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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's business community has identified immigration and permitting reform has some of its top priorities.
The Salt Lake Chamber is pushing for the issues during an upcoming trip to lobby Utah's congressional delegates in Washington, D.C. The chamber is the state's largest business association, with members in all 29 counties.
"The Salt Lake Chamber and its members are committed to sustaining Utah's strong economy and the prosperity of its people," Chamber President and CEO Derek Miller said in a statement. "Immigration and permitting reform are just two of our priorities, emphasizing the necessity to modernize and streamline our nation's permitting process for economic growth and to establish an immigration system that is fair and supports our state's workforce needs."
The chamber's focus is part of a heightened interest in immigration's role in the state's economy and workforce. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has been vocal on the national stage in his calls for immigration reform.
"Our economy is demanding that we need more workforce, and we just can't find more workforce here," Cox said during his monthly news conference in April. "So, this isn't about taking jobs away from Americans; it's about helping create new jobs and more jobs and helping our economy to continue to grow."
Data seems to support those claims. A recent report from the American Immigration Council shows immigrants are playing a crucial role in addressing Utah's health care labor shortages. Likewise, a 2022 report showed the number of immigrants is increasing at a higher rate in Utah than nationwide and that they are overrepresented in a number of fields.
Utah has also received both national and international attention from immigrant workers after it passed a set of laws making it easier for those with foreign credentials to become licensed in hundreds of professions in the state.
The chamber's trip to Washington, D.C., next week will include a number of business executives and community leaders, including some from AT&T, Deseret Digital Media — which owns KSL.com — and the Larry H. Miller Company.
The coalition also hopes to discuss other issues, including incentivizing domestic manufacturing and partnerships with international allies, reducing federal regulatory burdens, investing in grid resiliency, increasing flights between D.C. and Utah, and ensuring Utah receives its fair share of water from the Colorado River.
"The Chamber is championing big-picture issues that shape the economic landscape," Miller said. "The trip will provide an opportunity for Utah business leaders to network, learn and be involved in policy discussions that affect not only Utahns, but are instrumental to ensure a strong and vibrant national economy."
