The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its sixth annual Growth & Prosperity Summit on Thursday, Nov. 12, at Utah Valley University's Sorensen Student Center Grand Ballroom in Orem. The summit will bring together business executives, policymakers, and community leaders to address critical regional issues such as I-15 traffic congestion, housing affordability, and water conservation amid rapid population growth.
Addressing Regional Growth Challenges
The summit's agenda is designed to address five primary questions facing the region. Participants will discuss I-15 congestion and commute times, whether the next generation can afford homes in the area, water conservation strategies, energy grid capacity, and workforce development. According to the Chamber, these topics are essential as Utah County continues to experience significant economic and population expansion.
Curtis Blair, the president and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, stated that the summit aims to tackle these challenges proactively. "Growth affects everyone in Utah Valley, from the businesses we run to the neighborhoods our families call home," Blair said. He added that the event is intended to help leaders better understand upcoming challenges and explore ways to build a prosperous future for the community. "We need to manage growth before it manages us," Blair said.
Prominent Speakers and Program Details
The event features several prominent speakers and thought leaders. Natalie Gochnour, the director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, is scheduled to deliver a keynote address. Additionally, Charles Marohn, the founder of the national organization Strong Towns, which focuses on helping communities become financially resilient, will be on the program.
Former Utah Governor Gary Herbert is also scheduled to provide remarks during the event. The summit will include keynote presentations and breakout sessions focused on issues most relevant to local businesses and communities. Registration for the event includes breakfast and lunch, with check-in beginning at 7 a.m. and the program running from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rapid Population Growth in Utah County
The summit comes as Utah County faces intense pressure from rapid demographic shifts. U.S. Census Bureau estimates placed the county population at approximately 759,859 in 2025, a significant increase from the 2020 base of 659,392. This growth represents roughly 100,000 new residents added to the county over a five-year period.
Looking further ahead, a 2026 Economic Report to the Governor from the Gardner Institute projects that the county's population could roughly double to 1.5 million by 2065. This projected growth underscores the urgency of the summit's focus on infrastructure and resource management.
Housing and Economic Pressures
Housing affordability and transportation infrastructure remain central concerns for local residents. As Fox13 News first reported, the Provo-Orem-Lehi metro area saw a median household income of $101,014 and a median home price of $572,450 as of mid-2026, according to a Ziffy.ai analysis. This follows a September report from the Deseret News, which noted that the Gardner Institute found Utah's median single-family home price reached $520,000 statewide.
Affordability issues were highlighted in the 2026 Utah Community Quality of Life Index, a joint project by the Utah Foundation, the Utah Chamber, and the Gardner Institute. The index reported that housing affordability scored last among 20 quality-of-life factors. The overall score for the index fell to 63 out of 100, marking its lowest level since the survey began in 2011.
Infrastructure and Regional Planning
Transportation infrastructure is also under scrutiny due to the region's unique geography. Lehi City's transportation planning documentation, last updated in May 2024, warned that the city's roads serve as the only access to I-15 for western communities. The documentation noted that roads such as 2100 North and Pioneer Crossing exceeded capacity shortly after they were completed because growth projections had fallen short of actual development.
In response to these long-term needs, the Chamber of Commerce announced the October 21 launch of the Utah Valley Regional Alliance (UVRA). This coalition consists of business, government, and civic leaders focused on long-range regional planning regarding transportation, housing, and infrastructure.
Event Logistics
The summit is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, at the UVU Sorensen Student Center Grand Ballroom in Orem. The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, which serves as the voice of business in the region, encourages business leaders, community stakeholders, and residents to attend the event to help shape the region's future.
About the Utah Valley Chamber
The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce supports businesses of all sizes and works to advance a strong business environment through advocacy, connection, and collaboration. The organization's efforts include initiatives such as the Business Environment and the Dignity Index.
