The Utah Chamber has released the latest iteration of Utah Rising, a statewide business-led economic initiative that now includes action plans across six specific focus areas. These updates are designed to provide Utah businesses with concrete ways to support the state's economic success into the future. The new action items are available for review at utahrising.com.
Launched in the fall of 2024, Utah Rising serves as a long-term plan to maintain Utah's status as a premier place to live, work, and build a future. Every two years, business leaders review and update the initiative to ensure it remains aligned with the evolving needs and challenges of the state's economy.
Derek Miller, the president and CEO of the Utah Chamber, stated that Utah's success is not an accident and that the initiative is about building the desired future. He noted that the addition of practical action items is intended to create a greater and longer-lasting impact by allowing businesses to get involved.
The initiative is organized around six focus areas: Workforce and Education, Transportation, Business Environment, Housing, Livability, and Natural Resources. Each area includes a strategic goal, measurable indicators tracked on a public dashboard, and a signature project.
In the Workforce and Education sector, the plan includes a goal to reach 100% third-grade reading proficiency by 2030. Proposed actions for businesses include sponsoring local literacy initiatives, partnering with schools, and offering employees paid time to mentor young readers.
Spencer P. Eccles, chair of the Utah Rising Steering Committee, said that the initiative builds on Utah's tradition of collaboration to provide the business community with tools to address current challenges and expand opportunity for all Utahns. He encouraged businesses to commit to at least one meaningful action to create an extraordinary collective impact.
The Utah Chamber is encouraging all businesses, regardless of size, to review the six focus areas and select an action to advance over the next two years.
Utah Rising has guided the Utah Chamber's advocacy and economic priorities since its launch. During the 2026 Legislative Session, the Chamber reported a 100% success rate on its priority legislation, including policies that advanced the goals of Utah Rising. The initiative is spearheaded by the Utah Chamber and the Salt Lake Chamber, guided by a steering committee of business and community leaders.
