What will Utah look like in 50 years? Will our children be able to live and work here? Will there be enough clean water and reliable transportation to go around and get around? What about schools? Hospitals? Local business? Or the big one: housing?

Utah Valley University (UVU) is mindful of these concerns, which is why officials decided to host Utah Valley residents, civic, and business leaders to address those concerns. Hundreds gathered on Thursday, Oct. 28 at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts to teach and learn how the valley is creating the future for fast-growing population at the Utah Valley Growth and Prosperity Summit (UVGPS).

Utah County is estimated to add 1 million people to its population by 2065, and 85% of those will be from internal growth. The UVGPS was, according to the event’s program, “designed to be a powerful, intensive one-day conference focused on ensuring the future economic success of Utah County.”

Among the event’s speakers were influential personalities like Utah Valley Chamber CEO Curtis Blair, UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez, Utah Valley Hospital CEO Kyle Hansen, County Commissioner Amelia Powers, former Utah Governor Gary Herbert, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox. The all-day event featured a wide array of panels discussing topics pertaining to business, workforce development, transportation and infrastructure, water, housing, healthcare, natural resources, and education and was discussed by local experts seeking to find innovative solutions to Utah Valley’s booming population.

While the valley’s rapid population growth appears daunting, UVGPS panelists felt optimistic in their plans to create a better valley for more people.

“We shouldn’t lose hope. We should be excited about the innovative solutions coming our way,” said UVU marketing professor Ryan Schill during the Economic Outlook Panel. “Growth doesn’t have to mean we lose access to nature or that things all the sudden become less exciting. As we grow as a valley, we will become more inclusive, more dynamic, and more exciting.”

A willingness to collaborate was evident — as leaders from a variety of disciplines stressed the importance of communities, businesses, and government departments working together the address the issues facing Utah County.

“This summit is — cue the Beatles’ song — an opportunity to ‘Come Together,’” said Utah Valley Chamber CEO Curtis Blair.

“We need to involve everyone in the issues we’re facing,” Schill said. “We would have so many more solutions if we stopped splitting problems into departments. We must collaborate.”

Alongside themes of optimism and collaboration were calls to action. During the Natural Resources panel, speakers provided audience members with concrete behaviors that, if acted upon, could help Utah’s much-needed conservation of water.

Micron external relations manager and native Australian Vanessa Perez gave an impassioned plea for Utahns to be conscientious of their water usage.

“It’s time to think about and come clean on our water habits,” Perez said. She gestured to the front of the stage where a vase full of small plastic hourglasses sat. The hourglasses were timers to be used to set a time limit on a person’s shower. “Here’s a water timer,” she said, smiling. “Use it!”

The Attainable Housing Panel addressed perhaps the largest issue facing Utah County: housing. With the median price of homes at $480K as of September 2021, residents are beginning to wonder, should we let anyone new into the community?

The Attainable Housing Panel’s answer? Yes!

“Remember, everyone who needs to buy a house is a human being,” said Karen McCandless, CEO of Community Action Services and Food Bank.

The grand finale of the summit was the signing of the Growth and Prosperity Compact of Utah Valley. The compact is a document outlining the principles that will govern the continued growth and prosperity of Utah Valley. Attendees signed an enlarged copy of the compact between breaks as a commitment to document’s principles. The UVGPS reached its concluding event when a formal signing was done by Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity Dan Hemmert, former Utah Governor Gary Herbert, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox.

“We're in good hands with our leadership,” said Herbert after signing. “Our local government is doing great stuff, the private sector is flourishing. We have a great quality of life, and a ‘can do’ spirit that will continue. If Utah Valley were a stock, I would tell you to buy because our future is bright.”

To view photos from the summit, please see the Utah Valley Growth and Prosperity photo gallery below.

Utah Valley Growth & Prosperity Summit by UVU Photo on Exposure