St. George • Water-intensive industries wanting to relocate to St. George won’t be given the cold shoulder, but they likely won’t receive as warm a reception as they might have in the past.
That’s one point of emphasis for Chad Thomas, who was hired as St. George’s new economic development director last month. No, the city won’t start rolling up the red carpet or stop rolling out friendly greetings.
It just means city officials want to be smarter and more selective about the kind of businesses they seek to attract. So if manufacturing, entrepreneurial, high tech or FinTech (financial technology) companies want to move to St. George, the city is likely open for business.
“But if [an industry] is a heavy water user, Thomas said, “we are probably going to ask some additional questions … to see if we want to compete for that project.”
Thomas’ finickier economic development approach, at least where water is concerned, comes in the wake of Washington County Water Conservancy District officials’ acknowledgment over the past year that there soon might not be enough water to supply new growth.
The more selective approach is welcome news to Randy Simpson, who frets about the future due to the persistent drought in much of southern Utah.
“We need city and county leaders who are concerned about our water situation and are willing to make tough decisions,” the St. George resident said. “If we don’t have the foresight and courage to make those tough decisions, Mother Nature is going to make them for us and a lot of people will suffer.”
Thomas is replacing Shirlayne Quayle, who handled both housing and economic development for the city until stepping down last May. Thomas’ full-time focus will be on economic development. City officials have expressed confidence in his ability to chart St. George’s economic development course going forward and to act as a liaison to the business community.
“He brings a fresh perspective, a depth of knowledge, and a strategic vision that aligns perfectly with our city’s growth objectives,” city manager John Willis stated in a recent news release. “We love his energy and positive attitude. He’s going to hit the ground running and work extremely well with members of our community.”
Thomas, a 2011 graduate of Southern Utah University who earned his master’s degree from Appalachian State two years later, brings a wealth of experience to his new job. Most recently, he served as vice president of economic development for Iredell County Economic Development Corporation in North Carolina and as economic manager of development and tourism for Kilmarnock, Virginia.
He also is no stranger to Utah, having been involved in economic development efforts in Layton and Provo. In Layton, he administered the Community Development Block Grant program that played a role in the redevelopment of that city’s historic Layton Train Station. In Provo, he managed downtown development, among other things.
Compared to many other cities, St. George is an easy sale with respect to attracting business, according to Thomas.
“We are centrally located to some of the most dynamic natural assets in the country,” he said, “so we have a huge tourism component to our economy. We have a great university, regional airport, health care system and a great and growing workforce, which is key in economic development.”
Currently, Thomas is in a listening and learning mode and said he will spend the few months getting a firm grasp on where the city currently stands in relation to economic development. As part of that effort, he plans on conducting a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats — or SWOT — analysis.
That effort will be key in developing St. George’s blueprint for future economic development. In the meantime, he added, it’s important not to lose sight of all the great companies that are currently doing business in St. George.
“We want to make sure we are also a good place to do business for our existing businesses and the people who have already invested money in our community,” he said.
As for luring business newcomers to St. George, Thomas said it is important to lure quality industries that will offer high-paying jobs and raise the area’s standard of living. He also touts the importance of diversity so all the city’s economic eggs are not in one basket. He learned that lesson in North Carolina, where some cities were over-reliant on a single textile mill or other factory and struggled when that business closed shop.
“We want to ensure all of our [business] sectors are contributing to our economy,” he said.
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