Southwest Utah: Building into the future.

• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: SOUTHWEST UTAH

In the southwestern corner of the state, population growth is driving construction, which is keeping employment rates on the rise. Washington County is looking at a long-term population growth rate of 229 percent, with its total population to hit more than 500,000 by the year 2065--which should keep the region active for decades to come.

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

(1) Intermountain Healthcare

(2) Walmart

(4) Washington County School District

(4) Dixie State University

(5)Southern Utah University

(6) Iron County School District

(7) St. George City

(8) SkyWest Airlines

(9) United States Government

(10) State of Utah

YEAR-TO-YEAR CHANGE IN NONFARM JOBS (JUNE 2017) % CHANGE NO. Beaver 3.6% 81 Garfield 6.6% 182 Iron 3.0% 501 Kane 1.1% 41 Washington 4.6% 2,816 Source: Department of Workforce Services WASHINGTON COUNTY THIRD QUARTER 2017 PERMIT AUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTION (IN THOUSANDS) NEW RESIDENTIAL NEW RESIDENTIAL ADDITIONS/ NONRESIDENTIAL ALTERATIONS/REPAIRS Total Value $392,534.0 $9,675.9 $87,868.8 Percent Change 51.7% 107.4% -60.9% NONRESIDENTIAL TOTAL ADDITIONS/ CONSTRUCTION ALTERATIONS/REPAIRS VALUE Total Value $37,101.7 $527,170.4 Percent Change 164.3% 5.0% Source: Ivory-Boyer Construction Database, Kern C. Gardner Policy Institute POPULATION PROJECTIONS COUNTY 2015 2025 2035 Beaver 6,710 7,408 8,017 Garfield 5,164 5,845 6,405 Iron 49,406 59,900 67,803 Kane 7,271 8,684 9,611 Washington 154,602 219,019 286,768 COUNTY 2045 2055 2065 Beaver 8,606 9,068 9,649 Garfield 6,697 7,083 7,509 Iron 74,812 81,589 89,599...