The Utah-based higher education leader will receive an EDTIF incentive and is projected to generate 5,000 jobs and nearly half a billion dollars in new tax revenue
The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) awarded Western Governors University (WGU) a post-performance tax reduction for its expansion in Salt Lake City. The corporate incentive is part of the state’s Economic Development Tax Increment Financing (EDTIF) program.
“WGU is honored to partner with GOEO as we deepen our roots in Salt Lake City,” said Scott Pulsipher, president of WGU. “This incentive empowers our unwavering commitment to revolutionizing higher education and creating thousands of high-paying job opportunities that will empower Utah’s workforce and help individuals and families change their lives for the better.”
WGU is a nonprofit institution that currently serves over 194,000 students nationwide. The university focuses on making its courses match the job market in high-demand areas, including business, information technology, education, and healthcare. WGU’s focus on workforce development makes it an important player in boosting the local economy and helping people develop their earning potential.
“Expanding access to education that prepares people for career growth is essential to Utah’s economic success,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “By establishing its headquarters in Salt Lake City, WGU strengthens Utah’s role as a center for innovation, bringing education and workforce needs closer together and helping advance higher education for learners across the country.”
Under the agreement, WGU projects it will add more than 5,000 new, high-paying jobs and invest about $2.5 Billion in Utah over the next 20 years.
“WGU’s major expansion represents a significant investment in Utah’s future workforce,” said Jefferson Moss, executive director of GOEO. “By creating thousands of high-paying jobs, WGU enhances Salt Lake County’s reputation as a center for innovation and economic growth — and the students it serves will help power and build Utah’s thriving innovation economy.”
The EDTIF program is a post-performance tax credit incentive aimed at promoting high-growth industries and generating high-paying jobs in Utah. Incentives are granted only after a company has met strict contractual benchmarks, including capital investment and verified job creation.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Western Governors University’s national headquarters to downtown Salt Lake City—an investment that represents a generational win for our economy and a defining moment for our city’s innovation future,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “With more than 10,000 employees nationwide, an operating budget nearing $2 billion annually, and the scale of a Fortune-level headquarters, WGU will be a strong anchor in our urban core.”
The planned redevelopment will feature roughly 1 million square feet of sustainable, LEED-certified office space designed to support 5,000 employees. This mixed-use campus will combine innovation hubs, childcare, and public amenities focused on transit to promote collaboration and community well-being.
“We’re excited to welcome the expansion of Western Governors University to downtown Salt Lake City,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of EDCUtah. “Utah is a place where innovation, education, and economic growth come together. As a major institution already deeply rooted in the state, WGU will help strengthen Salt Lake City’s thriving urban core, attract and retain talent, and create thousands of new jobs.”
Tax Credit Projections
| Timeline: | 20 years |
| Jobs: | 5,072 |
| Wages: | $12,809,116,020 |
| New state tax revenue: | $458,237,164 |
| EDTIF new state tax credit: | 30% |
Learn more about the state’s post-performance EDTIF program.
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About the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
Under Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s direction, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity provides resources and support for business creation, growth, and recruitment. It also drives increased tourism and film production in Utah. As stewards of the world’s best economy and quality of life, the Economic Opportunity office utilizes federal, state, and private sector resources to administer programs in areas demonstrating the highest potential for economic development and the most opportunity for Utahns.
About Western Governors University
WGU’s mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. That mission drives lasting impact for individuals and communities while strengthening the talent economy of tomorrow.
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, the nonprofit was founded on the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not—and that education is a powerful catalyst for upward mobility and workforce resilience. Purpose-built as a tech-enabled, competency-based university, WGU expands access to affordable, high-quality education through workforce-aligned programs and pathways that deliver value for students, particularly those not well served by traditional higher education.
By continually reimagining how education is designed, delivered, and accessed, WGU connects talent to opportunity and advances economic mobility for individuals and families. This model prepares learners for in-demand roles and supports a workforce equipped to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving economy.