Utah's new director of Community and Economic Development has high praise for Cache County's successful efforts to lure new industries to create jobs, raise personal income and reduce unemployment.
But Stan Parrish, speaking at the second annual Cache Economic Development Update Forum, warned that businesses across Utah also must raise wages and foster a highly skilled work force.Parrish noted that in less than five years, 3,000 new jobs have been created, personal income has increased by $1,700 annually and the unemployment rate has plummeted from 6.1 percent to 3.8 percent in Cache County.
He said the county's strategies are similar to those proposed in a draft economic development policy for the entire state.
Copies of the draft are being circulated and Gov. Norm Bangerter plans a series of hearings in September to obtain public comment.
Parrish acknowledged that the early part of the decade wasn't kind to the state's economy. But he said a turnaround began in 1988, when 25,000 new jobs were created, and unemployment now stands at about 5 percent.
"In order to create wealth, however, an increase in wages and salaries is needed along with the job creations, and our office has set a goal to bring the income per household up to the national average by 1995," he said. "That would mean an increase of $5,000 per household, and I think this is a realistic goal."
However, Parrish said, some skills are lacking even among Utah's well-educated work force.
"Getting enough skilled workers trained to fill the kind of jobs we create at a higher income level is going to be a major challenge," he said.
Parrish said some business owners are nervous about raising wages, but added, "They have got to realize it will benefit their businesses as well as the whole Utah community."
Cache Economic Development Director Bobbie Coray told the forum that 14 companies ranging from large retail to high-tech operations have located in the county during the past three years.
"From 1980 to 1985, about 300 people per year left the county, but now we are gaining more than 150 people per year and the real estate market has become a seller's market," she said.
Coray credited as "full economic development partners" the city of Logan, the county, Utah State University, the Bear River Association of Governments, the Cache Chamber of Commerce and local bank presidents.