Due to H.B. 542, passed during the 2025 legislative session, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) will transfer or discontinue three programs.
Effective July 1, 2025, the Utah Innovation Center will move to the Nucleus Institute under the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE); the Utah Broadband Center (UBC) will transfer to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT); and the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission (UEOC) will be disbanded, with GOEO retaining certain responsibilities previously under its jurisdiction.
“While some programs are transitioning to new agencies, GOEO remains firmly committed to advancing economic opportunity for all Utahns,” said Jefferson Moss, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “Transitions can be challenging, but this transition is intended to align resources with the needs of our state. These teams have done vital work, and on behalf of GOEO, I wish them continued success as they carry forward their important missions at new agencies.”
Innovation Center’s move to the Nucleus Institute
The Utah Innovation Center serves as a catalyst for technology innovation in the state and provides a funding roadmap for Utah startups and emerging companies developing innovative technology. This transition from GOEO to the Nucleus Institute will improve alignment and funding pathways for deep technology development in USHE’s Nucleus Institute (created by H.B. 530).
UBC’s move to UDOT
UBC works to ensure all Utahns can access reliable, affordable high-speed internet service. Providing high-speed internet to every home and business accelerates Utah’s position as one of the nation’s fastest-growing economies and beyond. Transitioning UBC to UDOT aligns broadband efforts with infrastructure planning, creating streamlined workflows and greater statewide impact. Additionally, UDOT operates a separate broadband initiative known as the “Middle Mile” program. This transition brings both broadband efforts under one agency, improving coordination and increasing efficiency.
Disbanding the UEOC
The UEOC guided Utah’s statewide and regional economic development strategies by shaping data-driven policy solutions for growth, infrastructure, workforce, and education during the Cox/Henderson administration’s first term. The UEOC duties retained by GOEO include identifying targeted industries to enhance economic growth and creating strategies that improve Utah’s infrastructure. Gov. Cox and legislative leadership created the UEOC to guide policy and create direction for the state. With the Cox/Henderson administration’s second term, the committee determined that the UEOC had served its purpose, and it was time to move forward with executing the policies and guidance already established.