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Once again, we recognize the strength of our business community and the families they support to keep Utah one of the best places to live in America. Every year, we recommit to maintaining this strength by bringing leaders together to find common ground around challenging issues. This approach continues to serve us well and ensures when problems arise we have a business community with a united will and effort for continued prosperity. To that end, we are starting to see inflation wane, supply chains coming back and industry expansion coalesce into an Utah blueprint for success.
The Salt Lake Chamber continues to stand the test of time as we advocate for you at the local, state and federal levels. What began in 1887 by rugged pioneers remains today, with our mission to stand as the voice of business, support our members’ success and champion community prosperity. We repeat this mission statement often because it permeates everything we do at the Chamber. This common cause unites us to lift one another and make our communities ground zero for opportunity.
In our quest for excellence, the Chamber solidified our vision for “Unlimited Opportunity and Prosperity” along with our foundational values:
As you know, success is a collective effort and daily endeavor. The Chamber worked tirelessly during the 2023 Legislative Session to support bills that will strengthen Utah’s competitive position. This effort included opposing some bills that would have put into effect policies harmful to our business community. Our constant goal is to ensure Utah is well-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly-growing population and economy.
This 2022-2023 Annual Report outlines the current state of the Chamber and our vision for a prosperous tomorrow. We ask you to review these efforts so you get the complete picture of our activity on your behalf. Your leadership, engagement and support make everything we do possible. The Chamber’s strength lies in our unity and commitment to see one another succeed. The year ahead will be bright as we continue to come together and build!
As the Salt Lake Chamber is first and foremost an advocacy organization, we direct many of our resources into our advocacy for business at the federal, state and local levels, as we work with our legislature, governor, mayors, city councils and congressional delegation. This happens in several ways, such as convening business roundtable discussions to hear from members as to what is necessary to create a strong economy and prosperous community.
During the last week of September, the Salt Lake Chamber led a delegation of business executives and community leaders to our nation’s capital – Washington, D.C. The Chamber met with members of Utah’s Congressional Delegation to discuss the business community’s federal priorities for 2022.
These priorities cover a range of critical issues around energy reliability and sustainability, housing affordability, infrastructure, taming inflation and other topline business priorities to make our state stronger. The Chamber works with our elected officials to be responsive to challenges and committed to securing greater prosperity for our communities.
Click here to view the federal priorities.
“As a business person in Utah, I see climate change and the energy transition as an economic opportunity that will benefit our economy, protect our environment and preserve our health. It can be and should be a win-win for everyone. But there is urgency for cooperation among business, government and individual consumers, one that is driven by risk, opportunity and responsibility.”
On January 12, 2023, the Salt Lake Chamber presented its 2023 Public Policy Guide at the Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit in preparation of the 2023 General Legislative Session. Chief among the priorities was sustaining Utah as a safe haven economy driven by good policy and good governance, addressing housing affordability, tackling the water crisis and investing in infrastructure.
Along with previewing the business community’s priorities for the coming legislative session, the Summit looked at pathways to civility as a way to engage officials and one another. Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, bestselling author and Harvard professor, shared the science behind why contempt for one another can be addictive in the political realm and how to escape the trap of viewing one another as an enemy.
Click here to view the public policy guide.
On May 17, 2023, the Salt Lake Chamber presented the Legislative Business Champion Award to 68 legislators who passed laws on building our economic foundation and expanding prosperity for all Utahns during the 2023 Legislative Session. This award is given to legislators who supported at least 90% of the Salt Lake Chamber’s priorities. The title of Legislative Business Champion is directly tied to a legislator’s support and voting record on the Salt Lake Chamber’s “Priority Votes.”
The Salt Lake Chamber also recognized Sen. Kirk Cullimore as the 2023 Legislator of the Year for his work on bringing together disparate groups and building consensus on a number of important issues. In addition, the Chamber presented Eliana White, director of government affairs for Select Health, with the 2023 Legislative Leadership Award for her involvement and contributions to healthcare-related legislation during the legislative session.
Over 45 days, the Legislature tackled the difficult job of prioritizing a budget and passing bills focused on issues related to Utah’s growing population. The Chamber policy team worked tirelessly to advocate for policies promoting a healthy business environment and strong communities across the state.
The Chamber engaged with legislators, testified in committee hearings, and provided research and analysis to help inform policy decisions. The goal was to ensure that Utah is well-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly growing economy.
Click here to view the scorecard.
The Salt Lake Chamber provides programs, training and tools that help businesses grow through events, webinars, town halls and professional development opportunities. We strive to keep our members informed on critical issues and provide resources for critical needs that impact their businesses, helping them build their companies and the economy in our state.
In May 2023, Utah Community Builders, in partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber, United Way of Salt Lake and Voices for Utah Children, debuted a new resource for the business community entitled Family-Friendly Workplaces: A Guide for Utah Business Leaders. The guide spotlights valuable data, what to consider and actionable steps with best practices for businesses to elevate the culture and leadership around child care support.
This guide can be a resource for Utah leaders in business, government and community. CEOs, presidents, managers and human resource professionals throughout Utah’s business community are encouraged to carefully review the contents of the guide and consider what steps they can take in their organizations to support the child care needs and overall well-being and success of their employees.
Click here to view the guide.
The Salt Lake Chamber launched the Diverse-Owned Business Accelerator with the Women’s Business Center of Utah in January 2023. The seven-week cohort program, sponsored by Bank of America, was designed for diverse small business owners to enhance their skills, direction or strategy for their businesses.
Cohort attendees learned how to become more efficient, effective and successful in their businesses by establishing business strategy roadmaps and 90-day action plans, constructing brand style guides, clarifying revenue streams and much more.
Click here to learn more and view cohort graduates.
By helping all businesses grow and expand, we can further develop our economic landscape and at the same time make it a place where all people can succeed. We look forward to welcoming this new cohort as we work to assist them in living the American Dream.”
The Salt Lake Chamber, along with its partners Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) and TravelWise Utah, hosted the 14th Annual Clear the Air Challenge in July 2023. Issued by business, government and community leaders, the Challenge is a month-long competition designed to encourage Utahns to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone.
Numerous businesses and individuals participated in the annual competition to show their commitment to our environment and to raise public awareness of the importance of clean air.
Collectively, this year’s participants reduced 365.1 tons of CO2 emissions, eliminated 55,179 trips, reduced 1,027,027.3 miles traveled, saved $600,000, and burned 1.9 million calories in just 31 days.
Click here to learn more about this year’s challenge.
The Salt Lake Chamber works to provide peer-to-peer networking opportunities for business professionals within our community. These opportunities range from traditional events like Business After Hours or Business Women’s Forum to more initiative-based committees like the Natural Business Resources Council or Capitol Club. Additionally, the Chamber brings the business community together at our signature events like the Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon. These occasions provide member businesses with a platform to engage, collaborate on ideas and find common ground.
On November 14, 2022, local businesswomen heard from inspirational speakers, gained business insights and recognized the accomplishments of those helping to make a difference in our community at the 46th Annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon.
During the event, the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award was presented to Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism. The award is given to an active member who demonstrates creativity and initiative in business, provides valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and assists women in reaching their full leadership potential.
In addition, six women received Pathfinder Awards, which are presented annually to community leaders who create new paths promoting the development and recognition of women in business. The six 2022 Pathfinder recipients this year included:
Click here to learn more.
On April 27, 2023, business and community leaders gathered at the Grand America Hotel to recognize Wilford Clyde, Chair of Clyde Companies, Inc., as the 44th Giant in our City for his life as ‘a builder, not only of highways, bridges and dams, but of communities.’ The award is recognized as the most prestigious business award given in Utah.
In addition to Clyde’s recognition, the Salt Lake Chamber’s nonprofit foundation, Utah Community Builders, honored Mary Ann Lee, Artistic Director for the Tanner Dance Program & Children’s Dance Theatre at the University of Utah, with the 5th annual Lane Beattie Utah Community Builder Award. The award recognizes an inspirational individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to address critical community needs.
Click here to learn more.
