UMA Board Has Breakfast With Governor Herbert

September 15, 2009

It has been awhile in the making, but finally Governor Herbert has the pomp and ceremony out of the way and can be about the business of Utah. He met this morning with the Utah Manufacturers Association Board of Directors and a few other manufacturing executives from across Utah who have a member relationship with the National Association of Manufacturers. The UMA board invited Governor Herbert to not only congratulate him on his recent appointment as Utah’s new governor but also to introduce him to Utah’s manufacturers and emphasize the importance of manufacturing to Utah’s economy.

The meeting with some twenty five manufacturing executives at the Grand America Hotel was a very productive meeting to discuss the future of manufacturing in Utah and to update the new governor and some of his key staff with conditions in manufacturing in as the current recession begins to right itself. Each member company present outlined for Governor Herbert what they do and how they are doing in this economic downturn. The conditions, of course, were a mixed bag; from some who have done fairly well during the past year to some who have really struggled to keep things together.

Governor Herbert acknowledged that his administration needs to foster more manufacturing in Utah and noted that there was a reason why Jason Perry, former Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, is his chief of staff. He said he is there because he wants a strong focus with this administration on economic development and growing the Utah economy. The Governor said, “We ought not penalize those who create wealth in our state by raising taxes on them that will further burden those who create great value to our state.” “If you get the economy right, the rest will take care of itself.” He suggested manufacturers represent the American dream, because you provide good paying jobs that support families and fill the coffers of the State to provide the needed services of government.

“I appreciate UMA as the voice of industry in Utah and I understand the importance of associations in being the voice of various industries because I have had occasion to work in associations at the local government level and with realtors,” he said.

In conclusion Governor Herbert pledged his support for the free enterprise system in Utah and solicited the support of manufacturers in making Utah an even better place to live, work and rear a family.