Salt Lake County has a new economic development director in Dale Carpenter, a veteran of former governor Scott Matheson's administration, businessman and professor.

Carpenter served as state director of community and economic development from the late 1970s through the middle 1980s.

Carpenter, who begins work April 18, will be responsible for the county's efforts to retain and attract business and industry to the area while working cooperatively with municipal, state and private economic development interests within Utah.