Our capital city is not only the namesake of the Salt Lake Chamber, but also the gateway to Utah as the cultural, commercial, entertainment and economic capital of the Mountain West. To say that Salt Lake City punches above its weight would be an understatement. In numerous categories, including GDP growth, economic outlook, health and innovation, and arts and culture, our capital city continues to be the shining star for others to follow.
As fall approaches, we are anticipating the return of Open Streets to welcome everyone downtown with expanded dining, music, and opportunities to connect. Each time we allow for pedestrian-friendly streets, our downtown economy thrives and the city comes to life.
In connection with this, you will notice many new murals and artworks that enhance the visual scape of downtown and new restaurants opening to expand our plethora of options. Our successful downtown farmers market also acts as an incubator for small businesses to gain customers and expand products.
The state of our arts and entertainment industry is strong because we remain a city where big ideas come to life. The recently announced Power District and the potential to bring a Major League Baseball team to downtown Salt Lake City is an idea with gravity we must pursue.
Despite all the great things happening, we also have challenges that continue to require our best efforts. The homeless population remains a group we seek to help and our Downtown Alliance Street Ambassadors continue to serve as our eyes and ears on the ground. Housing affordability is also challenging, but we are seeing new inventory rise as cranes dot the skyline.
Sustaining a vibrant capital city is important to the social and economic well being of the entire state. Downtown belongs to all Utahns. It is a destination for millions drawn here by business, art, history, faith, and sports. It is also a gateway for millions more who come to enjoy our red rock deserts, beautiful mountains, and The Greatest Snow on Earth.
You are fueling our capital city’s prosperity. You make downtown a wonderful place to live, work, shop, start a business, enjoy a performance, and cheer on the Utah Jazz. This all adds up to a strong foundation upon which we can build the future of our capital city. There is no secret to our success; it’s been public and repeated numerous times, “finding and standing on common ground.” If we continue to do this and apply an equal measure of determination and innovation, there is no problem we cannot solve. Visit downtown and help us keep building this great American city into a vibrant, prosperous, and welcoming place for all!
