San Juan County Economic Development and Visitor Services has provided updates on several key economic and tourism initiatives for the final quarter of 2019. The report highlights significant progress in broadband expansion, business retention, and community-driven marketing programs across the county.
A major focus remains on infrastructure and connectivity, with Emery Telcom continuing work to provide broadband and fiber optic connections for much of San Juan County. This project utilizes congressional funding intended to match investments from communications companies to improve service reliability in rural areas.
In Blanding, the economic development office has seen increased visitor traffic and retail growth. Pratt Redd, an Economic Development Specialist for Blanding City, noted that the city has taken steps forward in both economic development and visitor services through marketing and co-op programs.
Local businesses have utilized various grant and loan programs to facilitate improvements. The Patio Diner in Blanding underwent a significant renovation, doubling its building size and upgrading equipment such as air conditioning and refrigeration. Owners Lana and Ricky Arthur utilized a Fast Track Grant through the Rural Fast Track Program, alongside help from the Southeastern Utah Association of Local Government Revolving Loan Fund and an SBA loan.
H+ Aesthetics has also successfully used the Rural Fast Track Program for development. Additionally, the Cafeteria Program has supported community efforts in Monticello, Blanding, and Bluff by developing community maps and guides that showcase local food, lodging, and shopping.
The town of Bluff has utilized cooperative marketing grants to promote events like the Bluff Balloon Festival and Bluff Arts Festival. These funds helped optimize search engines and redesign the website for Business Owners of Bluff (BOB).
In terms of workforce development, the Rural Online Initiative saw participation from San Juan County residents in 2019. This included 75 attendees at town halls in Monticello and Blanding, with 53 sign-ups for a Remote Work Certificate and 27 graduates completing the program.
The quarterly report also noted the success of the September Rural Economic Diversification Summit (REDS), which brought together various stakeholders to discuss economic development strategies. Furthermore, a series of familiarization tours throughout the quarter hosted international media and travel influencers from locations including the UK, Switzerland, Germany, and Canada to promote regional landmarks like Monument Valley and the San Juan River.
