Happy Friday from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Here’s your recap of what we did this week, what's on the horizon, and more.

Honoring Utah’s Veterans

Nov 11th, is Veterans Day. We are proud of the patriotic duty and selflessness of all those who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States and are grateful for the sacrifices of these brave men and women. 

Utah is home to nearly 140,000 veterans whose service and contributions both in and out of uniform help strengthen our state and nation. We also recognize and thank military and veteran families. Their dedication and support for the cause of freedom is an inspiration daily. On Nov 10th, we also honor the Utah veterans no longer with us who have served heroically in all of America’s conflicts. Wherever Utahns have served, they have done so with honor and excellence. 

On behalf of the state of Utah, and its 3.3 million residents, we salute veterans on this Veterans Day.

Thank you, Utah, for making Election Day a success

Election Day was a big success in Utah, so thanks to our county elections workers and volunteers for ensuring our elections are safe, secure and accurate. But it’s not over yet. Lt. Gov. Henderson reminded Utahns after polls closed on Tuesday that county clerks still have a lot of work ahead of them before election results are finalized. Watch her video message here.

As we both visited polling places and ballot processing centers across Utah on Tuesday, we heard from voters and election workers who love how many options and opportunities Utah provides to cast a ballot. 

Election watchers can follow the latest election results here as clerks continue to process and adjudicate ballots ahead of the final statewide canvass, an official certification of election results.

Thanks, again, Utah.

STEM Week in Utah

This week was Utah’s inaugural Week of STEM. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education is so important, and we were glad to join industry leaders, educators and students in supporting this cause. Utah is committed to investing in STEM education, as we know 15 of the 20 fastest growing jobs require STEM skills. Many of these jobs are waiting to be filled right here in our own backyard. 

The inaugural Week of STEM had one goal – to bring STEM to everyone statewide. We want to celebrate and highlight the importance of creating greater inclusion and opportunity for Utah children, youth, and families who do not typically have adequate access to STEM resources. 

Learn more about the Week of STEM in Utah, and what we are doing to advance STEM education here.

Utah 360 Recap: Salt Lake County

As part of our Utah 360 Tour, we visited with people in Utah’s most populous county, Salt Lake County. 

We started off the day visiting Skyline High School where we met with students and administrators to talk about the importance of youth mental health. We also enjoyed speaking with young people about civic engagement, which also happened to be Election Day in Utah! 

Speaking of elections, we visited Salt Lake County Election Clerk Sherrie Swensen and the county’s ballot processing center. The Salt Lake County facilities we toured were efficient and we appreciate the hard work of both employees and volunteers to ensure every vote is counted. 

Our next stop was Cyprus High School to talk with students and faculty about Election Day, youth mental health, water and other issues. These students were engaging and we appreciated our time spent with the AP Government and Social Studies students at Cyprus High. 

We wrapped up the day with a visit to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. We discussed the current state of Utah’s child welfare system, and how we can better support the children, caseworkers, foster families and others we serve. 

Thanks to everyone who made time for us! See photos from our visit here. 

An exciting change for Return Utah

Utah’s pioneering return-to-work program, Return Utah, is set to begin rolling admissions this January.

Due to agency feedback, we’re excited to announce that agencies can soon hire a returner at any time, according to their needs. We’d also like to remind agencies about Executive Order 2021-8, which outlined the state’s interest in equalizing economic opportunity, assisting Utahns who want to return to the workforce, connecting them to resources, and removing barriers to employment. Both men and women have found success through Return Utah, but we’re incredibly proud of how Return Utah has ushered in new and exciting opportunities for mothers and disadvantaged Utahns.

So as your agency considers upcoming hiring decisions, please contact Return Utah’s program manager Shay Baker via email at [email protected] or attend a Return Utah information session. Return Utah will also continue to facilitate traditional cohorts – twice a year – with the first beginning March 14 after the 2023 General Session. 

We’re grateful for your participation in Return Utah and thankful for your service to the Beehive State.

ICYMI: Helping to save the Great Salt Lake 

The Great Salt Lake continues to reach record low levels, and we need to do more to protect this critical resource. That’s why last week we issued a proclamation closing any new water appropriations in the Great Salt Lake Basin. This suspension doesn’t affect existing water rights and applications, but it will prevent further diversion from the lake. We’ll also continue to promote water conservation measures and wise water use.

We’re hopeful that these measures along with increasing moisture and winter temperatures will help protect the Great Salt Lake. By protecting the lake, we help our economy, environment, wildlife and future. 

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, so we are highlighting the eight Tribal Nations in Utah this month. 

This week, we are highlighting Navajo storyteller Patrick Willie who found his purpose in hoop dancing. He now uses social media to amplify the Native voices of a younger generation. Read this compelling story, and learn more, here.

Governor’s Awards for Excellence Highlight

Each week, we are highlighting a state employee who was recently awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence. This week we are recognizing Dr. Nancy Daher with the Department of Environmental Quality. 

Nancy leads a team of four air quality modelers at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Under Nancy’s direction, DEQ scientists have been working to better understand modeling efforts including the adoption of many process improvements resulting in performance that is best-in-class. The relationships Nancy has built with federal and academic research scientists are helping DEQ address ozone pollution along the Wasatch Front. Nancy’s vision of inter-institution collaboration has been imparted to her team who often seek feedback and solutions from experts within and outside the agency. She has demonstrated a clear ability to inspire and motivate her peers to be creative, engaged, and pursue innovative solutions together. Nancy has cultivated a wonderful collaborative work culture around her that has greatly benefited DEQ and the state of Utah.

Thank you, Nancy, for your dedication to the state of Utah. Keep up the great work! To read about the Governor’s Awards for Excellence, click here.

ICYMI

• On Saturday, we flew up to Idaho and participated in the coin toss for the BYU vs. Boise State football game. We had a great time supporting the Cougars!
• Last week we attended the Department of Health and Human Services annual awards. Thank you to these state employees for their hard work and dedication to serving Utahns. Learn more about DHHS here. 
• We attended the Utah State Bar Fall Forum and got to recognize the service, advocacy and problem solving of Utah lawyers. Learn more about the Utah Bar here. 
• Utah has been getting a lot of snow early this season, which is leading to our world class ski resorts opening up early. Check in with your favorite resort to see when they open, and learn more about the greatest snow on earth here.

Coming up

• Nov. 11: Our offices will be closed for Veterans Day, but we’ll be honoring our veterans at a ceremony at the University of Utah Union Building at 11 a.m. Hope to see you there!
• Nov. 11: The Utah Division of Indian Affairs will host a Round Dance celebration to mark Utah’s Indigenous Day and Native American Heritage Month. Learn more here. 
• Nov. 15: We’ll attend the Republican Governor’s Association conference.
• Nov. 16: Lt. Gov. Henderson will visit local leaders in Cache Valley.
• Nov. 17: We’ll meet with newly elected governors at the National Governor’s Association conference and discuss how we can work together to benefit all Americans. 
• Nov. 22: We’ll attend the Light the World Giving Machine grand opening at City Creek Center. 
• Nov. 23: We’ll serve Thanksgiving dinner at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake.
• Nov. 24: Happy Thanksgiving! We’re grateful for this beautiful state and all those who call Utah home.

Get involved!

Looking for a new job opportunity? From great employee benefits to versatile work schedules, the career opportunities with the state are truly endless. Join Team Utah today! 

Those looking to volunteer can also consider more than 300 boards and commissions. Find out which openings are available and how you can get involved here!

Get in touch!

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