From Deseret News archives:
Utahns applaud Amer decision
"This is a significant thing," said Jeff Edwards, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corp. of Utah, which worked with the company.
"If you think about it, now that we have Rossignol — who, of course, came here a year ago — and with the Salomon and Atomic brands, that means Utah will be the home to three out of the four major ski brands in the country. If we're looking for a cluster initiative and for a milepost to put out in the world, this is it. This is an amazingly great project."
Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey called the Amer Sports action "a huge opportunity, obviously not just for the state of Utah, but for Ogden."
"And having these companies move to Ogden obviously really solidifies the direction we're moving as a city and will go an enormous way in creating the future generation of economic opportunity for the people of Ogden," Godfrey said.
Their comments came Monday during a meeting of the Governor's Office of Economic Development Board.
Board member Mark Howell said the company will bring "great jobs" to Ogden as well as well-known brands.
"We probably have never heard of them, of Amer Sports, but if you've heard of them as Salomon or Atomic skis or Suunto watches or Precor or some of those names, then we all know them," he said.
Board member Jerry Oldroyd said the move "goes right to the heart" of one of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s economic clusters.
"It works hand in hand with the tourist bureau, (and) hand in hand with the ski industry to promote Utah as being the major ski area in the country. It just fits with what we're trying to do. This is a real opportunity for the state," Oldroyd said.
"It's a great opportunity and an absolutely wonderful company, and we're thrilled they're coming here," said Jason Perry, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com
