Today, Gov. Spencer J. Cox and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development formally launched the Utah Elevated economic development plan.
At a launch event at the Capitol that drew business leaders and economic development professionals from around the state, Gov. Cox also ceremonially signed related legislation that changes the name of Utah’s economic development office to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and establishes a new statewide Economic Development Council that is central to the Utah Elevated plan.
The plan marks a shift to a more coordinated, outbound economic development posture for Utah and GOED. At its heart is the premise that GOED will take a central role in coordinating statewide economic development projects
“Utah’s economic story over the past three decades has been remarkable,” said Gov. Cox. “This plan clarifies how we protect what makes Utah special while preparing wisely for the opportunities ahead. By aligning our economic development, housing, workforce and infrastructure efforts, we can strengthen Utah as a place of unmatched opportunity and quality of life.”
GOED will now drive that outbound action, serving as a convener, connector and catalyzer for statewide projects. This involves bringing the right partners onto projects, connecting Utahns and businesses with resources, and, where appropriate, catalyzing opportunities through incentives, grants, and other tools.
“Our job is to know the landscape, anticipate challenges, and set the right conditions so that businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators can find success in Utah long term,” said GOED commissioner Jefferson Moss. “Our highest-value activities are the convening and coordinating motions that allow Utah to move at the speed of business.”
The broader Utah Elevated plan is based on an opportunity framework developed in late 2025 that identifies focus areas and guiding principles for GOED, as well as an overarching economic vision to help Utah be the place of unmatched opportunity and livability.
The plan also identifies lanes and connectivity to key statewide economic partners, as well as a set of economies within Utah, enabling the state to understand clusters of activity and unique opportunities at their convergence points. Importantly, the plan also includes measurement tools and methodology focused on quality of life and broader economic scoring — measures that are more holistic than a traditional focus on job numbers and general economic statistics.
To support this new strategic direction and build the necessary policy structure, the legislature passed several crucial bills during the 2026 legislative session, including several that Gov. Cox ceremonially signed earlier today:
- H.B. 475 (Development Planning and Coordination Amendments): Officially renames the agency to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and establishes the new Economic Development Council to ensure statewide alignment.
- H.B. 68 (Housing and Community Development Amendments): Creates the Division of Housing and Community Development within GOED. This codifies housing as a central consideration in statewide economic development work.
- H.B. 530 (State Permitting): Creates a permitting coordinator within GOED to serve as a central point of contact for projects requiring permits.
- S.B. 195 (Workforce Development): Establishes a statewide youth apprenticeship governance council to coordinate programs and authorizes participation in the federal Workforce Pell Grant program.
The Utah Elevated strategic plan and opportunity framework are available at business.utah.gov/utahelevated.
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About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Under Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s direction, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development serves as a key convener, connector, and catalyzer for economic development in Utah, with the vision of making Utah the place of unmatched opportunity and livability. GOED leverages innovation, capital, and life quality to drive Utah’s economy forward — using programs, tools, resources, and expertise to advance long-term economic success that helps people and businesses thrive.