Gov Tackles Hiring Troubles for Start-ups

None by KCPW

"Utah is the hottest economy in the nation"

(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman Junior believes Utah is not just one of the hottest economies in the nation.

"Utah is THE hottest economy and we all know it," said Huntsman at the Utah Taxpayers Association annual meeting.

His assessment is based on Utah's record unemployment, job growth, population increases and tax revenues. Add to that quality of life, and Huntsman says there are very few hurdles in Utah's path. But there is at least one.

"One of the biggest challenges we face is access to labor and access to management for our thriving small and medium-sized firms," says Huntsman.

Huntsman is planning what he calls "reverse trade missions" to start-up business centers like Palo Alto and Seattle. He'll tout Utah's economy and lifestyle, and hope to bring back top executives to fill the upper ranks of Utah's own start-up companies. Huntsman also says he will continue trade missions to China, Mexico, Canada - and ultimately India - which he sees as Utah's key international partners.

In the next two years, the Governor also wants lawmakers to entirely remove the state's portion of the sales tax on food and offer tax credits for research and development on alternative energy and biotechnology.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW