From mountain to Valley: mapping Utah's regional strengths.

• Author: Szkolar, Dorotea

Utah is geographically diverse, from its lush, mountainous dairy lands in the north to its spectacular red rock deserts in the south. Several regions in the state are noted for their unique industrial strengths, and each is capitalizing on those strengths to power a robust economic recovery.

Northern Utah

About 30 miles north of Salt Lake City, Hill Air Force Base is one of the largest employers in Northern Utah. The base employs approximately 23,000 and inputs $3.6 billion annually into Utah's economy. Hill Air Force Base accounts for another 25,000 indirect jobs, especially in the aerospace and defense-related industries. One such business is Northrop Grumman Corporation, a global security company that employs about 1,428 Utahns in total between the base and the Salt Lake City area.

Another major employer is Weber State University, a major institution of higher education that employs 1,553 Utahns and enrolls more than 25,000 full-and part-time students. Other major industries in Northern Utah include manufacturing, information, transportation/logistics and healthcare.

Major manufacturing employers include Lifetime Products (folding tables, chairs and residential basketball hoops), Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (vans, flatbeds and trailers), Orbit Irrigation Products Inc. (irrigation and watering products) and Zero Manufacturing (protective cases).

Salt Lake

Salt Lake County is located in the north-central portion of Utah. As the area covers Salt Lake City and its suburbs, major employers can be found in almost every industry. One of the largest employers in the state is Salt Lake-based Intermountain Healthcare, an internationally recognized nonprofit health system of 22 hospitals that employs 25,900 Utahns.

The University of Utah, founded in 1850, is located right in Salt Lake City. The university enrolls more than 31,000 students and employs between 5,000 and 6,999 workers. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is another major employer of note. According to public information, the LDS Church employs anywhere from 2,000 to 9,000 Utahns. Other major employers in the Salt Lake Valley include 1-800 CONTACTS, INC., The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, Convergys, Wells Fargo, Rio Tinto and Kennecott Utah.

Central Utah

Central Utah is a largely rural area, attracting both outdoorsmen and tourists with its extensive state parks and public lands. The area benefits from major employers in the industries of mining, energy...