The on-ramp to the new economy

It's about our future; do legislators want Utah to get on the information highway, or stay in the industrial lane? That's the question our lawmakers should be deliberating when they convene a special session to consider overriding the governor's veto of SB229 on their decision to set aside one-third of state tax dollars for building more roads.

It appears this Legislature wants to keep spending money on the old economy that relied on mass production and transportation of goods and services. The new economy requires more highly educated and skilled workers who are innovative, creative and produce products and services for a global, technological and changing world. Those will be good-paying jobs that can be done by anyone — if they have the skills — any place in today's flat world, including at home. The new jobs will allow for flexibility in working hours; reduce the need for long commutes; and reduce air pollution, gas consumption and road repair costs.

Five years ago, legislators understood in order to create high-paying jobs essential to sustaining the state's growing population, they needed to retool Utah's economic development infrastructure for the global economy. They had the foresight to see the new economy would require knowledge, innovation and creativity and appropriated $200 million to create Utah Science, Technology And Research (USTAR). It is a partnership between business, government and university leaders that has been very successful in attracting and creating businesses with high-paying jobs for today's knowledge-based economy.

While past lawmakers created the infrastructure for economic development and job creation, this legislature has the opportunity to take Utah's economy to the next level by investing in our education infrastructure — K-12, higher education and training — that can prepare our youth and adults for jobs requiring higher knowledge and skills. Employers with new jobs trying to start or relocate their business, look to where they can find workers who have the higher skills and knowledge, and ongoing education, training and retraining opportunities for their workforce. Transportation is not the primary concern for businesses in today's wired world where the product to be transported is innovation, knowledge and creativity; that product can be provided any place, anytime and by anyone around the world, if they have the skills.