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Payson committee reviews Emtek innovation center plans, CC Bank pledges $10,000
Summary
Committee members discussed outfitting a 3,000-square-foot innovation center in the Emtek Building — including equipment, rentable rooms, a podcast booth and an 11 a.m. tour — and noted a $10,000 donation from CC Bank toward the space.
At a meeting of the Payson City Economic Development Committee, members reviewed plans for a city-supported innovation center in the Emtek Building and confirmed a $10,000 donation from CC Bank toward startup equipment and programming.
The innovation center will occupy about 3,000 square feet in the nearly completed Emtek Building, committee members said. Brian, a committee member, told the group Emtek is buying the equipment that will go in the space and that the city has paid to finish the 3,000-square-foot area so it will be immediately usable once leased or staffed.
The committee discussed specific amenities planned for the center: six small rentable rooms for startups, a podcast room, telephone booths for private calls, a larger classroom area for training and community classes, and shared maker equipment such as a 3-D printer, higher-end digital label/printing equipment and possibly a laser cutter. Emtek’s prelease and the city’s upfront payment were described as allowing the city to terminate the lease if needed, with prorated repayment from the building owner.
"They're donating $10,000 toward the innovation center. If anybody wants to come to that today at 11:00, you can have a tour of the building," Brian said during the discussion.
Committee members said the plan calls for the center to be affordable: utilities will be paid by the building owner, and rental and equipment fees will be structured so revenue returns to Payson. Committee members also raised programming ideas and model comparisons, noting visits to similar centers in St. George and Cedar City to determine what equipment is most used.
A committee member said the city will consider charging for materials but not for the basic use of shared equipment; podcast and classroom use may carry modest fees to cover staffing or consumables. Members also discussed outreach to local businesses and education partners to fill classrooms and to ensure the center supports startup and workforce pathways.
The committee invited members to the Emtek tour at 11:00 a.m. and asked city staff to finalize a usage-and-fee plan before opening. No formal vote or ordinance was taken at the meeting.
The innovation center discussion came amid broader committee conversation about business recruitment and downtown events; members said they expect the center to complement workforce development and marketing efforts.
