SLC Bike Share kickoff on April 8 & 9

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

Mayor Ralph Becker has called 2013 “The Year of the Bike”–and with the launch of the GREENbike, Salt Lake City’s Bike Share program, in exactly one month, we can’t help but feel like that name couldn’t be more fitting.

Salt Lake City and the Downtown Alliance have been working together to create GREENbike, Utah’s first fully automated bike share program. It’s the first of its kind in the West.

On April 8, we will open 10 stations and make 100 bicycles available in our capital city. The launch will take place at the western entrance to Gallivan Plaza on Main Street at 10:30 a.m. On April 9, Squatters will be hosting a kickoff/fundraiser at Squatters Pub Brewery from 5:30 p.m-8:30 p.m.

Salt Lake City’s Bike Share program is a network of Bike Share stations where members can take any bike from any station, as many times as they like, for a small membership fee of $5 a day or $75 per year. The stations are located close to transit stops, popular destinations for food, entertainment and other hot spots in downtown Salt Lake City.

GREENbikes are designed for one job: short trips in the city by people wearing regular clothes and carrying ordinary belongings. The bikes are one-size-fits-all and the only thing you may need to adjust is the seat.

So mark your calendars and join us for the launch on April 8 as well as the special fundraiser/kickoff party to support GREENbike at Squatters downtown on April 9. Tickets are $35 if bought in March and $50 if bought in April. All the proceeds go to GREENbike.

Annual GREENbike members will be able to pick up their custom “I BIKE SLC” helmets at the party. And there will also be a $1,100 TREK 7.5 fx giveaway at 8:00pm!

Also be sure to follow SLC Bike Share on Facebook and Twitter to stay on top of all things bike share in Utah.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Only four GREENbike station sponsorships are left!

Contact Ben Bolte at ben@greenbikeslc.org if you’d like to help support this cause and have your company recognized on one of the bike share stations.

To learn more about bike share sponsorship, CLICK HERE.

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City Creek Center earns high praise

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

Just in case you missed the news on Tuesday, City Creek Center received a significant award. Below is the Chamber’s statement:

Chamber congratulates Taubman on City Creek Center honors

SALT LAKE CITY- (Jan. 15, 2013) The Salt Lake Chamber, Utah’s largest and longest-serving statewide business association, congratulates Taubman Centers and City Creek Reserve, Inc. for City Creek Center being named the “Best Retail Development, USA” in the International Property Awards for 2012. City Creek Center also placed among the top three in the broader “World’s Best Retail Development” category.

“City Creek Center has been a remarkable addition to a downtown on the rise,” said Salt Lake Chamber President and CEO Lane Beattie. “This well-deserved award recognizes an amazing urban center and Taubman’s commitment to retail excellence. We also acknowledge the vision and unwavering commitment to downtown of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

City Creek has provided a significant boost to Utah’s economy, currently the fifth strongest in the nation with the sixth lowest unemployment rate. Built during the Great Recession and opened March 22, 2012, City Creek is Utah’s largest privately-funded, mixed-use development. This project provided over 1,700 construction jobs and 2,000 retail jobs. In addition, the 536 residential units and 5,000 parking spaces benefit dozens of downtown businesses as visitors drawn to downtown by City Creek Center eat and shop throughout the central business district.

Downtown Salt Lake City is the regional center for culture, commerce and entertainment. A vibrant metropolitan center is an important economic engine for the entire region. Downtown Salt Lake City is the historic hub for employment, transportation, finance, legal work and the creative class. It also stands as the seat of local and state government and the headquarters of a world religion. City Creek is an important part of a state that has earned a reputation as a great place to live, work, eat and play.

 

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This week on the Utah Business Report

Friday, December 28th, 2012

In case you missed one or more of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Utah Business Reports on KSL News Radio, here is a recap of what we talked about this week.

Due to the holiday, there were no UBR’s on Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25. We hope you had a great holiday week!

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Third time’s the charm! Forbes has picked Utah as the Best State for Business for the third year in a row. See why our state is doing so well in the business rankings in our blog post HERE.

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After nearly two years of construction, Intermountain Healthcare’s new Salt Lake Clinic is now open. The clinic is located at 333 South 900 East.

The 130,000 square foot facility will provide patients with a wide range of enhanced and updated amenities along with additional medical services, including full laboratory services and a pharmacy. InstaCare, physical therapy and home health will also be offered.

Sixty physicians and 260 staff will work at the Salt Lake Clinic, which is one of the largest medical clinics in the city. The new clinic will see more than 180,000 patients each year.

A new, interactive computer application at the clinic named “Junior Surgeon” will allow children to play Ear-Nose-and-Throat surgeon and “conduct” a tonsillectomy and other procedures.

The Salt Lake Clinic will merge with the Intermountain Bryner Clinic, which will result in the addition of six internists and seven pediatricians.

The $55 million, state-of-the-art facility is LEED Gold certified. It was constructed and designed in a way to conserve resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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2012 is drawing to a close. And this weekend, we’d like to invite you to join us at EVE, a three-day celebration in downtown Salt Lake City.

EVE kicks off tomorrow, and will feature live music at Gallivan Plaza and the Family Fun Festival at The Gateway.

And there are many more activities all around downtown Salt Lake City including Discovery Gateway, Clark Planetarium, Temple Square, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, the Off-Broadway Theatre, the Broadway Cinema and The Leonardo.

General admission is $15 and it includes admission to three nights of music at Gallivan Plaza in addition to the venues downtown.

To get the VIP experience, it’s $40. It includes ice-skating and priority viewing of music and fireworks on the EVE balcony at Gallivan. The VIP pass also includes the Da Vinci the Genius exhibit at the Leonardo, IMAX shows at Clark Planetarium.

Come ring in 2013 right with light, art and sound at EVE this weekend.

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For the full reports from this week and weeks past, visit KSL Radio online. Remember to tune in between 12:30 and 1 p.m. to KSL News Radio every week day on 102.7 FM or 1160 AM. If your business is doing something great, let us know and we may just feature it on the Utah Business Report. 

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This week on the Utah Business Report

Friday, December 14th, 2012

In case you missed one or more of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Utah Business Reports on KSL News Radio, here is a recap of what we talked about this week.

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Climb on board! This week was the first of regular service on UTA’s FrontRunner South. Now passengers will be able to travel between Provo and Salt Lake City in under an hour.

Groundbreaking for the FrontRunner South project happened back in 2008. The four-year project features more than 50 structures, 34 public at-grade crossings and 30 bridges.

The new FrontRunner South line includes stops in Murray, South Jordan, Draper, Lehi, American Fork, Orem and finally in Provo. Two other stops may be added down the line.

To finally have this addition to our transit system is very exciting. It will be a great connector between Utah County, Salt Lake, Davis and Weber County by feeding into the Salt Lake Central Station downtown.

The Chamber recognizes that having efficient transit options like the FrontRunner and TRAX operations is crucial to economic growth and stability. These options also can help contribute to cleaner Utah air by lessening the amount of vehicles and emissions on the road.

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It’s time to welcome a new restaurant to the Greater Salt Lake City community.

Last week, Midvale welcomed a new steakhouse: the state’s first-ever LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant. It is located at 10th East Fort Union Boulevard.

Each restaurant is approximately 6,300 square feet. And they each create around 80 to 100 new jobs for the surrounding community. This opening represents a 20-year commitment to the greater Salt Lake valley.

LongHorn Steakhouse prides itself on providing guests with a cut-above steakhouse experience through expertly grilled and boldly seasoned steaks, as well as friendly service. All of this in a setting that celebrates the rugged landscape of the American West.

Longhorn is planning to open six to eight more restaurants in Utah over the next two years. Right now, LongHorn operates more than 400 restaurants in 37 states.

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Right now, businesses across the nation are facing difficult choices as they weigh their options for health benefit packages they will provide for their employees next year. Now there is a new tool available to Utah businesses.

The Chamber’s Health System Task Force recently launched the Employer’s Toolbox, an online practical guide featuring 12 strategies for businesses to control health care costs.

The Toolbox is broken into four different sections: Health and Wellness, Purchasing Insurance, Information and Transparency, and Consumer Solutions.

The Employer’s Toolbox is full of information, resources and examples of Utah companies taking control of the different costs that health care can insure.

You can learn about workplace clinics, corporate health culture, defined contribution models, Clinical Health Information Exchange, Health Savings Accounts and so much more with this Toolbox.

Click here to learn more about the Employer’s Toolbox and keeping health care costs down.

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Come Celebrate Downtown with the Downtown Alliance this holiday season.

Each weekday, you can hop-on and off the Jingle Bus between 5 and 10 p.m. It’s absolutely free of charge—the payment is your participation in the Christmas caroling. A favorite carol is a version of Jingle Bells aptly named “Jingle Bus.”

Until December 28, the Jingle Bus will connect The Gateway, Temple Square, Gallivan Plaza and City Creek Center. On the ride, you can enjoy the holiday lights and storefront decorations, while learning fun downtown facts from volunteer hosts.

And Gallivan Plaza this season is home to the Downtown Holiday Market. The market brings holiday charm to Salt Lake’s urban center with a focus on local and handmade goods. You’ll find unique one-of-a-kind items.

There are only two weekends left of the Holiday Market, so don’t miss out. It takes place Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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For the second year in a row, the State Workforce recently earned national recognition for its excellence in Unemployment Insurance programs at the National UI Directors’ Conference.

The U.S. Department of Labor recognized Utah as the top-performing medium-sized state in the three critical areas of unemployment benefits, appeals and tax operations.

This is the second time Utah has earned the UI Triple Crown—a task previously thought impossible until Utah did it last year. No one had achieved this honor in the first 76 years of the unemployment program.

One of the key Unemployment Insurance initiatives this past year has been to improve integration of unemployment insurance with the workforce development and employment programs.

The American Institute for Full Employment recently honored the Department of Workforce Services with their Full Employment Best Practices Award. They recognized the department as the state agency that best exemplifies a commitment and dedication to reemployment of UI claimants through proactive policies and innovative programs.

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For the full reports from this week and weeks past, visit KSL Radio online. Remember to tune in between 12:30 and 1 p.m. to KSL News Radio every week day on 102.7 FM or 1160 AM. If your business is doing something great, let us know and we may just feature it on the Utah Business Report. 

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Time for the downtown theater

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Editor’s note: This post was originally published as an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, August 5, 2012. It is authored by Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Jason Mathis, executive director of the Downtown Alliance. 

Downtown Salt Lake City is in the midst of a remarkable transformation and this is a good time to think about the next phase of our city’s development. There is a growing consensus that the Utah Performing Arts Center will be built downtown in the next few years. This modern, 2,500-seat theater will attract a much larger array of touring Broadway shows, concerts, comedy acts and family shows.

The idea of a large civic theater has been discussed for decades and it’s hard to see our community prosper long-term without this amenity. Salt Lake is growing up and a performing arts center of this magnitude is part of the cultural landscape of any economically dynamic region. It is also an important financial engine that helps support our city’s creative class by attracting businesses and relocating professionals.

A performing arts center will help anchor the cultural core of our urban center, complementing other downtown institutions like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Symphony and Opera, Ballet West, the resident companies of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art and myriad art galleries. Downtown also has the facilities to accommodate large numbers of theater patrons, with multiple restaurants, convenient parking, public transit and thousands of hotel rooms.

The center’s proposed location at 100 South and Main Street is on land owned by the LDS Church and Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency. Nearly four years have passed since Mayor Ralph Becker, Gov. Jon Huntsman, and LDS Church Presiding Bishop H. David Burton announced the site. Since then, city leaders have carefully studied the impact of the center on other arts organizations, reviewed financing options, and developed a detailed and thoughtful plan.

In part, these plans use incremental property tax revenues, generated downtown and designated to redeveloping downtown, to help fund the new facility. As a result, no new taxes will be needed. In addition to supporting a more robust downtown while creating a regional cultural draw, the theater will improve sales and property values for existing properties, generating even more revenue for local and state tax coffers. What’s more, financial models show the center will also generate an annual income that can be used to help other arts facilities and organizations throughout our community.

Next week, the Salt Lake County Council will be considering a partnership with Salt Lake City to manage the facility and support the financing plan that has already received up to $18 million from Salt Lake City for design and development. The Downtown Alliance and Salt Lake Chamber strongly encourage county officials to partner with the capital city and operate this new facility as part of the county’s Center for the Arts portfolio of cultural amenities that includes Abravanel Hall, Capitol Theatre and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.

Great things are happening downtown right now with the opening of City Creek Center, The Leonardo and Gallivan Plaza. From thousands of new office workers at 222 South Main and Gateway Six, to new stores, galleries and restaurants on Main Street, Broadway and at The Gateway — our downtown is thriving.

Add in world-class ballet, opera and symphony, hundreds of new residents and record-setting crowds at festivals, markets and other events and you have a city center that is truly on the rise.

 

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Done right, a convention center hotel will benefit the Utah economy

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

Editor’s note: This post was originally published as an op ed in the Deseret News, Tuesday, June 26. Photo courtesy visitsaltlake.com.

By Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber
and Jason Mathis, executive director of the Downtown Alliance

There are great things happening in our community.

With the opening of City Creek Center, downtown is undergoing an urban renaissance that includes dozens of unique small businesses, record setting attendance at community festivals, hundreds of new downtown residents and new corporations coming to town.

Developments like the Utah Performing Arts Center, Capitol Theatre renovation, TRAX light rail to the airport and availability of new restaurant liquor licenses, make this a good time to further develop our convention industry.  Airport accessibility, urban renewal, friendly people, affordability and a stunning natural backdrop should propel our convention business to even greater heights, paying economic dividends along the way. Conventions, and the hundreds of millions of out-of-state dollars they inject into our economy, are an integral part of our rising downtown.

There are many things the business community can do to bring more visitors to Utah. And many things we have already done. We support modernization of liquor laws that protect public safety and reinforce a welcoming and hospitable climate for tourism. We support the rebuild of the Salt Lake City International Airport and endorse the bid for another Olympic Winter Games. We actively work to enhance Utah’s reputation.

Another economic development tool available that will enhance Utah’s tourism industry is a convention center hotel. Many of our competing cities have one – Denver, Phoenix, San Antonio – and Salt Lake City should consider one as well. A large 1,000-room hotel, adjacent to the Salt Palace will generate more local and state taxes from out-of-state delegates, and bring more business to Utah restaurants, entertainment venues, transportation companies and retail stores. More citywide conventions filling the Salt Palace will ultimately also mean more guests spilling over to other hotels.

Even with the tangible economic benefits of a convention center hotel, there are legitimate questions about the public sector’s role in a project like this. Some competing destinations have used government credit or local tax dollars to finance the construction costs of a convention hotel. We do not think that is the appropriate approach for Utah.

There are several private investors who are ready to build this hotel. But before they commit hundreds of millions of dollars to a project like this, they need to understand what role, if any, the public sector will play. The Salt Lake County Council is considering hiring a consultant who would help develop a financing plan that limits public involvement. Financing major projects like this is complicated and it is helpful to have expert advice.

The Salt Lake Chamber spent nearly a year trying to understand the dynamics of a convention hotel. We convened a group of business leaders who visited convention hotels in other cities, reviewed relevant studies and met with local hoteliers. Based on this review, we support a convention center hotel so long as the financing is privately-led and other specific criteria are met. Public financial support for a convention center hotel should be devoted to a public purpose, be limited and consistent with financing used for other significant privately led projects in Salt Lake. We oppose using transient room taxes to help finance a convention center hotel.

State and local governments should also support policies that maximize promotional funds; enhance Utah’s reputation as a welcoming and hospitable state; create a lively arts, cultural and entertainment district downtown and maintain a first-rate public transit system.

We ask the Salt Lake County Council to proceed with a consulting contract to better understand financing options for a convention center hotel. This is the right time to focus on and invest in our tourism and convention industry and continue the positive momentum of a downtown on the rise.

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City Creek Center opens in Downtown Salt Lake City

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Editor’s note: These are prepared remarks delivered by Salt Lake Chamber President and CEO Lane Beattie at the opening of the City Creek Center.

This is a day of gratitude for Downtown Rising. And on behalf of Utah’s business community we say thank you.

Thank you to our friends at Taubman and City Creek Reserve for their vision, leadership and investment in this stunning new heart for our capital city.

Thank you to the thousands of worker who have labored so diligently to prepare for this day.

Thank you to the residents, retailers, restaurants and renters who will make this center come to life, and by extension, breathe new life into the rest of our capital city.

The impact of City Creek Center extends far beyond these two blocks.

You see it in the confidence of Hamilton Partners who built 222 South Main because they saw what was happening here, and knew that this is a city on the rise.

You see it in the new OC Tanner flagship store across State Street.

You see it in the new businesses streaming into Main Street, the Broadway District, along 100 South and at The Gateway.

This truly is a city on the rise.

And this rising tide extends beyond Salt Lake City.

You see it throughout the region – a sense of optimism and hope for the future, all inspired by this rising urban center.

And you see it in our future:  with plans for a performing arts center, privately-led convention hotel, public market, film and media center, new residences and new office towers all in the works.

All contributing to the growth of Utah’s capital city and the economic strength of the entire region.

We can see today, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Success has a thousand authors, and so to the thousands who have worked so hard to make this day a reality we say thank you.

Today doesn’t mark the end, but a new chapter in the storey of this great American city, our capital city, in the heart of the new American West.

Today we celebrate a downtown on the rise.

Posted in Chamber News, Downtown Alliance, Downtown Rising, Economic Development | 1 Comment »

Downtown Rising anniversary ushers in City Creek Center

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Today we mark the fifth anniversary of the Downtown Rising vision. The plan we shared that day quickly became a movement and has since resulted in an unprecedented and unsurpassed renovation of our capital city.

Few and far between are the occasions when overstatement simply isn’t possible. For business in downtown Salt Lake City—tomorrow will be such a day.

After years of dedicated work and heightened anticipation, the City Creek Center will officially open. While the City Creek project was not part of the original Downtown Rising vision, it has become an important part of the fabric of our city.

The lesson: when we combine great vision with skill, industry and determination to elevate our community, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Throughout our history we have proven this time and time again. Industry, making something of great worth and benefit from the available resources, is in the very make-up of the people of this state.

As we open a new chapter in the long and rich history of Utah’s capital city, I express my admiration for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its unwavering dedication and unmatched contribution to Salt Lake City. I express appreciation for the Taubman Company for the new and critical role it will play in downtown.

To Nordstrom and Macy’s, we are grateful for your commitment to the city and to this project. You belong downtown, we are grateful you are here and we hope you always be a part of our community. We welcome the new retailers and restaurants to our city, as well.

To all the businesses that played a role in making the City Creek Center project evolve from a vision to a blueprint to a parcel of open land to a frame work and finally to the remarkable finished project we will open tomorrow, thank you all.

This is a great day for Salt Lake City.

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Welcome to your new downtown

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

This is an important week for Downtown Rising. The opening of City Creek will transform our urban center, Salt Lake City and the larger regional economy. It also coincides with sold-out shows of Beauty and the Beast, Utah Symphony performances, the LDS general Young Women meeting, Tumbleweeds Film Festival and a Utah Jazz game. Wow! For anyone who has ever dreamed about a more vibrant city center, congratulations! Your dreams are about to come true.

And we are ready to welcome everyone. With 5,000 new parking spaces at City Creek and new street parking pay stations that accept credit cards, downtown is more accessible than ever. We’re encouraging everyone to use TRAX or other mass transit to get downtown. If you drive, we encourage you to park once and take advantage of the free fare zone. (CLICK HERE for more tips on getting to downtown and finding a space when you get here.)

Our friends at Taubman and City Creek Reserve deserve great credit for their vision, leadership and investment in building this new heart for our capital city. Thousands of construction workers, engineers, architects and planners have also worked very hard to make this center a reality. We are excited for Nordstrom, Macy’s, Tiffany & Co.  and all the rest of the new stores and restaurants, in addition to the remarkable architectural features of this new downtown asset.

The impact of City Creek Center extends far beyond 100 South. You see it in the confidence of Hamilton Partner’s brand new 222 S. Main building. You see it in the new OC Tanner flagship store across State Street. You see it in the new businesses streaming into Main Street, the Broadway District and along 100 South. We gladly welcome Pallet, Becket and Robb, Ray’s Barbershop, Manhattan Finds, 10,000 Villages, Twisted Roots and Pebbles & Twigs, along with other new store-front shops throughout downtown.

Our friends at The Gateway have also been preparing for this week for some time. Since it opened, The Gateway has served as one of Utah’s most successful mixed-use developments and premiere shopping destinations. It is home of Urban Outfitters, the Apple Store, Anthropologie and Abercrombie. This will continue with store openings and future arrivals of Bettie Page, Epic Board Shop, Francesca’s Collection and G-Star Raw.

And more change is on the horizon. Momentum is building with a new performing arts center, convention center hotel, public market, film and media center, new residences and new office towers across downtown.

It may be tempting for some to look at the opening of City Creek Center as the final chapter of the Downtown Rising story originally envisioned by community leaders in 2007. But it’s really just a very exciting chapter in the larger narrative of Utah’s capital city—an urban engine for economic growth and a downtown that is on the rise. It’s an amazing time to be associated with downtown Salt Lake City, and I thank my lucky stars every day to be living and working right here, right now.

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The Larger Story of Downtown Rising

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

Editor’s note: This op-ed originally ran in the The Salt Lake Tribute, Sunday, March 18, 2012. Lane Beattie is the president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Jason Mathis is the Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance.

This week marks an important Downtown Rising milestone with the opening of City Creek Center. The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance applaud the optimism that this project embodies and we are grateful for the investment it represents.

Much will be written about City Creek this week, and it is just one chapter of a much broader story about downtown. We are equally excited about the strength and momentum of other downtown retailer centers on Main Street, Broadway and The Gateway.  A rising downtown tide may create some waves, but it will also lift all ships.

As one of our community’s great treasures, The Gateway generates retail, office and residential momentum that continues to transform the western half of downtown. Since it opened, The Gateway has served as one of Utah’s most successful mixed-use developments and premiere shopping destinations. This will continue. The Gateway is critical to Salt Lake City’s continued success and a fundamental part of our past, present and future.

Amenities like the Olympic Legacy Plaza, Discovery Gateway, the Clark Planetarium and Megaplex 12 set The Gateway apart from other shopping destinations. Retailers like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Z Gallerie, the Apple Store, and Ambercrombie & Fitch create a distinct shopping experience. Underscoring The Gateway’s continued vitality, new stores including Bettie Page, Epic Board Shop, Francesca’s Collection and G-Star Raw have recently opened or been announced.

Our optimism about the future of The Gateway is also driven by the way it is integrated into the larger neighborhood. The Gateway has a symbiotic relationship with the Utah Jazz and EnergySolutions Arena. The LDS Business College and the BYU Extension at the Triad Center bring students and faculty to the neighborhood. The Hyatt Place Hotel opened at The Gateway a few years ago, and the next phase of office development, Gateway Six, is scheduled to open in June with 100 percent occupancy.

We are also confident about The Gateway’s long-term success because of leadership from property owners. Inland Western and The Boyer Company should be credited for their past investments and their commitment to our community. The have built a retail center that will stand the test of time. We stand with them.

We also stand with the independent merchants who are building local businesses throughout the rest of downtown. The urban renaissance inspired by Downtown Rising extends to the nearly 100 downtown store-front businesses that have opened their doors in the past three years. They are an essential part of downtown’s story. Linked by a free-fare TRAX zone, complemented by cultural amenities, supported by 30,000 parking spaces and 70,000 daily commuters, downtown truly is on the rise. With plans for a performing arts center, convention headquarters hotel, street car system, public market, film and media center, new office towers, and thousands of new residents, downtown’s future is bright.

The waves that may come from this rising tide are not unexpected. We have been preparing for the opening of City Creek Center for years, and the ribbon cutting on March 22 has been highly anticipated. It is part of the inevitable change that drives any dynamic community.

The goal for city officials and business leaders is to manage inevitable change in ways that ultimately strengthen the larger community. We will continue to adapt to changing economic dynamics and shifting demographics as we thoughtfully plan for the future. As we celebrate the opening of City Creek Center this week it is helpful to note that it is but one more chapter in the larger story of Utah’s capital city.

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