Happy Friday from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. 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!

Special Olympic Games

This week Southern Utah University, Special Olympics Utah and First Lady Abby Cox’s Show Up Foundation signed a three-year agreement to host the Special Olympics Utah Summer Games on SUU’s campus. Special Olympics Utah will work with SUU through the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games to host the event as a kickoff to the Utah Summer Games’ June Programming. Show Up will work with both of these organizations to provide volunteer support, community engagement and partnership opportunities. 

This is exciting news for our state, and we look forward to attending the games and supporting these special athletes. Thank you to all involved for their work in making this happen!

Celebrating entrepreneurs 

We were honored to attend the 36th annual MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN) Entrepreneur of the Year event. This is a great opportunity to highlight and recognize Utah business executives who have built a successful Utah-based company. There are many risks and rewards that come with being an entrepreneur which is why the MWCN takes the time to celebrate those that give back to the state.

Congratulations to my good friend David Layton, president and CEO of Layton Construction, on receiving this accolade. David has made a significant impact on Utah’s economy by supporting business growth, creating jobs, expanding opportunity, supporting education, building infrastructure, and more. He continues to uphold Utah values by his commitment to the community and more. Congratulations, David!

Military Day on the Hill

Military Day on the Hill was held in the Capitol Rotunda this week and we're grateful we could visit with members of the Armed Forces. We learned about new defense technology being developed in Utah and the role that Utah plays in our national defense. 

To Utah’s servicemen and women, thank you for your sacrifice, bravery and service in defense of our nation. We are forever indebted to you.

Election Guidance

Lt. Gov. Henderson shared some wisdom this week about the upcoming general election:

“Regardless of who occupies the White House, we, the American people, must open our hearts to “the better angels of our nature” and individually commit to embody Lincoln’s ideas of virtue; treating others with charity, not malice, accepting the results of free and fair elections, winning with grace, losing with dignity and understanding that neither victory nor defeat is permanent — there is always another election around the corner.”

Read the full op-ed here.

History Day on the Hill

Lt. Gov. Henderson met with middle and high school students from all over the state this week for History Day on the Hill. This annual event of the Utah Historical Society highlights students who share their professional research at local, state, and national competitions. 

Having graduated with her history degree just a few semesters ago, Lt. Gov. Henderson appreciated the opportunity to learn from these amazing students.

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’re recognizing Ken Matthews with the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.

Ken’s approachability has made him a go-to resource for employees seeking guidance. His unparalleled expertise and willingness to share his knowledge is extremely valuable to his peers. His genuine interest in others and their opinions, combined with his knack for recognizing individual strengths, fosters an inclusive and collaborative work environment. His commitment to organizational goals and ability to make good decisions ensures that critical tasks are effectively handled. Recently, the CCJJ received positive feedback from the Federal Office of Justice following their evaluation of their grants procedures. The success of this evaluation was largely attributed to Ken’s involvement. The Federal Office of Justice commented on Ken’s exceptional communication, coordination, and thoroughness, resulting in a smoother process and more efficient outcome. This accomplishment speaks to Ken’s ability to deliver impactful results and portrays the agency as a leader among other agencies in the country. 

Thank you, Ken, 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

• Last week we met with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah to discuss Utah’s growth and our plan for continued economic prosperity in Utah. There’s never been a better time to do business in our state! View photos here. 

• This week we visited with various Utah business and industry leaders with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. View photos here.  

• We welcomed the Rural Chamber Coalition to the Capitol this week and had over 60 representatives from chambers across the state attend. Ensuring the success of rural Utah continues to be a priority for our administration.

• Lt. Gov. Henderson continues to meet with people from all over the state who visit our Capitol during the legislative session. See photos from all our visits here.

• We’re recognizing Nan Mendenhall with the Department of Health and Human Services for her commitment to protecting Utah’s seniors from fraud, neglect and abuse. Nan's office is conducting a needs assessment survey for seniors and their caregivers. If you or someone you know is a caregiver for a senior citizen, please share the survey with them.

Coming up

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