Courtesy Provo City

Economic development is one of the four strong pillars of the Provo community according to Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. Kaufusi is seeking a number of ways and initiatives to get and keep Provo healthy and growing. That is part of the Provo Advantage.

Now, Provo is sharing its advantages with a variety of stakeholders, particularly the economic development interests of the city.

In 2021, Provo was named the nation’s best-performing city by the Milken Institute. Highlighting strengths in employment, wage and high-tech GDP, it established Provo as the standard for municipal economic growth.

“With the nation taking notice, Provo City is ensuring local economic development industry experts also know of its unique economic opportunities with a monthly “economic e-blast” called The Provo Advantage,” said Nicole Martin, community relations and public information officer.

Each month, more than 350 industry experts will receive an email filled with resources — white papers, videos, graphics, industry links, news stories and more — illustrating Provo’s economic excellence.

Courtesy Provo city

Martin specifically highlighted the city’s excellence in innovation, small-business support and corporate expansion, as well as the leading role it plays as the Utah County seat of government.

“Provo has a long history of entrepreneurship going back to the days of Word Perfect and Novell. That rich think-tank environment is part of what we call the ‘Provo Advantage,'” said Keith Morey, assistant development services director. “Businesses like Kiln are choosing to make Provo their home because of the incredible access to employment capital coming out of BYU and UVU and a quality of life that can’t be found anywhere else in the country.”

National rankings are a by-product of a new economic vibrancy generated in Provo with large-scale, generational projects creating economic opportunities, according to Martin.

Brandon Fugal, Chairman of Collier International, spoke of this renewed attention when he labeled Provo, “The Central Business District of Utah County.” Fugal represents an innovative office park named Freedom Commons which will be the first Class A office space built in downtown Provo in more than a decade.

Here is how Fugal and others see Provo as the “Central Business District of Utah County” it includes:

• Hospitality — Three major convention/conference centers and 1,500 hotel rooms
• Medical — Home to Utah Valley Hospital
• Education — Home to Brigham Young University
• Transportation — Provo Airport is 2nd busiest airport in Utah with 56 flights a week and 7,000 weekly passengers. The new terminal is opening on May 6.
• Government –New Provo City Hall to open in June. The 150,000 square foot city hall also features an innovative public safety headquarters.

The Provo Advantage e-blast has taken on several supporters and stakeholders in Provo. Some comments about the e-blast and how it helps commerce include the following:

Elizabeth Nebeker – Wasatch Innovation Network: “It’s a great campaign, one that will certainly stick.”

Mark Tullis, Co-founder – Techbuzz News: “I really enjoyed this. We will amplify via our Buzzworthy column. We will pulse monthly and feature a new monthly video highlighting what Provo City is doing.”

Tom Taylor, Owner- Startup Building: “Thanks, this looks great to me. Some of these graphics would be great posters for the Startup Building. We really want to promote Provo to the startups who are going to make the next set of businesses.”

Cameron Martin, Chief of Staff – Rocky Mountain University: “Nicely done!! I like the messages you are sending under Provo Advantage. Short, informative, and of interest videos highlighting the development coming is effective.”

Jarrod Hunt, Executive VP- Colliers International: “I thought it was GREAT!! I will send you a list of the emails of all our agents in Utah!”

Alan Rindlisbacher, Director of Strategy – EDCUtah: “I just reviewed The Provo Advantage email you sent. Well done! The Provo team has their act together. Great things happening. Keep it up. Please have our Executive Team on the email list.”

Provo is a dynamic and rapidly growing city in the Mountain West, according to Kaufusi.  Throughout the coming year, Provo business owners and residents will see more and more of the Provo Advantage as Kaufusi and her administrative team ramp up the economic development of the city.

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