Eliminating duplication in economic development will be one of the major tasks facing Michael M. Lawson, who is the new president of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, a public-private partnership trying to assist existing Utah businesses and attract business from other areas.
Lawson said he is committed to making a partnership between EDCU and state, county and community agencies happen and avoid duplication, something the organization has been criticized for in the past. "I want to do everything I can to avoid wasting money," said Lawson during a news conference Thursday in Little America.The new president was introduced by Richard Kieffer, EDCU board chairman and vice chairman of First Interstate Bank of Utah. Kieffer refused to disclose Lawson's salary and other amenities, even though 50 percent of the organization's money comes from city and county governments.
Lawson replaces Richard D. Thrasher Jr., who took a similar position in Hartford, Conn., last November. Kieffer has been spending time at EDCU as acting president during the nationwide search for a replacement.
In introducing Lawson, Salt Lake County Commission Chairman Jim Bradley said the county remains steadfast as a major supporter of EDCU, which he calls a unique private-public partnership whose mission is to increase the number of quality jobs in the communities.
"Even though Mr. Lawson comes to our state and our county at a time when we have been prospering while a national recession surrounds us, we must increase our level of sophistication in the way we conduct our business of creating business," Bradley said.
Bradley said there have been some territorial issues involving EDCU in the past, but he believes boundaries aren't important when dealing with economic development. Lawson said the client will direct what types of partnerships are formed to boost economic development.
The 37-year-old Lawson served for two years as executive vice president of the Jacksonville, Fla., Chamber of Commerce, helping operate an organization with 5,500 members, 72 staff members and an annual budget of $5 million. He supervised all economic development, business recruitment and retention, minority business development and small business development activities.
In 1992, the Jacksonville Chamber's economic development program was recognized as one of the top 10 in the national by Site Selection Handbook. He has served in similar positions with the Community Economic Development Corp. of Benton Harbor, Mich., and with three chambers of commerce in Wichita Falls, Dennison and Beaumont, Texas.
EDCU's board of trustees includes 12 metropolitan-area mayors, the three Salt Lake County commissioners, six community at-large members and 17 business and industry leaders.