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!

A historic conservation agreement

This week we joined the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) and Compass Minerals to announce an historic conservation agreement that will benefit theGreat Salt Lake. This voluntary agreement does a few things: 

• It represents the first voluntary agreement between the FFSL and a major operator on the Great Salt Lake. 

• Compass Minerals will permanently donate more than 200,000 acre feet of water rights annually for the benefit of the Great Salt Lake. That is more water volume than Causey, Echo, Pineview, Lost Creek and Rockport reservoirs combined.

• Compass Minerals has committed to permanently relinquish nearly 65,000 acres of leased land around the Great Salt Lake, which withdraws that land from future mineral leasing and returns it to the FFSL’s stewardship.

The Great Salt Lake is part of our state’s history, heritage and identity and we all have a role to play in water conservation. We’re grateful for Compass Mineral’s leadership and the lasting benefit their important contributions will make toward the health and sustainability of the lake for generations to come.

Visiting with local leaders

Every year I look forward to meeting with Utah’s mayors and county officials from across the state at the Utah League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention. Local government is where the rubber meets the road, and local leaders are at the forefront of everything happening in Utah. 

We discussed all things Utah:

• Our plan to build 35,000 starters homes in Utah to make home ownership attainable for all Utahns.

• The 2034 Olympics are an exciting opportunity for Utah to enhance our infrastructure, create new jobs, and how local communities throughout the state can get involved.

• How we can work together as cities and state governments to maintain a high quality of life throughout our state.

Meeting with law enforcement

Our law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to keep our communities safe. As a state, it is crucial that we do everything we can to support them. I was honored to meet with chiefs and sheriffs from across the state to discuss what steps state government can take to further assist them in their mission to improve public safety throughout Utah.

Historic Flag Returns to Utah

A historic Utah flag has returned to Utah after 93 years of flying at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge. The flag, hand-embroidered by Hannah Wilcox DuPont, was donated to the chapel in 1931. Known as "Utah's Betsy Ross," DuPont's work is a cherished piece of Utah history. The Episcopal Church at Valley Forge graciously facilitated an exchange with Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson on Sunday, allowing this treasured artifact to return to home. Efforts to display the flag to the public are underway.

Working to relieve school lunch debt 

No kid should have to go hungry during the school day. That is why we’re redirecting $1.2 million from the American Rescue Plan into an exciting new grant program! Schools are now able to apply for reimbursement of school lunch debt attributable to low-income families, ensuring every student has the support they need. 

Let’s keep building a brighter, healthier future together! Learn more here.

Honoring Utah’s Artists

On Wednesday we honored some of the great creative minds and supporters of the arts in Utah at the Governor’s Mansion Artist Awards! This year’s honorees were performing artist Terry Goedel, visual artist and florist Jeff Leatham, and the Eccles Family. 

Terry Goedel is the leader and founder of the Native American hoop dancing group, N8tivehoop. His group has performed all over the world, including at the 2002 Winter Olympics right here in Utah. Terry found his passion for dance while attending BYU and participating in their performing arts groups. Since then his mission has been to help others find joy and pride in their heritage. 

Florist, Jeff Leatham, is known worldwide for his unique style of floral arranging. From Ogden, Utah, he developed a love of flowers while on his family’s farm in the summers. Since then, he has become a sought after florist for celebrity weddings, designer brands, and luxury hotels. Working as a creative director, Jeff seeks to elevate every moment with his beautiful designs. 

The Eccles Family has supported the arts in Utah for decades. Their 66 years of service has provided Utahns with countless opportunities to make and consume art. Their organization, The George S. and Dolores Doré Foundation, has raised $800 million for nonprofit organizations and seeks to educate and serve the communities of Utah through the arts. 

View photos from the event here.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

When life feels hard or overwhelming, you don’t have to face things alone. Getting help for yourself or someone you care  about starts with a call or text to 988—where you always have someone to talk to, someone to help you, and somewhere safe to go.​

988 provides immediate emotional and mental health support from trained crisis workers. 988 is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, even holidays. You don’t need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a Social Security number to get help. Call or text 988 anytime if you need to talk to someone or are worried about someone. You can also chat with 988 crisis workers online.

988 helps people deal with a wide range of situations —from everyday challenges to crisis situations. Calling or texting 988 can be one of the best ways to get help in a crisis. But 988 isn’t just for people in crisis situations. In fact, we hope you call or text 988 before you or someone you care about gets to the point where things become serious. The earlier you reach out for help, the easier it often is to work through the challenges you’re facing. 

Learn more at 988.utah.gov.

ICYMI

• Nothing says “late summer in Utah” like Brigham City Peaches! Thank you to Brigham City Peach Queen Pixie Merkely for stopping by the capitol. 

• Honored to meet with Nancy Espinoza, the national commander of Disabled American Veterans.

• This week I joined my friend Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Will Johnson, CEO of The Harris Poll, to discuss how Americans aren’t as far apart as we may think and what we can all do to depolarize our country. Learn more here. 

• This week we were honored to meet with the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation, the Skull Valley Band of Goshute and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. Our relationships with the sovereign nations of Utah are critical, and we’re grateful for our close partnerships with tribal leadership!

Coming up

• Sept. 7: Honored to participate in a memorial honoring America’s Fallen Firefighters in Ogden.

• Sept. 9: We will be attending the Utah Housing Matters Conference to discuss our plan to build 35,000 starter homes in Utah!

• Sept. 11: Grateful for the opportunity to honor our state’s most exclusive club, the Centenarians!

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!