The Payson City Economic Development Board met on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, to discuss various initiatives regarding local business growth and retail strategies, according to a report published September 9.
During the meeting, Economic Development Director Brian Hulet reported that the city has partnered with Retail Strategies to survey residents regarding the types of retail businesses desired in the downtown area. The board discussed how larger retail businesses might impact or complement small businesses, such as hardware stores and restaurants, noting that small cafes and diners remain welcome in the community.
Regarding business recruitment, Hulet reported that several commercial businesses have expressed interest in moving to Payson. Additionally, construction for a hotel was anticipated to begin in August.
Several committees provided updates on their current objectives:
The Business Retention Committee noted that a Taste of Payson networking event was scheduled for the coming weeks, with over 300 invitations sent to local business owners.
The UVU/MTech Committee discussed internship needs at the Payson Innovation Center. Mark Kershaw stated that education partners aim to introduce students to internship opportunities at the center and that a survey was distributed to determine local business interest in working with the committee.
The Strategic Plan, Website, and Messaging Committee is working on an updated strategic plan, while the Golf Event Committee is preparing for an annual golf event.
The Downtown Committee discussed upcoming events scheduled for Downtown Payson.
The board also discussed the process for making recommendations to the City Council and the Planning Commission. Members suggested that recommendations should be prepared in advance of council packets and aligned with the city's General Plan to ensure coordination between the board and city leadership.
