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Commission reviews draft Rural Economic Blueprint, asks for local edits and outreach plan
Summary
County staff and GOEO presented a draft Rural Economic Blueprint that lays out a SWOT analysis, five-year goals for business retention, workforce training, infrastructure and an implementation committee; commissioners asked for clearer action timelines and translator-supported outreach to Navajo chapter houses.
San Juan County commissioners heard a final-draft review of the county's Rural Economic Blueprint at their Dec. 16 work session and were invited to submit edits before staff returns the plan for formal consideration in January.
August Granath, technical outreach manager with the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), told the commission the program provides free, community-driven strategic planning to help rural counties translate local priorities into funding-ready projects. "It is a free service, so we're not charging communities for this service," Granath said, describing a process of stakeholder interviews, surveys and a SWOT analysis.
The draft identifies strengths including education, health care, tourism and mining anchor employers and workforce supports such as the Utah State University Blanding campus. It names water scarcity and contamination, a severe shortage of attainable housing, and limited broadband and cell service as the principal weaknesses. The report cites a past assessment finding that about 60% of households in San Juan County could not afford an average-price home.
Opportunities listed in the plan include carefully grown tourism and expanded local agriculture, leveraging broadband for a digital economy, and targeted industrial growth such as rare-earth and energy-fuel activity around the White Mesa Mill. The plan also proposes concrete projects: renovating a Monticello library classroom, building entrepreneur hub space in multiple communities, pursuing grant funding sources, and hiring capacity-building staff such as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Talia, the local economic-development champion who worked with GOEO staff, described ongoing efforts to make engagement accessible to Navajo communities, including pilot chapter-house meetings and funds for translators. "We do have funds for a translator," she said, and said the county will sponsor regular meetings and base-camp trainings that include artist and business technical assistance.
Commissioners praised the community-driven approach but pressed staff for clearer next steps and scheduling. They asked staff to add language addressing common community concerns about cell-tower siting and to summarize and translate the plan for chapter houses and Spanish- or Dine9-speaking residents. Staff said they will accept emailed comments and aim to return a revised draft for possible adoption on Jan. 20.
The session was informational; no formal action was taken. Staff said an implementation committee would be designated if the commission adopts the blueprint, and implementation responsibilities would be shared between county staff and GOEO to move priority projects forward.
