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Show I Nuwg Filo Box C310 Lincoln, Neb. 60506 Qrowtilh-ejqpainsidrB o all fronto iig the story im Soytilheastem Utah By 1.1 KuitKvrl Southeastern Utah Economic Development Develop-ment District statistical quarterly reports a general increase In economic growth for the three county district. Grand County shows Increased growth In all areas, while Emery and Carbon counties seem to fluctuate between high and low percentages of Increased economic growth. Over all, Emery County has the highest percentage of activity In the district. The Bureau of Economic and Business Research in their report of economic development in Grand County reports a generul incrase for permit authorized construction in 1976 over 1975. Although an overall Increase of 47.6 percent was shown, authorization for new residential and dwelling unit permits were down. The 47.6 percent total construction increase is due to the large number of totul permits authorized to nonresidential construction. Building permits were authorized for 54 new dwelling units in 1976, a decrease of 23.9 percent over 1975. Residential valued at $1,347,700 was also down from 1975, at 17.2 percent. The only area showing an increase in construction came from nonresidential permits, valuing $1,388,400, an increase of 765.6 percent. Emery County's total construction decreased in 1976, down 36.2 percent. Cities in that county showing an increase in residential and dwelling unit permits were Castle Dale and Orangeville. In comparison, Carbon County showed a definite increase. Wellington, Price, and East Carbon had increased construction construc-tion in all areas. Helper had increased construction for residential and dwelling units, but had a 60.7 decrease in nonresidential construction. For the county, total construction rose 249.7 percent in 1976. Population Trends Population trends for Grand County show a gradual increase, although the population dropped just slightly in 1970-1975. Percentage changes went down 1.3 percent in that period, but since then have increased 4.5 percent. Although Emery County reported the least percentage of construction increase over the year, it shows the greatest population increase, u.0 19.4 percent from 1975 to 1976. Carbon County increased only 2.1 percent. Employment The seasonally adjusted unemployment unemploy-ment rate showed unemployment up in . December of 1976 to 5.7 from 5.3 in 1975. Unemployment also rose in Carbon and Emery counties. Although unemployment unemploy-ment was up in all three counties in December, civilian labor force and non-agricultural payroll jobs all show increased employment. Per Capita Income Utah Department of Employment Security reports a general increase in per capita income in Grand County. Increases from $2,860 to $5,030 over the five year period from 1970-1975 makes a 75.9 percent increase. Income increased 9.3 percent, to an average income of $5,400 in 1976. Emery County led Grand County with an average gain of 9.7 percent in 1976. 1970-1975 increases were the highest in the district at 133.8 percent. Carbon County per capita income increased 92.3 percent from 1970 to 1975, but increased only 9.0 percent during 1976. Business Activity Business activity in Grand and Carbon counties was up in 1976 as measured by the local optional sales tax. Emery County reported 10.4 percent decrease in business activity, the largest decrease percentage coming from Green River. Grand County business activity rose 14.3 percent in 1976. Within the city, activity increased 18.7 percent over 1975. Changes during the six year period starting in 1970 were recorded at 79.4 percent increase for the county, 67.6 percent increase within Moab. Carbon County increases were higher than Grand County at 15.5 percent in 1976, and 193 percent during the same six year period. Seasonal MotelHotel Occupancy Figures Seasonal motelhotel occupancy figures fig-ures are determined by the number of occupied rooms divided by the total number of rooms, based on summer rates, April through September. Summer occupancy in Grand County averaged 97.5 percent, while occupancy during winter months averaged only 38 percent of the total number of rooms available. The summer percentage was higher than either Carbon or Emery counties at 87.7 percent and 96 percent respectively. However, winter percentages were the lowest in the district: Carbon County having 69.3 percent occupancy and i Emery having 41.3 percent. Carbon-Emery Coal Impact The large increase in economic development in Carbon and Emery I counties is greatly due to the Carbon-1 Carbon-1 Emery coal impact. In 1976, 25 mines had I 54 working sections in that two county area. Eighty working sections in 32 mines are now open. The projected outlook for 1978 predicts 36 mines with 113 working sections. Remaining recoverable coal reserves are estimated at 3,285,876,450 tons. |