With layoffs still heavily outweighing job openings, Box Elder County has been designated as an "area of economic distress" by the federal Economic Development Administration. As the only such county within an eight-state region, Brigham City Economic Development director Paul Larsen said, Box Elder now has federal funds available to develop a strategic plan to help attract new businesses and retain existing businesses. Brigham City, Tremonton, Box Elder County, and the Bear River Association of Governments will work together to develop several projects throughout the next year. Additional funds will be available from the EDA to put them in place. At an economic summit on Friday, Tom Lee, dean of the Utah State University Brigham City Regional Campus and Education Center, announced the addition of a business resource center to the Brigham City campus. The director of the center will be a small-business expert with support from retired business executives, the Governor's Office of Economic Development, and faculty and students from the Huntsman School of Business at USU.
Standard-Examiner, August 20, 2010
