Letter from Val Hale, Governor's Office of Economic Development.

• Author: Hale, Val

During my many years working at Brigham Young University (BYU), I had the opportunity to work closely with coaching legend LaVell Edwards. Under his direction, the BYU football team won conference after conference-something fans started getting used to. Coach Edwards was quick to remind everyone that winning a conference doesn't "just happen." You can't expect to keep winning without working for it.

The same goes for a winning economy. Just as the top players flocked to Edwards, top businesses are flocking to Utah. As executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) it's my privilege to meet with many companies that want to be a part of the winning team.

UTAH'S MANY TITLES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

* Forbes No. 1 Best State for Business and Careers - Forbes magazine, five out of the last six years

* No. 1 Pro-Business State--Pollina Corporate Real Estate, four years running

* No. 3 Top State for Business--CNBC

* A+ for Small Business Friendliness--Thumbtack.com. four years running

And that's just the short list. Our state's economic scorecard contains top marks in everything from innovation and entrepreneurship to quality of life. What's more, our scorecard shows a growing trend-we keep winning year after year. In fact, we've earned the spot for No. 1 economic outlook every year since 2008. We've built an economic dynasty.

Sure, it's nice to win. But you want to know you're joining a team you can be proud of for years to come.

Staying on top is far harder than getting there. Team Utah maintains its success by sticking to the fundamentals: reduced regulation, spending within means and proactive problem-solving. Wins are earned by addressing the weak points and planning ahead. The real trick is consistent collaboration.

One pressing economic issue facing the entire nation is workforce development. Team Utah's unprecedented level of collaboration between government, business, and education and community leaders has already produced impressive results.

For short-term solutions, we've managed to wield partnerships for fast results. The IT and software sector has some of the most immediate needs in Utah, with unfilled jobs estimated in the thousands. UtahTechNetwork.com, conceptualized and launched this year, is part of a digital ad campaign designed to attract experienced tech professionals to the state...