Provo & Utah offer stellar business environments

When the going gets tough, perhaps the tough should head to Provo. It is, after all, a nationally recognized city of opportunity. Standing out among 200 communities from across the country, Provo was selected by Forbes.com as No. 2 on the site’s list of the best cities for businesses and careers.

  The ranking came as a thrilling recognition to the dedication of the city government, the thriving businesses, and Provo residents. But, let’s break it down. What exactly does Provo have to offer? To stand out, Provo earned high points in each of 12 categories, including business and living costs, culture and leisure, inbound migration, and education.

  The results for Provo specifically highlighted the community’s income growth — Utah Valley’s largest city actually topped this category’s charts. This means that over a five-year period, Provo’s incomes have steadily grown — more so than any other city. Additionally, Provo ranked 10th in projected job growth, indicating improvements will likely continue.

  Provo’s success is a great reflection of the rest of Utah Valley and the state itself. Utah continues to receive recognition for its vibrant business environment. In August 2010, Utah finished second in the Corporate Top 10 study of the most pro-business states. The study, conducted by Pollina Corporate, recognized states where business can thrive.

  Utah’s business reputation continues to speak for itself as several large businesses opt to expand to the area. In July 2010, Twitter selected Utah as the location for the company’s first data center. Adobe also recently announced plans to build a new facility here. This company’s increased presence will create as many as 1,000 jobs during the next 20 years. But it doesn’t stop there. Do the names Microsoft, eBay, IM Flash, or Disney sound familiar? All have expressed plans to invest in Utah.

Oldroyd’s OPINION
Utah continues to work hard to improve its station as both a great place to live and a great place to make a living.

  And national experts are starting to take notice. For example, Business Facilities Magazine recently said, “Across all of our key rankings categories, Utah clearly exhibited the most dramatic improvement of any state in the nation.”

  Downtown Provo offers a perfect example of these types of improvements. The 140,000-square-foot Zions Bank Financial Center on University Avenue is completed, and by early 2011, construction projects totaling more than $100 million will be under way.

  Nu Skin Enterprises also announced plans for a new office tower on Provo’s Center Street, just west of its existing tower. The two towers will connect via an enclosed atrium-community meeting area flanked by outdoor plazas for both corporate and community events.

  Construction on the 120,000-square-foot Utah County Convention Center, which includes an exhibit hall, large ballroom, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor reception areas, and other hosting facilities, will commence in August.

  The Freedom Plaza will occupy the entire block north of the new convention center and will feature a 156-room select-service hotel, retail, office and residential space. It also includes a 560-car parking garage to serve both convention center and Freedom Plaza patrons. Hotel and parking construction will be completed by the time the convention center opens.

  As Provo continues to grow, these improvements support why the area is recognized as a top city for business. The growth of Provo’s current businesses reflects the admirable conditions that attract other organizations to the area and continually earn Provo national recognition.

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