Eagle Mountain leaders are exploring the pros and cons of bringing an inland port to the city.

The Utah Inland Port Authority presented the idea to the Eagle Mountain City Council during its meeting Feb. 18.

City Council members, while seemingly skeptical during the presentation, ultimately voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to begin a partnership with the UIPA.

No formal project agreement between Eagle Mountain and the UIPA was made; the decision simply allows the organization to study the feasibility of what an inland port in Eagle Mountain could look like, as well as any potential benefits or impacts.

According to Evan Berrett, Eagle Mountain’s economic development director, the UIPA initially approached the City Council last year about forming a partnership and possible use cases for the city.

Since then, neighboring Fairfield and Cedar Fort both have approved resolutions supporting the creation of an inland port area.

“This is about gathering information and understanding if an inland port area would be a good fit for Eagle Mountain,” Berrett said in the release. “If we find that the benefits don’t outweigh the costs, we won’t move forward.”

The green light from the City Council allows UIPA to initiate an evaluation period, while working alongside city staff and elected officials to determine if an inland port designation could attract businesses, create jobs and diversify the local tax base, and which areas would be most viable.

If all parties were to come to a deal and the plan progresses forward, Eagle Mountain could participate with Fairfield and Cedar Fort in a larger inland port area “umbrella,” should there be advantages in cooperating on projects, in efforts of boosting the economies of the cities west of Utah Lake, city officials said in a press release.

With Eagle Mountain’s ongoing growth and plans for future developments like a new downtown district, city officials think an inland port could be one way of attracting businesses that align with their plans for growth and provide value to residents.

“If an inland port area proves to be viable, it could bring in new industries and high-paying jobs,” Berrett said. “This would not only support local businesses but also provide much-needed funding for road improvements and other critical infrastructure.”

The UIPA aims to drive economic growth by generating jobs and implementing improved utilization of transportation infrastructure for road, rail, air and other emerging technologies.

An inland port in Spanish Fork was approved in 2023 that will span more than 2,200 acres of land near the city’s airport.

Other inland port developments are underway in Tooele, Juab and Iron counties and beyond.

Ben Hart, executive director at UIPA, agreed that growth in northwest Utah County makes the area ideal for an inland port.

He noted that increased rail infrastructure would be vital in limiting road emissions in the air.

“So for us, it’s all about growing better and growing smarter. Then that means we’ve got to attract good, good businesses to those communities — communities where people can find life-sustaining jobs, family-sustaining jobs That’s all part of our mission,” Hart said in a phone call with the Daily Herald on Monday.

He, too, clarified that while Cedar Fort and Fairfield have seemingly clearer paths forward with resolutions, Eagle Mountain has only approved an evaluation phase.

“I think we have clear direction from the other two communities. We’ll have to see exactly what the future of the Eagle Mountain project area is,” Hart said.

In the case of either city, Hart said the UIPA’s board would make the final approval before any projects move forward, following numerous public meetings with city leaders and the respective communities on the matter.

For Eagle Mountain, city officials say that while the potential opportunities seemingly appear beneficial, they will carefully examine environmental and quality-of-life factors.

“The exploratory phase will include data collection, discussions with industry experts and community engagement,” said Tyler Maffitt, Eagle Mountain City spokesperson. “For now, the city remains focused on gathering facts and weighing its options.”