Brice Wallace
The NBA All-Star Game weekend will provide Salt Lake County with a chance to shine, according to the county’s mayor, Jenny Wilson.
During her recent State of the County address at the Viridian Event Center, Wilson touched on several economic matters, including the eyes of the sports world being on Salt Lake City Feb. 17-19.
“I am looking forward to the sights and energy that will flood downtown Salt Lake like we haven’t seen since the{mprestriction ids="1,3"} Winter Olympic Games 21 years ago,” Wilson said. “Once again, Salt Lake County will be the showcase of the nation. I’m excited to welcome the world back for this special weekend.”
Wilson said last year’s game in Cleveland had a “huge” economic impact of nearly $250 million.
“And here in Salt Lake, with thousands of attendees coming in early or staying late so they can experience the ‘Greatest Snow on Earth,’ it looks like we’re on track to crush Cleveland’s total revenue,” Wilson predicted.
Wilson said the county’s convention industry continues to host internationally significant events that support the county’s bottom line. In addition to the All-Star Game, the county recently hosted the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show and film screenings that were part of the Sundance Film Festival.
“Our tourism industry bounced back stronger than just about anywhere,” the mayor said. “Revenues and hotel bookings are back to — or exceed — pre-pandemic levels.”
Salt Lake County remains one of the best counties in the U.S. to live in, work and raise a family, she said.
“Salt Lake County has the most diversified economy in the state. We’re home to many amazing small businesses that help drive our positive economic growth. We house several leading schools of higher education, where game-changing discoveries are commonplace. Salt Lake County’s unemployment rate of 2.4 percent remains one of the lowest in the nation,” she said.
Wilson said the county continues to invest in community-based economic development, senior centers, recreation, the arts, parks and libraries. “These investments are foundational to our quality of life here in our county,” she said.
Despite the strong economy and news of the quick recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, the county faces challenges, including families and small businesses “still struggling to make ends meet” and too many residents still unable to afford a home of their own, she said.
The county is investing in a $20 million enhancement to the County’s Housing Trust Fund, with grants to help build more “deeply affordable housing.” Other investments include those for new trails to open biking, hiking and equestrian trails in Butterfield and Yellowfork canyons and building urban connector trails like the one that will be joining Magna, Kearns and Taylorsville. “And millions more have been set aside to modernize senior centers and support workforce development programs,” Wilson said.
“Side by side with you,” she told the audience, “I will continue to work to assure that Salt Lake County becomes a better, more fair, more prosperous and more inclusive community than ever before.”{/mprestriction}
