"The concept difference here is that traditionally in the recruitment world, interested candidates apply for specific jobs," said Pat Vaughn, director of the talent access program for GOED. "And what we're really doing here is market the state as a land of opportunity, and so we're bringing engineers in to look at a vast array of opportunities, not just the one job."

"If this (early response) is any indication," Perry said, "there is a place out there for us to reach, and they are interested."

As for the site selectors, GOED has started running advertisements in several trade publications, trying to grab their attention and consider Utah for possible expansions or moves being contemplated by their clients.

The ads — running in Site Selection magazine, Business Xpansion Journal and Business Facilities magazine, among others — cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

"We really are directing the buzz and narrowing it to the people who actually help make the decision for the industries to look at specific sites," Caras said.

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E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com