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Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi unveils the city's awards from the Milken Institute and a permanent wall plaque on April 26, 2023.

Courtesy Provo City

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Mayor Michelle Kaufusi and Provo City personnel pose for a photo April 12, 2023.

Courtesy Provo City

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It’s not every day your boss serves milk and cookies to the whole staff, but on April 12 that’s exactly what Mayor Michelle Kaufusi did for her city workers.

The reason was to thank all of them for playing a role in Provo being named the No. 1 Best Performing City in the U.S. for two years in a row, according to the business-minded Milken Institute, based in California.

Kaufusi said she wanted her staff to be the first to know after she made a trip to Beverly Hills to accept the award. Provo bested cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Denver.

During the awards ceremony, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said he was trying to figure out how to changes Miami’s name to Provo but without the snow.

The milk and cookies idea was a play on the Milken name. At the same time and as the capstone to the Provo City Hall construction project, Kaufusi, Economic Development Director Keith Morey and Parks and Recreation Director Scott Henderson unveiled the Best Performing City trophy, now permanently on display near the 311 Customer Service area in Provo City Hall’s main foyer.

Of the award, the Milken Institute writes: “Cities continue to drive economic growth across the nation. They are the primary locations where businesses create new jobs and workers earn higher wages, keeping the United States competitive in the global economy.”

It was for those reasons and more that Provo received the title not once but twice.

Provo ranked No. 1 with:

• The highest levels of employment growth over the last five years.
• The highest wage growth over the last five years.
• The highest one-year employment growth.

The city was also recognized as a top 10 metro area for one-year wage growth and a top 10 metro area for five-year high-tech GDP growth.

Morey explained why employees matter when earning national rankings.

“Employees are the quiet but firm foundation that support a well-run city,” he said. “They are the daily ‘behind-the-scenes’ dedication that keep our community clean and safe. Without hard-working, passionate employees helping to weave the fabric of our community, Provo City would not achieve its local and national recognition.”

Kaufusi said both this award and Provo employees are examples of the exceptional care continually provided to the community.

“Metro areas are incredibly diverse. Each has unique characteristics generated through a combination of investment and policy choices that influence the community’s economic outcomes. The Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cites Index (BPC) provides a means for comparing metros’ recent performance,” according to the awards summary.

So what does Provo have? It is known for its start-up companies and entrepreneurship, technology sector, education options, businesses and amenities such as the new airport and the anticipated regional sports park.

Provo is also home to medical universities growing in the southern part of the city.

“Provo held its own during COVID-19 because of technology,” Morey said. “Families also tend to be innovative and better than most. It goes back to the pioneering spirit.”

To keep the momentum going, Kaufusi has named her top six goals for the next four years, including:

• The regional sports park.
• Fire Station 1 rebuild and former city hall redevelopment.
• Airport terminal expansion including international access.
• West-side grocery store.
• Water treatment plant and aquifer recharge.
• City website redesign.

During the Milken Institute’s awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, it was noted, “The top large city was Provo-Orem, UT, and the top small city was Logan. Several other cities in Utah were included in the top tier of large cities including Salt Lake City and St. George, marking the continued success of this region at creating jobs and raising wages.”

It is a no wonder “Industry” is the state motto, Morley said.

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