Box Elder County prides itself on growing its economy like its farmers grow their crops: with creativity, imagination, patience and hard work.
In the past two years, the county has begun reaping the fruits of its labors. The town of Corinne, west of Brigham City, attracted mega-retailer Wal-Mart to build a 860,000-square-foot food distribution center on U-83. Tremonton City welcomed the arrival of Malt-O-Meal and Intertape Polymer Group to its industrial park and anticipates 400 new jobs at its La-Z-Boy facility over the next year.All are significant business recruitment coups, but Box Elder County isn't sitting on its heels. There is more to be done.
"Our biggest attribute is the fact that we are aggressive in doing what we want and designing what we need instead of taking what comes," said Box Elder County Economic Development executive director Len Woolley.
"Tremonton City decided about 14 years ago what they wanted to be when they grew up," Woolley continued. "They set out to become that. They were willing to take some risks."
Tremonton was looking at hard times, City Manager Richard Woodworth said. Something had to change.
"Everybody else was flourishing in the state," he said. "But we were in a kind of recessionary state. Over the last eight to 10 years we realized that we were exporting our kids. We realized we needed to do something, because things were walking away from us. We needed some diversity."
The city and county got together and came up with a plan to build the necessary infrastructure: sewer, gas, roads and rail lines. When they were finished, they had an enticing industrial park and companies interested in locating there.
"It became very attractive to companies looking at that area," state director of National Business Development Sharon Young said. "What it said was, 'We're interested in doing business with you, and we're willing to work with you because we're prepared to.' And every company wants to be wanted.
"There must have been 10 communities that bid on the Malt-O-Meal project. But Tremonton never quit. They didn't get discouraged. They kept pursuing."
It's that attitude that fueled the Wal-Mart and Intertape partnerships as well, Woolley said. And it's that attitude that keeps the county searching for ways to improve its communities. Box Elder County is making a name for itself, but that doesn't mean it is willing to recruit every company that expresses interest.
"We can afford to be a little more selective now," Woolley said.
At the same time, he recognizes the county is still challenged. Higher unemployment and continued labor force exportation threaten existing industries and stifle growth.
"You hear a lot of people saying how healthy we are in this state. But that's a lot of 'pie in the sky' talk. It's a fantasy," Woolley said. "Any time a two-income family has to struggle to buy a home, we're not doing well economically. . . . We're not all that healthy, and when you look at rural Utah, we're downright unhealthy.
"I look at our county, and I see that Tremonton City is economically viable, and that Brigham City is fairly healthy. But the rest of our communities are welfare cases for the state. They rely on state money gathered from other counties to survive. That's not a good plan."
What might be a good plan is building from the inside out. Retaining the companies and industries already in operation in Box Elder County -- including farming and the Fruitway -- and looking for options to expand. Agri-business is particularly exciting, Woolley said.
"We've got to find ways to help make farming a revenue generating business," he said. He rattles off a handful of firms manufacturing products from agricultural by-products that might prove lucrative for Utah farmers, and ideas to help farmers dip their ladles into a greater variety of revenue streams.
Paying attention to the whole growth package -- business recruitment, retention and expansion -- is a delicate balancing act, Woolley said. But it seems to be working.
Heather Davis, 21, a lifelong resident of Box Elder County, said she's seen growth just in the last few years.
"There are more people, more things to do, and more stores that have opened up. I think it's a good thing," she said.
Davis said she'd like the county to continue to grow, with Brigham City perhaps growing to rival neighbor Ogden in size. She said she'd also like the county to house a community college someday.
Eldene Jeppson, 59, is more conservative.
"I don't want it to get too much bigger," she said. "I know you want to grow some -- you either grow or you go backwards. We've seen that happen and don't want it again. But I'd like to see slower growth, with smaller companies coming in that have a variety of work available."
Jeppson, who lives on a farm west of Brigham, said she has received a steady, building stream of offers from corporate real estate agents in the past decade.
"All kinds of real estate agents call us, requesting to buy our property for this company or that company. Those requests have really increased over the years."
But, she said with a grin and a laugh, "We turn them all down. It's our home."