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.

Utah 360 goes to Washington County

We’ve been visiting communities throughout the state and this week, we spent time in Washington County as part of our Utah 360 tour. 

We were so pleased to meet with students at both Hurricane and Pine View High Schools where we discussed civic engagement and youth mental health. These future leaders are thoughtful and engaged. 

Later, we stopped by Utah Tech University where we had a Q&A with the Institute of Politics to discuss the current political landscape and how we can rebuild our trust in our institutions and find common ground with each other. Thanks to Utah Tech President Richard Williams for the engaging conversation!

We finished the day with two roundtable discussions. With tech leaders, we talked about growth, finding workers and helping businesses. With health care professionals, we were invigorated by the discussion about the One Utah Health Collaborative, increasing access to health care and taking care of our most vulnerable. We appreciated the exchange. 

We started day two of our Washington County tour today by visiting Snow Canyon High School, attending the Huntsman Senior Games and speaking at the St. George Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Salute to America” event. Tonight we will finish our visit to Washington County by attending the Utah Tech University Hall of Fame event. Thank you, Washington County, for the warm welcome and great conversations! 

See photos from our visits here. 

Utah 360: Kane County

While we were in Washington County, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson was next door in Kane County as part of our Utah 360 tour.

In the morning, she met with the Kanab police chief and sheriffs from Kane and Garfield counties to talk about the challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with domestic violence and chronic offenders. On hand for the discussion: Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice Executive Director Tom Ross and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jess Anderson. We’re so grateful for law enforcement in Utah.  

We’re also grateful for small business owners and local leaders. After stopping to see the historic Heritage House Museum, the lieutenant governor met local small business owner Pam Peterson and joined a roundtable with local women leaders to discuss growth and opportunity in the region.

The final stop of the day served as a perfect example of how our rural counties have cultivated vibrant recreation economies. Cave Lakes Canyon Ranch, a 1,500-acre adventure resort, sits in a magnificent red rock canyon and welcomes visitors from around the world.

A focus on Utah’s cities and towns

Once a mayor, always a mayor! We loved our time as a mayor and city councilman in Fairview, and always enjoy visiting with local elected officials from across the state at the Utah League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention.

We’re grateful for the many contributions and sacrifices they make in serving and uplifting Utah’s communities. We’ll continue to work closely with local leaders in their important work. 

We were especially excited to share a new statewide trails initiative spearheaded by the Utah Department of Transportation. More details to come!

Learn more about the Utah League of Cities and Towns here. 

Add a Coke and a smile

With its headquarters located in Draper. Swire Coca-Cola employs 7,500 associates and operates six facilities in Utah, delivering refreshment to millions of consumers across 13 western states. 

This week, we had the pleasure of touring the Salt Lake City bottling plant and got a behind-the-scenes look at the facilities and processes that make this company such a notable contributor to the state’s economy and local communities. Thanks for the tour!

Take a look at photos from our tour here.

Presenting the Governor’s Award for Excellence

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, we recognized 23 state employees for their contributions in the categories of innovation and efficiency, energy and environment, heroism, leadership, and outstanding public service. 

It is an honor to work hand-in-hand with such wonderful state employees who are dedicated to improving and preserving the great reputation of our state. 

Read more about the 2022 Governor’s Award for Excellence recipients here.

Agency visit: Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services

On Tuesday, we visited the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services administrative offices and warehouse. We are proud of DABS’s work in serving every Utahn with their focus on public safety and supporting local businesses. 

The Licensing and Compliance Division helps keep our tourism and hospitality industries going. We are excited about the projects underway at DABS and encourage them to keep up the great work!

Learn more about the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services here.

Budget season is upon us

In the words of Sophia DiCaro, the executive director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget: “The budget process is in motion.” Lt. Gov. Henderson met with leaders from every state agency over the past two weeks to hear their recommendations for the governor’s FY24 budget.

We’re working hard to determine the best use of taxpayer dollars as we invest in the future of the Beehive State. Thank you to agency leaders and budget staffers for their tireless work.

Take a trip to Dinosaur National Monument

This month, we are celebrating the 107th anniversary of the establishment of Dinosaur National Monument.

Before people, dinosaurs and ancient creatures traversed the rocky terrain that now makes up our great state.

Fossils, petroglyphs, and a pristine river showcase the beauty of this unique national monument. From fossil digs to an exciting rafting trip, the National Monument is a great way to celebrate Utah’s exciting history. 

Read more about one family’s experience at Dinosaur National Monument here.

ICYMI

• Last week we attended the annual Silicon Slopes Summit to talk about Utah’s growing tech community and the spirit of innovation!
• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We all have a role to play in preventing domestic violence. Free, confidential help is available through the Safe UT app, or the 24-hour statewide hotline 1-800-897-5465. 
• October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. We encourage all Utahns to practice good cybersecurity measures.
• The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is hosting a Government Procurement Symposium on Oct. 19. More information here. 
• Interested in spending a semester in the Governor’s Office? Office of the Governor Fellowship applications are now open! More information here.
• Lt. Gov. Henderson welcomed Guatemala Ambassador Alfonso Quiñónez back to Utah this past Tuesday. Both our governments are committed to fixing the broken immigration system and further growing our robust trade relationship. 
• Lt. Gov. Henderson and state elections director Ryan Cowley joined KUER’s State Street podcast to talk about misinformation and election security in Utah. Listen here.

Coming up

• Oct. 11-13: We’re excited to head to Cedar City for the One Utah Summit! This is the 35th consecutive year of rural summits, and we look forward to seeing community leaders make valuable connections. If you’re attending, stop by the Beverly Sorensen Center for the Arts on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 6:00 p.m. We’ll be broadcasting our monthly rural radio show live!
• Oct. 18-19: We’re welcoming governors from around the country to discuss ways we can improve youth mental health, an initiative by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, president of the National Governors Association. 
• Oct. 20: We’ll spend an hour answering questions from local reporters on the Governor’s Monthly News Conference hosted monthly by PBS Utah. Watch it live on our website or on our Facebook page.
• Oct. 20: We’ll be joining “Let Me Speak to the Governor” on KSL NewsRadio at noon. Tune in or call in!
• Oct. 24: We’ll be in Utah County meeting with business, education, and community leaders as part of the Utah 360 Tour. Stay tuned for updates!
• Oct. 24: We’re hosting a Latino Town Hall at the Grand Theatre at Salt Lake Community College! More details here.

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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