From Deseret News archives:
Economic development agency to be split
HB318 will split the Department of Community and Economic Development. Two divisions those dealing with community and economic development and travel development will become the Governor's Office of Economic Development. The remaining five divisions remain in the department, which will be renamed the Department of Community and Culture.
The bill, the brainchild of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s administration, beat the Wednesday midnight deadline by a mere three minutes.
"It was a lengthy bill," said Chris Roybal, senior economic development adviser to Huntsman. "With us coming into office and starting the session, obviously we got a late start in getting the bill rolling through the House and Senate initially, so we knew it might come down to the last day."
Last-day tweaking included the placement of a "coordinating clause" because of HB318's effects on other bills.
"The Legislature has a voice here. You're always on pins and needles before things get passed, but we felt we had good, broad support. It was a good dialogue, good comments and criticisms, and due diligence."
"We all know the governor wants to manage economic development and that we can do it more efficiently out of the governor's office," Roybal said. "We expect there will be more scrutiny and accountability, which we are prepared for. We've been armed with the right financial tools as well as the structural tools to get the job done. . . . The governor is excited, and now we're ready to go to work."
Had the bill not passed, the administration would have worked under the existing structure. "We would have been able to operate, but this just makes it more effective and also sends the message that the governor is really managing the state's economic development activities," Roybal said.
SB192, getting the funding ball rolling on new buildings, equipment and scientists for high-tech research and development at Utah State University and the University of Utah, passed but was scaled back from its original version.
Comments
- Heroine names: Worthy women, icons 2:44 p.m.
- Open letter to son on 16th birthday 2:41 p.m.
- Bamboo not an instant nightmare 2:40 p.m.
- Yardsmart: Delectable winter greens 2:37 p.m.
- Flowers in a beautiful setting 2:35 p.m.
- Dealing with pet ear injuries 2:34 p.m.
- Smooth talk wrinkles mall walk 2:32 p.m.
- School treasures discovered in attic 2:26 p.m.
- BYU leads UNM 17-7 at half 1:50 p.m.
- Snowstorm hits Utah; 1 dead 1:11 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Born of water and the spirit
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Woods Cross refinery to shut down
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
352 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
164 - Will state consider gay rights law?
146 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
118 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
104 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
So is D-will going to move to Los Angeles?
Well, they can't finish the trial, because Mitchell keeps acting crazy, so he...
I would love to see more pictures of this wonderful old hotel in its prime....
Who is this Joe Smith guy ??? I never seen his name in the Holy Bible...The...
some more artifacts...how sweet..now watch out for hanti-virus!
Mexicans are not coming here because there are no jobs for them. The border...
Frogs may taste like chicking, but horned frogs don't. Horned frogs are...
BYU is not the good
I have always found it interesting...that so many who profess to be followers...
Al Gore is laughing all the way to the bank!



You can be the first to comment on this story.