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Utah Governor Unveils Industry Cluster Initiative to Fuel Economic Development
Within days of taking office in January, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. dismantled the Department of Community and Economic Development and promised to make significant changes to how Utah approaches wealth generation and economic growth.
Six months into his first term, the governor kept that promise by unveiling a new cluster-based strategy targeting state efforts in seven industry sectors: life sciences; software development and information technology; aerospace; defense and homeland security; financial services; energy and natural resources; and competitive accelerators, such as nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
Gov. Huntsman also officially launched the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) last month to oversee the initiative. The new GOED was created with the passage of H.B. 318 during the General session and splits the previous Department of Community and Economic Development, according to the governor's office. The former Division of Business and Economic Development and the Utah Division of Travel Development will form the new GOED.
Gov. Huntsman will meet with economic development leaders later this month to further discuss the cluster strategy. More information is available at: http://rss.dced.utah.gov/ee/index.php/ed_clusters/C147/