Board chairman bullish about role of business, economic development

As some state agencies and their individual employees try to figure out their lot in government life under the new Huntsman administration, the leader of the Board of Business and Economic Development said Thursday he believes its role could be even stronger in the future.

Chairman David Simmons said the effects of HB318 — legislation pushed by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. that makes changes to the Department of Community and Economic Development and the board — likely will not water down the board's role.

The bill, designed to streamline economic development matters, would 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 also calls for the board — comprised of business leaders — to become advisory only, although it will retain policymaking duties when it approves incentive grants from the state Industrial Assistance Fund, used to prompt companies to create high-paying jobs.

"It is important that we continue to review the other incentive programs and provide our recommendations in that advisory role," Simmons said.

"I don't yet seem to get the feeling at all that the intent of this (bill) is to do away with our review of those programs in any way. But it's an advisory basis as opposed to a policymaking basis."

"What I think this legislation did was clearly give the governor the reins," said Ladd Christensen, co-director of the department.

He added that he wants the board to provide "advice, guidance, direction," but he does not expect many other operational changes to the board as a result of the bill.

Simmons said he met with Huntsman recently to discuss the board's role.

"I certainly came away with a strong impression that he's relying upon the role of this board to be certainly as strong, hopefully much stronger, than it has been in the past."

Simmons said Huntsman wants to know "if we think things are not being handled correctly" or "there's something we should be doing that we're not doing."

Simmons said he was happy to see the board retain the IAF responsibility.

"I think that serves as a wonderful safeguard for the appropriate use of state resources. . . . I think it's terrific to have a board independent of the governor having ultimate say on what happens on those grants, so that we bear ultimate responsibility," he said.

---

E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com