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.

Strengthening our natural disaster response

Today we were honored to welcome U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to Utah to help introduce a new program that will help our state prepare for natural disasters and improve our transportation infrastructure.

The PROTECT program provides the resources for transportation departments and local governments to invest in transportation resilience and move fast when flooding, wildfires, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters occur. It’s a new federal funding program created through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Thank you, Secretary Buttigieg, for your support and your administration’s support of this bipartisan solution. We need more of this kind of collaborative action in Washington.

Utah’s thriving economy

A number of recent reports confirm what we all know to be true: High inflation is hurting consumer confidence.

While this week’s federal reserve hike in interest rates will help to pump the brakes on inflation, it looks increasingly likely that the U.S. is headed into a recession. 

We need federal intervention now. We need policies that will restore supply chains and protect against disruptions to global oil and gas markets such as those caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine. We need energy independence and an “all-of-the-above” energy approach that serves everyone.

Utah has one of the most robust economies in the nation, and the state is well positioned to weather any economic downturn. We’ve got near record low unemployment, job growth has led the nation since February of 2020, and we’re seeing more workers return to the labor force. 

But we need more from the Biden administration than deficit spending and reactionary policies — we need real leadership to stabilize the economy now and into the future.

Working with the Western Governors

We’ve spent most of the week in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, working with our fellow Western governors on solutions to wildfire, cybersecurity, supply chain challenges, and the growing housing crisis.

The Western U.S. is uniquely positioned to lead out on so many important issues facing our nation. We’re grateful for the collaboration and leadership demonstrated these past few days.

Recognizing Utah’s Black pioneers

We want to encourage all Utahns to visit This Is The Place Heritage Park to see the new monuments honoring Utah’s first black pioneers. It was an honor to celebrate Green Flake, Hark Wales, Oscar Smith, and Jane Manning James at the dedication of this new memorial.

We're all grateful for their faith, their endurance, and the role African American pioneers played in settling the Salt Lake Valley.

Utah’s Coordinated Action Plan for Water

Those in Utah’s agricultural community are careful stewards of our environment and water resources, but there’s more we can do to improve efficiency. 

This week we released the third chapter of Utah’s Coordinated Action Plan for Water. The Productive Agriculture chapter outlines conservation commitments to optimize finite water resources and preserve the state’s agricultural economy and sustain future growth opportunities. 

All Utahns need to continue developing water conservation solutions that will help our water resources stretch further, supporting both agriculture and growth. Read more here.

2022 Governor’s Native American Summit

Hosted by an inter-tribal group and organized by the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, the 16th annual Governor’s Native American Summit at the University of Utah on Thursday brought together tribal leaders, cabinet members, educators, and students.

The all-day conference featured vendors, art and music, and breakout sessions on health, cultural preservation, economic development, civic engagement, and the legacy of native boarding schools. 

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, members of our cabinet, and other senior government leaders met with each of the tribal nations throughout the day to listen to their unique priorities. Lt. Gov. Henderson and I want to thank Utah’s eight federally recognized tribes for their friendship and partnership. This administration is committed to working with tribal leaders to advance shared interests and solve tough problems.

Thank you to the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute, Navajo Nation, Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Skull Valley Band of Goshute, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe – White Mesa Community, and Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation for your time and friendship. We are stronger together.

Rural Matters: Lt. Gov. Henderson visits Morgan County

On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Henderson joined local leaders in Morgan County to talk about “transportation, recreation, and everything in between.” 

The tour consisted of stops to local employers – like Deb’s Spicy Pie and the Holcim Devil’s Slide Cement Plant – and other community staples like the Warrior Rizzen Ranch, a 6,500-acre dude ranch that provides week-long getaways for deserving military families.

The tour also featured a stop along the Weber River and a visit to the Morgan County Clerk's Office. Kudos to the commissioners, legislators, and mayors who represent Morgan County so well.

Spotlighting Utah’s ‘Spirit of Service’

In our inaugural Governor’s Spirit of Service Award Ceremony, we recently recognized the outstanding service that Utahns are doing throughout the state. Each week, we’ll highlight one of these unsung heroes. This week, we’re highlighting Artes de México en Utah.

Artes de México en Utah creates cultural awareness, provides diverse perspectives, builds understanding and cross-cultural competence, helps the Latino-Hispanic youth connect with their roots and be proud of their multicultural heritage.

Read more about Artes de México en Utah and the other honorees here.

Supporting Local: Red Rock Brewing

We love supporting Utah’s local businesses — especially when it comes to food. Last week we stopped by Red Rock Brewing in Salt Lake City, and it was delicious! We’d recommend the special salad, the polenta, and the arugula and prosciutto pizza.

For 28 years, Red Rock has been a local favorite for brunch, lunch, and dinner. We love to see our local businesses thriving. Let us know what your favorite local restaurant is here!

ICYMI

Utah native Sgt. Wyatt Wilson showed dedication, courage, and bravery in service to his fellow Marines. We wish him and his family well as he continues to recover.

Team Utah has worked closely with the state Legislature to allocate nearly $500 million to water infrastructure, planning, and management, effectively changing 160 years of major water policy in Utah. Learn more about how we're taking action in this Deseret News op-ed.

We’re grateful to Sen. Mitt Romney, Rep. Chris Stewart, Rep. Burgess Owens, and Rep. John Curtis for their work in protecting and preserving the Great Salt Lake.

We joined National Governors Association Chair Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey in applauding Congress for supporting American innovation and global competitiveness by passing the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. This bipartisan legislation is absolutely critical to our national security and will allow us to address gaps and vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain.

The Utah Department of Commerce is helping Utahns recognize the signs of a digital scam. Follow @UtahCommerce on Twitter for valuable tips!

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is boasting a lack of shark attacks in his state. We’d like to remind him that neighboring Utah and Arizona are technically the ones keeping the sharks from reaching Colorado. To our friends in the Centennial State: You’re welcome!

Coming up

Aug. 4: We’ll be celebrating Utah’s centenarians! 

Aug. 5: We’ll be at one of our favorite Utah traditions: The Payson City Salmon Supper.

Aug. 9: Tune into “Direct Link: Live on-the-air with Gov. Spencer Cox,” a call-in radio program that lets rural Utahns speak directly with us. Show starts at 6 p.m.

Aug. 9: Have a question for us? Now's your chance to ask! Join us for a live town hall at 7 p.m. You can watch on YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook, and you can ask your questions live or submit them here: https://bit.ly/UTTownHall8922. 

Aug. 10: We’ll be talking to Utah’s young leaders at the High School Student Council Presidents Summit.