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!

Bringing Disagree Better to Ted Talk 

This week our Ted Talk on Disagree Better was published! We’ve been honored to talk about Disagree Better in lots of remarkable venues, and TED is at the top of that list. Disagree Better is a radical call to change the way we talk about politics. There’s an exhausted majority of Americans and they love the idea that we can disagree without hate or contempt and want to see more healthy conflict from their political leaders. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch and learn more about how we can all Disagree Better. 

Finding solutions to housing

Our country is in a housing crisis, and the federal government has dropped the ball. As a result, cities and states are leading the way, banding together to drive housing policy from the ground up. We are honored to join the National Housing Crisis Task Force as co-chair. Together, we will work together to bring innovations in housing production, preservation and finance to communities across the country. Learn more here.

Celebrating companies championing women

Utah's women are a driving force behind our state's thriving economy, representing over half of all entrepreneurs in our state. This week, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson addressed the ongoing challenges women face in the workplace at the annual 100 Companies Championing Women Recognition Awards. The event highlights Utah businesses leading the way in creating equitable workplaces for women. 

Congratulations to all the awardees!

BridgeFest

Let’s be honest—construction isn’t the most exciting topic for most people. This presents a unique challenge for the Utah Department of Transportation when it comes to communicating essential road closures and construction updates to the public. To engage and inform the community about ongoing projects, they launched BridgeFest, a dynamic social media campaign spotlighting the extensive bridge work happening throughout the state this summer.

They branded these efforts as BridgeFest, gave it a fun logo and dubbed it as the “Utah Coachella” of construction. 3.5 million impressions and 250K engagements later, they’re reaching more Utahns than ever before with timely and important information. By sharing the when and why behind projects, they’re ensuring that our community stays in the loop and maybe even gets a little excited about infrastructure improvements.

Staying safe in the summer heat

Summer in Utah is unmatched, but we must recreate safely. The Department of Natural Resources provides the following tips on how to safely enjoy the great outdoors. 

• Stay hydrated 

• Avoid dehydrating liquids

• Wear sunscreen

• Refuel with snacks

• Pace yourself

• Plan for the heat

• Know the signs of exhaustion 

• Know the signs of heat stroke

As summer starts winding down, we hope you enjoy all that Utah has to offer, and stay safe!

Utah’s Fruit Festivals

Throughout summer and into early fall, Utah’s fruit harvest time brings about some of the most delicious peaches, berries, melons and so much more. Utahns travel all over the state to local markets to stock up. Utah is proud of our rich agricultural history and how these festivals bring communities together. Check out how you can visit the fruit festivals here, and learn more about fruit in Utah here.

ICYMI

• Honored to have USA Women’s Rugby Bronze Medalist, and Utahn, Alex “Spiff” Sedrick visit the capitol this week. Congratulations on a historic game! 

• In light of recent bear incidents and sightings in Utah, Wild Aware Utah shared some tips to keep recreators and bears safe. Learn more here. 

• This past week we recognized National Purple Heart Day. National Purple Heart Day recognizes the bravery and sacrifice of our service members who were wounded or killed in action. We are grateful for the sacrifices of those who served to keep us safe and honor their courage. 

• The Return Utah program received a community impact award from People Helping People of Utah. Congratulations!

Get involved!

Looking for a new job opportunity? From great employee benefits to versatile work schedules, the career opportunities with the state are truly endless. Join Team Utah today! 

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!

Get in touch!