Tauni Everett, director of communications for Economic Development Corp. of Utah, a private organization contracted by the state to bring new jobs and capital to Utah, said in the 2006 calender year, EDCU recruited 30 companies to expand or relocate here. That includes Amer Sports Corp., a sporting goods equipment company that announced in October it would put the headquarters of three major ski-equipment brands in Ogden, creating 230 new jobs.

"We certainly are doing a lot more business than we used to," Everett said. "Each week we are generating an average of seven new projects, companies that are interested in considering Utah as a potential site for expansion or relocation."

Robert Spendlove, chief economist to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., said companies still are attracted to Utah because of its labor pool.

Utah has the highest household size in the nation, the highest fertility rate of any state and the lowest median age. In 2006, the state recorded 52,368 births. Net migration totaled nearly 29,000 people.

"What that turns into is a state with a very strong natural population increase," Spendlove said. "That turns right into a strong labor market. However, the low unemployment rate is starting to create labor pressure on the state's economy. We're really seeing that in areas like engineering, education, extraction industries and trucking."

Despite those pressures, Matthews said it would be a mistake to ever stop "selling" Utah.

"As long as we're going to have these kids, the only possible way that we can make this work is to grow our economy as fast as we possibly can," Matthews said. "In the end, every job that can be possibly created in Utah is a good job."

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