unprecedented cs in Utah?only oliti iness forward. that move bus partnership By Myatt Murphy PHOTOS: (PREVIOUS PAGE) UTAH OFFICE OF TOURISM/STEVE GREENWOOD; (COLLAGE) RANDALL NELSON; [ZION NATIONAL PARK] NICK DRIGGS. hen Forbes magazine names Utah the state for business and easy to understand why the most recognized companies are beating a path to door. Adobe Systems, Sephora, eBay, Oracle, Disney Interactive Studios and Procter Gamble are just a few big names that have either expanded or relocated to take advantage of low corporate tax rate (5 percent), cheaper energy costs (35 percent below the national average), location at a central point for distribution along the Canada-to-Mexico corridor and Triple-A bond rating. a perfect business package only made sweeter when you look at work force. The state has the youngest median age in the country?a mere 29 years?and a high literacy rate with more than 130 languages spoken. the business community in Utah is a young, energetic, tech-savvy and multilingual labor says Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert. a business looking to succeed in a global economy, already a talent pool to draw fom here that an instant global edge unseen in most The combination of economic assets adds up. The state has kept its spot as one of the job-producing states for the last three years, boasts an unemployment rate of only 7.4 percent (compared to the average of 9.5 percent) and it was the only state in the nation to increase its exports last year. no coincidence that we ended up where we are today says Spencer Eccles, executive director of the of Economic Development. years ago, we set a goal to be number one in business, and with that, we put a very decided pathway in place to make that goal become a Part of that economic initiative was identifing strongest sectors?which include aerospace and aviation, defense and homeland security, energy and natural resources, the life sciences, outdoor products and recreation, IT and sofware development, and services. Utah has 15 of the top 20 industrial banks in the country and is the largest industrial bank state in the nation. that kind of monetary mastery that makes the region a perfect for the MVPs, such as the nationwide fullservice Zions Bank (which is headquartered in Salt Lake City) and Goldman Sachs. The latter, the global investment banking, securities and invest- Q+A: GOVERNORT GARY R. HERBE been everything from sergeant to co-owner of a child-care service he ran with his wife for 23 years. Now, the former businessman leads not just Utah, but the nation as the new chairman of the National Governors Economic Development and Commerce Committee (replacing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger). what the man who ousted Arnold has to say about his favorite state. How long have you lived in Utah? HERBERT: a seventh-generation Utahn. Some of my early ancestors founded a few of the communities in Utah, so my roots are very deep here. What surprises people most about Utah? HERBERT: The sophistication and maturity we have here?as op- posed to the mischaracterization some people have that Utah is still part of the wild and wooly West. The truth is, Utah is a unique state with so much to reveal, from our intellectual side through our universities and businesses, our cultural side with our emphasis on the arts or our recreational side with the countless opportunities our topography greatest economic edge? HERBERT: a work-ethic state?and I believe part of our heritage to want to work harder. I was raised in a family where my favorite phrase (and the family motto) was will win when wishy-washy wishing Meaning, no matter what challenges you face in life, just roll up your sleeves and get to work. Utah. ?M. M. deltaskymag.com March 2011