Happy Veterans Day (Observed) from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Thanks to all those who serve and have served our country so admirably. We owe a debt of gratitude to you and your families, and we’re looking forward to honoring you this weekend.

Here’s your recap of what we did this week, what's on the horizon, and more. Reply to this email with any questions or suggestions regarding the newsletter. And thank you for subscribing!

Fighting homelessness 

As winter months fast approach, our concern for the homeless in Utah continues to rise. This week we were joined by elected officials and private sector leaders at a new 24/7 winter shelter for single men and couples. This is one of 11 temporary facilities in Salt Lake County and 30 throughout the state that will keep our homeless friends out of the cold this winter. 

In recent months, the state has been working closely with Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, the business community, service providers and many others in our communities to refine our objectives and respective roles when it comes to caring for some of our most vulnerable residents. We remain fully committed to a coordinated effort between state and local government to help the unsheltered in Utah. We appreciate the work of our partners and especially our state homeless services coordinator Wayne Neiderhauser and the Office of Homeless Services. 

We can do a lot more when we work together – and that’s truly the Utah Way! View photos from the press conference here.

Meeting with Western Governors Association

Western states have a lot in common, from water issues and wildfires to our rich histories. We had the opportunity this past week to visit with our fellow governors from both political parties at the Western Governors Association winter meeting.

We discussed the importance of working together to protect our region’s lands, waters, and wildlife. We talked about strategies to support farming and ranching within our states, and U. S. Secretary of Agriculture TomVilsack outlined a three-pronged approach to the threats the agriculture industry faces today. It was an impactful few days working together to help our states flourish. 

Looking forward to continuing to have productive conversations and collaboration with these governors who are dedicated to serving the people who call the West their home!

Celebrating life sciences in Utah

This week we celebrated the economic powerhouse that is the life sciences industry in Utah. From 2012-2022, Utah’s life sciences hub was the fastest-growing in the nation, and in 2020, Utah’s life science job growth reached an exceptional 7.2%. Today, Utah remains in the top three states for life sciences growth, from devices to pharmaceuticals to research and laboratories. Utah is the place to start a company, run a lab, invest in new technologies and take products to market. 

We appreciate the good work of our industry leaders, the entrepreneurial spirit of our higher ed institutions and the strong interest by investors to help the life sciences grow and succeed in our state.

Election work in D.C.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and staff spent the week representing Utahns in Washington, D.C. She joined Johns Hopkins University’s SNF Agora Institute and R Street for a conference on elections and democracy. Election experts from across the country discussed ways to increase public trust and improve best practices.

She was also invited by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators to participate in a forum addressing how artificial intelligence might affect elections and what we can do about it. We’re proud of what Utah has done to prepare for AI and the importance of building trust in our election systems.

Read more about the Conservative Principles of Democracy from the conference here and see her remarks to the Senate AI Insight Forum on elections here.

A visit with the Department of Interior

While in D.C., Lt. Gov. Henderson met with the Department of Interior’s Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Bryan Newland. She was accompanied by advisors Larry EchoHawk and Dustin Jansen, who have played a pivotal role in our relationships with our sovereign neighbors. 

Utahns are lucky to have Lt. Gov. Henderson advocating for their needs. We look forward to continued cooperation with our federal partners on these important issues.

Governor’s Award for Excellence Highlight

Each week, we’re highlighting a state employee who was recently awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence. This week we are recognizing Eileen Barron with the Utah Department of Transportation. 

Eileen Barron has taken a leading role in a variety of unique tasks, all of which have helped shape a strengths-based culture at UDOT. She creates strategies and implementation plans; and she empowers others to take action, turning over ownership to ensure cultural changes take root in UDOT’s culture for the long-term. Some of her most significant efforts include: development of a new format and curriculum for UDOT’s Leadership Training program; creation of a program for teaching individual employees and teams about their strengths and how to use them for better teamwork and well-being; creation of resources for leaders to integrate best practices for improving employee engagement and well-being. Eileen has also worked with external partners to understand how UDOT can support quality of life for all communities. Eileen’s thoughtful, collaborative approach is supporting UDOT’s goal of creating a culture that embodies the values of respect, integrity, and caring.

Thank you, Eileen, for your dedication to the state of Utah. Keep up the great work! To read about the Governor’s Awards for Excellence, click here. 

ICYMI

• This week we hosted members of Utah’s Hindu community at the Governor’s Mansion to observe Diwali, the celebration of lights. Diwali is a beautiful reminder to be aware of our own inner light and honor traditions. Wishing a Happy Diwali this Sunday to all who celebrate!

• Nov. 6 was National Election Hero Day. See our message to all of Utah’s wonderful election workers here.

Coming up

Get involved!

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Those looking to volunteer can also consider more than 300 boards and commissions. Find out which openings are available and how you can get involved here!

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