THE PATH TO GROWTH: Seven steps to keep up with our state's exponential growth.

• Author: Miller, Derek B.

Within the next 50 years, Utah's population is expected to double, reaching nearly six million people, according to the Kern C. Gardner Policy Institute. For many Utahns, exponential growth like this raises concerns about how our state, cities, neighborhoods, and lifestyles will be impacted. However, proactive and deliberate planning today means we can harness this growth to our state's advantage, creating an opportunity out of a potential obstacle.

TAX MODERNIZATION

To start, our business climate must remain strong for our state to continue to be a destination for new businesses to develop and current businesses to expand. We need to modernize our tax structure by broadening our sales tax base to include consumable services. Additionally, we need to simplify our system of incentives for businesses to focus on workforce development and recruiting talent. Doing these things will create the environment necessary for businesses to thrive, ensuring good jobs for current and future Utahns.

WORKFORCE

To fill those jobs, we'll need an abundant, skilled workforce, which will require partnerships between our colleges, universities, businesses, and high schools. This will include bolstering our Pathways Programs, such as the Highway, IT, and Construction Pathways. In 2010, one in five immigrants in Utah worked in the construction industry, but in 2017, only two percent of Utah's foreign-born population worked in construction. Additionally, for every five individuals retiring from the construction and trade labor force, only one replacement is being trained. This strained workforce creates risk for future development and could result in ever-increasing housing prices.

HOUSING GAP

Housing is an industry in which we can't afford to be short-staffed, as Utah's housing market is already facing a major gap. We currently have 54,000 more households than available housing units. With the rising costs of construction materials and a low number of available units, we aren't just facing a shortage of housing, but a shortage of affordable housing. We must work with local communities and municipalities now to create smart growth, such as neighborhoods, with a variety of housing options to address our growing population and provide options for income of all levels.

TRANSPORTATION

Part of that smart growth must include a comprehensive transportation plan implemented ahead of the coming crowds. We believe users of our state's infrastructure should bear the primary...