Development summit set

The Governor's Office of Economic Development is shoring up plans for a March 22 economic development summit.

The event, planned for the Grand America Hotel, will feature several informational tracks, according to Jason Perry, executive director of GOED.

"It's shaping up to be a pretty amazing conference for us," he told the GOED board at its most recent meeting. "We hope it's something we can do every single year."

Among the tracks is one focusing on entrepreneurship — "an opportunity for the public to see how small ideas get people to invest in them." It will feature venture capitalists talking about the characteristics they seek in companies receiving investments, and the day may feature a group awarding venture capital to a company making a successful pitch, he said.

Other tracks will discuss business law, including employment law, intellectual property law, exit strategies and other topics; rural economic development; and online activities.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will present the lunchtime keynote address.

The last time the state organized an "economic summit" was in June 2005, shortly after Huntsman's administration began. His office organized a Park City meeting of more than 100 top executives from throughout the state. Huntsman described it as "a listening and learning opportunity," and during an hourlong discussion the governor heard the executives talk about the need for better capital access for early-stage companies, better cost-containment for health-care expenses, improved recreational opportunities for blue-collar workers, more facilities for business incubation and a need for employee training programs.

Huntsman said at the time that he hoped the summit would be an annual event, but it has not been repeated.

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