The State of Utah has purchased the $40 million Franklin Campus in West Valley City to serve as the new headquarters for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The acquisition of the five-building office development, which spans 312,234 square feet, marks a significant expansion of the state's administrative footprint in the Salt Lake City metro area.
New Headquarters Details
The acquisition, as reported by Rebusiness Online, includes a property situated on 21.7 acres. Originally designed to function as the corporate headquarters for FranklinCovey, the campus features a variety of amenities including an auditorium, a fitness center, and a cafeteria. The transaction was managed by Chris Kirk and Brandon Fugal of Colliers.
This move to a centralized campus follows years of administrative evolution within the state's health and human services sectors. The department's leadership structure has undergone various updates, including the formal merger of the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services, which was assisted by officials such as Nate Winters, who served as an Assistant Deputy Director during that transition.
Department Leadership
The Department of Health and Human Services is currently led by Commissioner Tracy S. Gruber. Gruber, who was appointed to the role by Governor Spencer J. Cox, previously served as the director of the Office of Child Care at the Utah Department of Workforce Services and as a senior advisor for the Intergenerational Poverty Initiative.
Gruber's professional background includes experience as a senior policy analyst and director of state fiscal policy at Voices for Utah Children. She has also held leadership roles in the Illinois Senate and administered the Utah State Bar New Lawyer Training Program. In 2017, she was recognized as "Government Official of the Year" by the Community Action Partnership of Utah.
Clinical and Administrative Oversight
The department's clinical and administrative oversight is supported by a specialized leadership team. Dr. Stacey Bank serves as the Executive Medical Director for Clinical Services, having joined the department in November 2024. A board-certified family physician with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Bank previously served on the Salt Lake County Board of Health and was a physician lead at Sacred Circle Healthcare.
Other key administrators include Tonya Hales, who serves as Deputy Commissioner for Healthcare Administration. Hales, a registered nurse of 31 years, was appointed as a deputy director in October 2025. Her career includes extensive work with Utah Medicaid, where she served as an assistant Medicaid director and held various roles over a 22-year period.
Operations and Management
The operational management of the department includes Deputy Commissioner David Litvack for Community Health & Well-Being and Deputy Commissioner Nate Winters for Operations. Litvack, who has served as a deputy commissioner since May 2026, previously served in the Utah State House of Representatives from 2000 to 2012.
Assistant Deputy Commissioner Amanda Slater oversees operations and has been with the department for more than 10 years. Slater was appointed to her current role in July 2022 following the merger of the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services. She previously served as the Director of the Office of Licensing from 2019 to 2022.
Fiscal and Administrative Context
The expansion of state facilities occurs within a broader context of fiscal management and legislative reporting. The Utah Commission on Government Forecasting and Audit (COBI) maintains unaudited data regarding capital budgets and statewide issues presented to the Legislature.
This financial oversight is separate from local property administration, such as the services provided by Salt Lake County. The county manages property tax valuations, tax relief programs for qualified homeowners, and the maintenance of interactive parcel maps used to identify property information and owners within the county.
Future Outlook
The transition to the West Valley City campus represents a significant milestone for the Department of Health and Human Services as it continues to address the health and wellness needs of Utah's diverse populations. The department's leadership remains focused on strengthening public health infrastructure and fostering community collaboration across the state.
