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Show r Comp News rilo Eox 6310 Lincoln, Neb. 68506 ;faiu . i The dramatic growth of Southeastern chow Biq Gains ,u,ah ince. 1970 is nected in i,nOW Uiyvu tremendous increases in gross sales in n ,tFmerv Leadinq Carbon and G"nd counties, but gUt 7 especially in Emery County. L Sales in that county have increased by 552.9 per cent since 1970, and by 125.6 per cent since 1974. Huntington has been most impacted over the period, with a 747.7 per cent increase in gross sales, up from $986,000 in 1970 to $8,358,000 in 1975. Moab shows a 4 1 .2 per cent increase in the 5-year period, up from $16,565,000 to $23,397,000; and Grand County is up 57 per cent during the period from $20,158,000 to $31,653,000. The information was published this week by the Southeastern Utah Economic Development District. It was drawn from statistics developed by the Utah Foundation. Officials of the Economic Development Develop-ment District observe that as more and more mines and ancillary industries locate in SE Utah, the population impact continues to be felt. While the coal boom miMliffVIII1 ill. Li i III '.t 'in "'I I 'V Ik LIMttW m is a prime economic mover, it concludes, the concurrent growth in Grand County highlights the general health of the economy in the four counties, and potential for continued commercial expansion. Past experience also shows that often in growth areas such as Carbon, Emery and Grand Counties, the number two effect of a boom, after population growth, is the housing shortage. A rural Utah housing needs assessment made during 1975-76 projects that Carbon and Emery Counties will need 1,700 dwelling units in 1977 and 2,500 in 1978. Concurrently the coal, uranium and tourism growth in Grand County is escalating the housing demands here. M |