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Utah Technology group sets a ‘cluster’ of priorities : Council will work to concentrate efforts for economic development

While the Huntsman administration has talked about eliminating several state boards and commissions, the new leaders of the state Department of Community and Economic Development are suggesting a new priority for the Utah Technology Industry Council.

By Brice Wallace
Deseret Morning News

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600114494,00.html

The council, formed in 2002 by industry representatives and made an official Utah government entity the next year, should focus on "cluster determination and execution" during the next year, according to Martin Frey, co-directing the department along with Ladd Christensen.

Frey and Christensen have talked about how the state needs to have more concentrated economic development efforts, including the targeting of certain industry sectors in which Utah has demonstrated strength.

"I would submit to this body that determining what the clusters are is probably the top priority over the next six months for this group. And then figuring out how we are going to organize and effectively go after those, including going after the Legislature and everything else, is probably the focus of the next six months," Frey told the council Thursday.

"Really, then, I cannot think of a higher priority for this group over the next year. That’s my personal thought. I know it’s been a high priority in the past, but we’re not done. We all need to continue to stay actively engaged on this one, and when you really look back a year or two from now and say, ‘What have we accomplished?’ if we have accomplished that, that’s pretty significant."

Also during Thursday’s meeting, Frey suggested that several organizations, including the council, work with universities, government and industry "to come to a consensus around one common set of initiatives." Especially if UTIC members work as one body rather than as individuals, the council could "play even a more prominent role than it has in the past," he said.

The council votes on economic development issues discussed by the Utah Technology Commission, which primarily consists of state legislators.

Council Chairman Stan Lockhart said that connection to the Legislature makes the council unique. "It’s a powerful conduit if you use it appropriately," he said.

Other members added that the council’s uniqueness also stems from its industry-driven roots and that it represents several sectors of the industry and not just, for example, information technology.

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