Utah Code 63N-1a-301. Creation of office — Responsibilities

63N-1a-301. Creation of office — Responsibilities.

(1)	There is created the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

Commission: means the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission created in Section 63N-1a-201. See Utah Code 63N-1a-102
Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
Donor: The person who makes a gift.
GO Utah board: means the Board of Economic Opportunity created in Section 63N-1a-401. See Utah Code 63N-1a-102
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
Statewide economic development strategy: means the economic development strategy developed by the commission in accordance with Section 63N-1a-202. See Utah Code 63N-1a-102
Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(2)

The office is:

(a)	responsible for implementing the statewide economic development strategy developed by the commission; and

(b)	the industrial and business promotion authority of the state.

(3)

The office shall:

(a)	consistent with the statewide economic development strategy, coordinate and align into a single effort the activities of the economic opportunity agencies in the field of economic development;

(b)	provide support and direction to economic opportunity agencies in establishing goals, metrics, and activities that align with the statewide economic development strategy;

(c)	administer and coordinate state and federal economic development grant programs;

(d)	promote and encourage the economic, commercial, financial, industrial, agricultural, and civic welfare of the state;

(e)	promote and encourage the employment of workers in the state and the purchase of goods and services produced in the state by local businesses;

(f)

act to create, develop, attract, and retain business, industry, and commerce in the state;

(i)	in accordance with the statewide economic development plan and commission directives; and

(ii)	subject to the restrictions in Section 11-41-103;

(g)	act to enhance the state’s economy;

(h)	act to assist strategic industries that are likely to drive future economic growth;

(i)	assist communities in the state in developing economic development capacity and coordination with other communities;

(j)	identify areas of education and workforce development in the state that can be improved to support economic and business development;

(k)

consistent with direction from the commission, develop core strategic priorities for the office, which may include:

(i)	enhancing statewide access to entrepreneurship opportunities and small business support;

(ii)	focusing industry recruitment and expansion of targeted industries;

(iii)

ensuring that in awarding competitive economic development incentives the office accurately measures the benefits and costs of the incentives; and

(iv)	assisting communities with technical support to aid those communities in improving economic development opportunities;

(l)	submit an annual written report as described in Section 63N-1a-306; and

(m)	perform other duties as provided by the Legislature.

(4)

In order to perform its duties under this title, the office may:

(a)	enter into a contract or agreement with, or make a grant to, a public or private entity, including a municipality, if the contract or agreement is not in violation of state statute or other applicable law;

(b)	except as provided in Subsection (4)(c), receive and expend funds from a public or private source for any lawful purpose that is in the state’s best interest; and

(c)	solicit and accept a contribution of money, services, or facilities from a public or private donor, but may not use the contribution for publicizing the exclusive interest of the donor.

(5)	Money received under Subsection (4)(c) shall be deposited into the General Fund as dedicated credits of the office.

(6)

(a)

The office shall:

(i)	obtain the advice of the GO Utah board before implementing a change to a policy, priority, or objective under which the office operates; and

(ii)	provide periodic updates to the commission regarding the office’s efforts under Subsections (3)(a) and (b).

(b)	Subsection (6)(a)(i) does not apply to the routine administration by the office of money or services related to the assistance, retention, or recruitment of business, industry, or commerce in the state.

Amended by Chapter 200, 2022 General Session
Amended by Chapter 307, 2022 General Session