Page 78 - FDI Alliance International Magazine | September 2018 1

Utah – Crossroads of the World

Touted as the crossroads of the west, Utah is poised taining transportation Infrastructure. Frontrunner is a Adobe, Microsoft, eBay and many other innovative
to play an even larger role in the global economy. In commuter rail service that runs 80 miles along the companies. The low cost of doing business and a
addition to the state’s quality workforce and diverse Wasatch Front population corridor. And TRAX is a high-quality workforce continues to attract global
economy, its investment in infrastructure is setting the light rail system that reaches throughout the Salt Lake companies to the area. With so many tech compa-
groundwork for a new accolade: Utah – crossroads Valley carrying thousands of passengers daily. nies coming to Utah, it has been ranked second in
of the world. the nation in fastest-growing states for tech jobs at an
Thriving Industries increase of 5.75 percent.
Commitment to infrastructure
Reports have listed Utah’s economy as the most di- Utah is also one of the top states in the nation for
As the only new major airport hub built in the United verse in America. Some of the industries recognized aerospace and defense employment and has high
States in the 21st century, the Salt Lake City interna- for promoting this diversity and generating high-pay- employee concentrations of aerospace engineers,
tional airport is undergoing a $3.6 billion redevel- ing jobs in the state are software and IT, aerospace materials scientists, machine operators and many other
opment project. Servicing more than 24 million vis- and defense and outdoor recreation. aerospace related occupations. This is why companies
itors each year, the airport is currently Delta Airlines’ In recent years, Utah’s burgeoning tech sector has like Boeing, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems,
fourth largest hub in the United States and traffic is gained international attention. Clustered just south of L-3 Communications and others chose to operate
continuing to grow. The new airport will offer more in- Salt Lake City, the “Silicon Slopes” tech sector houses here. Utah is also home to Hill Air Force Base, the
ternational and direct flights in and out of Salt Lake. Ad-
ditionally, the increased access to the state will open
new business opportunities in new markets overseas
and better position Utah as an international business
destination.
Northeast of the airport is another monumental
project. Utilizing the state’s rail lines and major
interstates, a new Global Trade Port will facilitate
the movement of international-bound products. This
inland port will offer services offered by traditional
coastal ports such as customs clearance and make
it easier than ever to move products and materials
in and out of the state. Anticipation of the project is
high as state officials say the port will be the “largest
economic engine” ever assembled.
Commuters in Utah also benefit from the state’s will-
ingness to invest in infrastructure. The Legislature has
poured billions of dollars into expanding and main-

78 FDI ALLIANCE | SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2018