utah Technical College (now Utah Valley University). Prior to being elected as full-time mayor of Eagle Mountain, he worked in business development, primarily in the advertising and publishing industries. He and his wife, Rebekah, a nurse, have nine children.
