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Show POINTBLANK WHY MOAB NEEDS A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE By Howard Trenholme With all the current events in Moab and Grand County concerning future growth and development in the community, I wonder if our civic leaders and boards have taken time for a paradigm shift in their and the community's view of development. Taking a moment to think outside of the proverbial tourism box, diversifying the local economy does not mean building more hotels and adding new restaurants which saturates a bludgeoning current supply. While the tourists are an inextricable part of our livelihood, they also create a ‘ burden on the community. When they are here times are good, especially for the businesses that remain open for the entire year. They can recoup some of the costs of the winter. The City of Moab has about 5000 year round residents. During the tourist season, which runs from mid-March through mid-November, boosts this number to approximately 8000. This is the number of people that fuels the local economy. Not only is the tax base boosted by tourist spending, the employees who work in the tourism industry are also spending money, mostly within the community. Out of season during the winter months, these rounds of expenditure decrease dramatically with the decline of tourist numbers. Moab/Grand County desperately needs to diversify its economy. The community needs to consider alternatives to tourism in order to bolster a year round economy. What better solution to this problem than supporting a small college? A community or small four year college offers a number of advantages for the area. First and foremost it would create a resident base during the lean winter months. Students and a college faculty would live here during the shoulder and off season. They would spend money within the economy which would support the businesses that remain open during the winter. It may even change Moab’s image during the winter by encouraging more businesses to remain open throughout the entire year. This adds up to year round employment and increased rounds of expenditure through the entire year. This alone would make many businesses stronger without increasing the competition. In fact a college body would compliment many businesses within the local economy. Restaurants and cafes would certainly benefit as students, teaching ‘faculty and auxiliary staff would enjoy the diversity of all the independently owned entities. Stronger businesses could mean better paying jobs since businesses would not face the financial hardships they are accustomed to presently. A college would also provide a resource for employers within the business community. Students would live Not only would a college attract students from outside of the area, it would also appeal to a number of the school children within our existing community. Graduating | high school age students currently have two choices: either leave Moab to attend a college elsewhere or remain, take a couple of classes at the extension facility and work in the tourist industry. Have the elders of this community considered the advantages these students could offer Moab if they could stay here? Other benefits? Dormitory facilities on campus could be utilized by, for example, river guides during the summer months when the students are out of school. For many of the seasonal guides this would provide just what they need. A college would provide better paying jobs within the economy. Professors, assistants, administrative positions, secretaries, maintenance and janitorial help. These types of positions pay higher rates than many of the service-paying jobs that currently exist within our economy. This increased earning also means increased spending within the community. Moab/Grand County desperately needs to diversify its economy. Lhe community needs to consider alternatives to tourism in order to bolster a year-round economy. What better solution than supporting a small college? Sounds pretty good for us all, doesn’t it? A number of years ago a feasibility study concluded that a college would bea positive development within Grand County. Land: was donated by the Holyoak family for the purpose of developing a campus. The parcel is only 20 acres, but it sits adjacent to about 200 acres of State Trust Lands. A development in this form could be considered balanced growth within a community. From everyone I have mentioned this possibility I have had nothing but positive here from two to four years, unlike the transient nature of much of the current employee pool available to many employers. As a business owner I am very grateful feedback. A college could unify the community as a development that would benefit us all—economically, socially and ethically. Much more beneficial and certainly less to have employees who live and work year round. Experience and longevity are valuable assets for any employer. controversial that current proposed developments. ACTUAL TESTIMONIAL!!! “COOL BED... WAY COOL!" “| BET YOU'D GET SOME CHICKS WITH THAT BED!" Tourism is a vital component to the county; so are second home developments. ‘Tcan make a web site sing." Web Site Design & Maintenance By Alexandra L. Woodruff (The Zephyr’s new webmaster) sashinator|@yahoo.com SOL641.1442 WE ie For "CHICK MAGNET" Beds... 101 NORTH MAIN STREET ¢ We are Moab's Breakfast Place, we serve only breakfast and we're very good at it. 59 S. Main St. #7 Moab, UT 84532 (in McStiff's Plaz a) 435.259.0248 www.moab-utah.com/woodshop 7 am to 12 noon Weekdays Saturday & Sunday, until 1 |