Annual Growth and Prosperity Summit to feature Congressman John Curtis

October 21, 2023 (Daily Herald)

Curtis Blair, who describes himself as an entrepreneur and business alchemist, was named president and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce four years ago. Since that time, he has engaged the community in yearly discussions and bringing local stakeholders to the same page concerning the growth and prosperity of Utah valley.

For the past three years Blair, the chamber and Utah Valley University have hosted the Growth and Prosperity Summit.

This year, the summit will feature U.S. Rep. John Curtis along with other state and local leaders, plus nearly 500 attendees from corporate, government, education and nonprofit organizations to learn about and discuss the many issues facing cities and citizens in Utah County. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Sorensen Student Center ballroom on UVU’s Orem campus.

Speakers and panelists will address Utah’s explosive population growth and how it will affect transportation, education, air quality, infrastructure, workforce development, health care, water, business and economic development.

According to Blair, attendees will form a coalition to identify ways to make meaningful contributions in organizations, industries and communities, create inclusive growth and prosperity opportunities, and work together to lead Utah Valley into the future.

“Utah Valley is expected to see tremendous growth in the coming decades, and we need the right leaders and information to guide us there,” Curtis said. “I am thrilled to join the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce at its third annual Growth & Prosperity Summit and help our community meet our critical needs now and into the future.”

The event features 12 experts, including Curtis; UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez; Laura Hanson, state planning coordinator at the Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget; Jay Fox, executive director of the Utah Transit Authority; Jim Evans, Utah Department of Transportation commissioner; Lindon Mayor Carolyn Lundberg; LaNiece Davenport, planning and policy director for the Mountainland Association of Governments; Shawn Teigen, president of the Utah Foundation; and business and statistical academic leaders from Brigham Young University and UVU.

“We have worked hard to bring together such a diverse group of leaders and stakeholders to discuss and take action on the critical issues facing our community,” Blair said. “The summit is an opportunity to create a shared vision for the future of Utah Valley and to work together to achieve it.”

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