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State economic development and EDCUtah offer recruitment support; confidential "Project Everest" named as potential manufacturer
Summary
EDCUtah and the state’s rural economic office outlined tools and contacts to help Emery County recruit manufacturers and energy projects. EDCUtah said a confidential lead dubbed Project Everest could bring about 160 jobs and roughly $360 million in investment; GOEO offered targeted outreach and incentive guidance.
EDCUtah and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) presented recruitment support to the Emery County Economic Development Board, highlighting recent site visits and a confidential manufacturing lead called Project Everest.
Greg Bisping, vice president of investor relations at EDCUtah, told the board Emery County has been an EDCUtah investor since 2019 and that the organization maintains a pipeline of roughly 110 active projects and longstanding relationships with site selectors. "We are a public‑private nonprofit," Bisping said, describing services EDCUtah provides, including community profiles, research and promotion of local wins to investors.
Jared, EDCUtah’s project manager, described Project Everest as a large manufacturer under NDA that has considered sites in the region. "They're talking about 160 new jobs on 250 acres and they would invest about $360,000,000," Jared said, adding the firm is a heavy water user and that Green River’s water rights were a competitive advantage in the site selection process.
Jen Wakeland, GOEO’s business development director for Southern and Rural Utah, said the state generally remains location‑agnostic but uses tools that make some counties more competitive, including incentive structures tied to county wage levels (she contrasted REDTIF and EDTIF programs). She offered to help arrange targeted outreach, familiarization tours and introductions to firms GOEO and EDCUtah believe could match Emery County’s assets.
Presenters repeatedly cited water availability and pre‑negotiated incentives at Utah Inland Port Authority sites as distinguishing factors. Jared explained that port authority designations can support bond financing for infrastructure — power, water, sewer and road extensions — and that Green River’s roughly 2,000 acre‑feet of controllable water rights are a bargaining chip for large industrial water users.
Commissioners discussed recent project losses to other states and asked for more regular, proactive communication following site visits. Board members and presenters agreed on follow‑up steps: add county contacts to RFI distributions, schedule familiarization site visits, and assemble a targeted list of industries and specific firms for focused recruitment.
The presentation concluded with EDCUtah and GOEO offering ongoing support: research resources, introductions to site selectors and help preparing incentive packages and travel for recruitment when the county provides prioritized targets. The board did not take formal action on any single project during the meeting.
