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Show University land for state park? By Joseph W. Lyndsey the University research park to the Pioneer Mnument'state Park. This would make therch-park therch-park consist of 158 acres compared to the Monument Park's 331 acres. This is a tragic imbalance. If this transfer should take place it would be interpreted by I.T.E. Imperial and other companies S to get into the park as a-teta j neoole that economic growth and industrial development are relatively unimportant Certamly we are concerned over the possible loss of any acreage from the research park because we are poignantly aware of its detrimental effect on the economy of he state. However, we are even more concerned that the attitudes of the average Utahn would appear not to have shifted from the heritage he received to the heritage he will leave. It would be insane to attempt to establish a high growth, high technology business in this atmosphere. Public Mandate The state of Utah is currently inundated in an everworsening financial crisis. Tighter controls and cut-backs may be part of the answer but the plain, simply logic of the situation demands that we tax people more or tax more people. The choice is an obvious one and it can be accomplished only through growth. Preferably this growth should come from non-polluting, non-contaminating, high technologies such as those being spun off from other existing research parks around the country. Indeed conducted on other research parks indicate that 500 jobs per acre of research park are created the state. Assuming an average salary of $s nnn" year than a land grab of 110 acres repress .1' potential loss to the state, in direct wages of a ' million dollars per year. Since on man's exDenrii is another man's income a multiplication facto , is commonly applied to direct labor as an indiM of its true effect on the economy. The loSS 0f i acres of prime research ground therefore h potential impact on the economy of the state f fantastic 1.76 billion dollars annually. 1 Lack Employment Approximately 23 of all college graduates in lit l leave the state for lack of adequate employment it who remain in the state literally have an invest in those who leave. These highly educated"191 motivated people are the choice people that needed to help Utah solve its problems it imperative that we reverse this "brain-drain" ! capitalize on our investment by establishing i! research park to help unlock the state's in, potential. e The average size of research parks which are in existance is something over 400 acres. The current allotment of 263 usable acres is already marginal in its ability to attract and house a well rounded and complementary mix of research endeavors. With these thoughts in mind I would like to remind the readers that it is their research park, thai University, their stake in Utah; and solicit their support in speaking out against HB 181. We would be most happy to supply the names and addresses of oor state senate and house of representatives. |