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Show Leavitt Wasatch not yet part of | es “We wanted to take a’ measured approach, at leastI did. I wanted to see how it went over in other communities,” said Pearson. Leavitt's Utah/Silicon . Alliance would create so-called Smart Site facilities staffed with a high-tech workforce: The Smart Sites would offer:a plethora of services such as software testing and database management to companies while training a rural workforce. Silicon Valley companies would — NO the | rural economies, Gov. Mike Leavitt wants to lure high tech- nology away companies from California's Silicon Valley. Earlier this month he announced the Smart Sites program and named no communities “f would have to facility] then sooner or think that later we'll be able to fill it with jobs.” { the Governor’s Rural Partnership Office, said in an interview with the PREPS | La thing we’re is to move then outsource to these. sites. The first eight communities named as Smart Sites were Blanding, Mt. Pleasant, Logan, Price, Huntington, Brigham do,” said Curtis. “I can’t overstate the importance of having the training facility. If a local entity can provide that City. timely for Wasatch County “You really need to have an education facility to be tied into that,” said _ Robyn Pearson. of program worked in other communities Gas Watch Ot onl makes monthly trips to Silicon Valley to recruit companies, said Curtis. The program may be particularly — State College is built. Heber Valley Chamber City, Roosevelt and Cedar As part of the program, Leavitt then sooner or later we'll be able to fill it with jobs.” | ~ But Wasatch County wasn’t ready to respond to the program in the first go around, according to the county’s economic development director. That ~ will change once the new Utah Valley The companies that “there © since Salt Lake City was recently ranked ninth among the country’s largest metropolitan areas for its ability to adapt to the high-tech “new economy.” The a Progressive Policy Institute, Washington, D.C. think tank, and Case Western Reserve University’ S Center for Regional Economic ~ Issues released the ranking last week Pearson believes the new gram could be helpful | Trimart/Chevron are things happening,” in ‘the valley, he said. ; | “The last thing a company wants Partnership Office looking for is a trained workforce, said Curtis. And that, he said, should be readily available in the Heber Valley. : “Anyone can put together a building and bandwidth. That’s not hard to Commerce also wanted to see how the shows WES CURTIS — Governor’s Rural the proHeber to some place where there is high unemployment” and stagnate population growth, said Pearson. | To date, the chamber of commerce has handed out over 3, 000 copies of the video. ‘Pearson admits the effect of the video and the magazine ranking can’t be known. He can’t, for instance, name a company off the top of his head that moved to the valley with those helping to seal:the deal. Nonetheless he thinks they are important part of selling the valley to outside companies. “T like to think ' it’s the Johnny Appleseed syndrome. These are out there, and someone, some where is watching them.” The Associated Press contributed to this story. ) Email: tim@wasatchcountycounter.com Wasatch County “APRIL 16 $1.479 APRIL 23 $1.479 $1.479$1.439 $1.479 $1.479 © - Summit County 1.459 $1.459 * 278 W. 2100 Ss ac 1.427 400 N. Main, Heber sea one hand,” he said, adding that the ranking is used in the county’s promotional materials including a video and CDRom called “Utah’s Wasatch County: Isn’t It About Time.” : “With key companies we’ve heard, that it really perked up their ears.” It mate at omen k pin ) cn PRICES FOR REGULAR - UNLEADED Midway Trimart/Chevron Main Street Station Conoco Midway | 12300 S. Minuteman, SLC Ce ne — —-$1.409 i i i . ; } } ; " ; nia ica bolic ae opr nintenmen Proves. Premium Oil/Chevron Flying eietsinrterinin, ttn inet e went agen he | | | Pe Pa etende pee mn ti, ' '¢ i : inh se dnsaoenii { { i f é 4' t ' r - | et emcee cnt sc ae noe = : | “ ead { a ee OBSERVED 04/23/01 Watch this space for weekly updates. edimeeet eae i ech Courier last week. “The number “It’s been one of the cards in our provide [a training Wasatch County would be a very good fit, especially with it’s proximity to the Provo and Orem area, which is a hig yh tech hot spot,” Wes Curtis, director point for companies that may be considering moving to the area. oe “If a local entity can in Wasatch County made the first cut, the program’s director calls the county‘ “a very good fit” for the program. | ~ | The ranking maybe five years old, but Pearson believes it is still a selling the first eight communities to qualify. While ing points. 7 state’s TryTTT TT boost Maem ial RPE an SAY n Valley, but he also quick to add that the area already has many selling points and an equally impressive ranking from a national magazine. Five years ago this month, Money magazine listed Heber 26th on a list of “America’s 50 Hottest Little Boomtowns.” The magazine cited Heber’s proximity to Wasatch Front companies, its strong growth and reasonable housing prices as major sell- celts to first. | * attempt | TT STAFF ——— } COURIER or Detain TIM WESTBY guv’s Smart Site progra: | pene gmton wonton i al e Firms on Rural Utah 7 $ |