Today's entrepreneurs and business leaders can work from anywhere they choose.

So if Utah wants to secure its economic future, it has to make sure "anywhere" is "here," Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told hundreds of Utah businessmen and businesswomen Friday.

Huntsman addressed those gathered for the 2006 Utah Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards gala at the Salt Palace, during which 15 people were honored as this year's top entrepreneurs.

Huntsman said looking out at the audience was like staring into the state's economic future. And, he said, the state's current economy reminds him of lyrics from the song "Beautiful Day" by rock band U2: "It's a beautiful day. Don't let it get away."

"It's a beautiful day economically. We're on the move," Huntsman said.

The state's growth rate is "phenomenal," he said, and its jobless rate is "dangerously low." He said the governor's office will continue "to do all that we can to ensure that, ongoing, there is an environment for success."

Every day, Huntsman said, he is focused on creating an environment that will help companies stay in business and help entrepreneurs build new businesses.

"We've got to make sure we earn the right to have you here," he said.

The companies that are here and have earned Entrepreneur of the Year honors progress from the ranks of the state's business leaders and often become legends, said David Jolley, managing partner of Ernst & Young's Salt Lake office. He noted that 2006 marks the 20th anniversary of the entrepreneur contest on a national level and the 13th anniversary in Utah.

"For 20 years, we have gathered at events like this and listened to entrepreneurs' stories, learned of their triumphs, felt inspired by their vision and were impressed by their sacrifices," Jolley said.

"Their stories are unforgettable, and they bear repeating. To ourselves. To our colleagues. To our families, and to our communities. In the process, what started out as the stories of leaders have become the stories of legends."

The stories behind this year's award recipients could eventually gain that legendary status.

Take Gary Hollister and Aaron Garrity of XanGo, who have brought the world's attention to the health-enhancing properties of a fruit called mangosteen and grown their company from 14 employees to 600.

Or Mark Burton, who started International Armoring Group in 1993 with the hopes of making about 25 armored cars a year and has, since then, built more than 5,000 bullet-resistant automobiles for clients in 54 countries.

Or Barbara Zimonja, who started a business cleaning resort condominium properties but eventually decided she could do a better job managing those properties than their owners. Now she's president and CEO of Premier Resorts International, which has 7,000 rooms at 57 properties in many of the world's hot travel spots.