Emery County leaders review draft economic-blueprint assessment, flag coal, water and housing risks

Consultants working on an Emery County economic blueprint presented findings and solicited feedback at a Council of Governments meeting, saying the document is a draft intended for revision based on local input.

The consultant said the assessment draws on U.S. Census Bureau data, the Utah Department of Workforce Services, Lightcast and interviews with local mayors, and recommended adding detailed data to an appendix for later reference. "The point of this conversation is to get clarification feedback so that we can revise it and make sure it's actually accurate based off of this room," the project consultant said.

Why it matters: the draft frames Emery County's economy around a few large resource and energy employers and identifies both short-term growth (driven by construction and industrial projects) and long-term risks from declining coal generation, constrained water supplies and a shortage of housing and year‑round jobs.

Key findings and context

The presentation summarized county demographics and workforce data the consultant described as "high level" and said would be published in appendices. The draft shows Emery County's population at just over 10,000 residents and a 3% growth rate since 2020; Lightcast projections cited in the presentation estimate roughly 0.5% annual growth in the near term. The consultant said the county had about 3,600 jobs — about 400 more than in 2019, a roughly 13% increase over that period — and a median household income near $70,000. Educational…