There is the Salt Lake City you think you know – centered on skiing, the 2002 Winter Olympics and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And there is the Salt Lake City you’re going to experience during ChamberRVA’s 2019 InterCity Visit. If you’ve never been to Salt Lake City, we guarantee you’re going to be both surprised and delighted. Not everything is big in Salt Lake City, but it's anchored by a few sizable natural and man-made features. The waters of the Great Salt Lake and the snow-capped Wasatch Range marks the western edge of the Rocky Mountains. Central to downtown is the 10-acre Temple Square and the 253,000-square-foot Salt Lake Temple – the literal “place maker” of Salt Lake City, as city addresses are determined by their distance from the square. History and geography conspired to infuse Salt Lake City with an independent streak. For thousands of years, the Salt Lake Valley was home to Shoshone and other indigenous tribes. In 1847, a group of Latter-day Saints led by Brigham Young established a small settlement that quickly grew to become one of the most populous cities in the American West. Known as “the Crossroads of the West,” the city is situated almost equidistant between Denver, Colorado, and Sacramento, California – an eight- to ten- hour drive east or west. The Gold Rush and construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1870 contributed to the city’s early, rapid growth. With a metropolitan population of more than one million – the city itself is home to almost 200,000 people – Salt Lake City is comparable in size to Richmond. But this is not your parents’ Salt Lake City. The city has experienced major economic, demographic and social changes over the past several decades. Like most major American cities, Salt Lake City has grappled with population shifts to its suburbs and nearby, smaller towns. Significant efforts to revitalize downtown accelerated in anticipation of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and continue today. More than 22% of the city’s population is Hispanic or Latino, and there is a growing number of Asian and Pacific Islander residents. Despite its conservative reputation, Salt Lake City has a vibrant and active LGBTQ population, has a higher percentage of same-sex couples raising children than any other metro area in the United States and elected the city’s first openly gay mayor, Jackie Biskupski, in 2016. In fact, part of the city’s appeal for our visit is its strong sense of community, its success in navigating change and its overall economic health. Major employers are as diverse as the Delta hub at Salt Lake City International Airport, the University of Utah, Sinclair Oil and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The city’s strong banking presence is balanced by tourism, conventions and a host of major suburban call centers – supporting Discover, Netflix, eBay, Kroger, Wells Fargo and other major companies. During our visit to Salt Lake City, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to unpack its stories of progress and growth. We’ll explore both the role of faith and sports on the city’s development, but we’ll also talk about (and experience) tourism, inland ports, downtown and economic development, affordable housing and transit. Day 1 // Tuesday, April 30 Arriving early in the afternoon? No problem. We have several opportunities for you to get a head start on exploring the city – with some biking and hiking options that will take you off the beaten path. If you’d rather kick back, we’ll have a chance for you to visit one of the local breweries for a pint. Or take advantage of the world’s largest genealogical library and dig into your family history. NOON – 5:30 PM: The Little America Hotel & Participant Check-In Our home away from home for the better part of the week will be the Little America Hotel with its spacious rooms and meeting areas, and ten acres of beautifully landscaped grounds right in the heart of the city. The hotel offers a number of amenities, including Salt Lake City’s largest indoor and outdoor pool and a complete fitness center (located on the second floor of the tower). Check-in time at the hotel is 3:00 pm, so if your room isn’t quite ready, stop by the Arizona Room on the first floor of the hotel. We’ll have your meeting materials ready to pick up. Afternoon Optional Activities – for those who signed up in advance Brewery tour Outdoor biking or hiking Genealogy research 5:30 PM: Walk or Bus to Welcome Reception 6:00 – 8:00 PM: Welcome Reception at Squatter’s Pub Sponsored by Hirschler Is it a restaurant, or is it an after-work bar? Salt Lake City Weekly says that Squatter’s Pub Brewery is the best of both. Since 1989, Squatter’s has been brewing some of the city’s finest beers. We’ll gather in a private room on the second floor for a chance to connect with all the participants on this year’s trip. While we’re here, we’ll unwind, enjoy some great food and drink, and enjoy the views of downtown and the surrounding mountains. Day 2 // Wednesday, May 1 5:45 AM: Exercise Options Early birds can start their day at the hotel fitness center or enjoy the indoor/outdoor pool. If you want to get outside, you can hit the city streets or grab a GREENbike from the bike share station two blocks away (by the Sheraton). Check out the GREENbike options online at greenbikeslc.org. 6:30 – 8:00 AM Breakfast @ Little America Hotel Hotel Ballroom, First Floor 8:15 AM Welcome to Salt Lake City Sponsored by Richmond International Airport • Craig Wagstaff, President of Gas Distribution, Gas Infrastructure Group at Dominion Energy • Linda Wardell, Vice Chair of Salt Lake Chamber and General Manager of City Creek Center We bet you didn’t know that Dominion Energy has a presence in Salt Lake City. Our local utility serves almost one million homes and businesses in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Craig Wagstaff, president of the Gas Distribution, Gas Infrastructure Group at Dominion Energy, will bring us a warm welcome from the community, as well as from this year’s ICV presenting sponsor, Dominion Energy. Wagstaff had been with Questar Corporation since 1984, becoming president of Western Gas Operations when Dominion and Questar merged to form one of the nation's largest combined electric and natural gas energy companies. Wagstaff’s Utah roots run deep, and he and his team were extremely helpful in making connections for us. Linda Wardell, vice chair for the Salt Lake Chamber, will welcome us on behalf of the Chamber, which has also been extremely helpful in setting up our visit. Wardell is general manager of City Creek Center, one of the nation’s largest mixed-use, downtown redevelopment projects. Those who chose the downtown redevelopment track will hear more about this exciting project tomorrow. CONSIDER: This is your first opportunity to really understand what makes Salt Lake City attractive to residents and businesses, and hear about some of the fundamentals that drive its growth and future aspirations. During the presentation and Q&A, listen for bigger picture perspectives that can help shape the way you think about Salt Lake City. 9:00 AM What Makes Salt Lake City Tick? Sponsored by Capital One • Natalie Gochnour, University of Utah You may wonder why we’d start the day with an economist. Wonder no more. Natalie Gochnour is as multifaceted as they come and knows what drives Salt Lake City. A native Utahn, she serves as associate dean in the David Eccles School of Business and director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. She also serves as the chief economist for the Salt Lake Chamber. She’s an economist and a policy expert who speaks about complex issues in plain English. From macro to micro, from inland ports to City Creek, Gochnour has her finger on the pulse of Salt Lake City. We’ll tap into her unique insight about what works and what doesn’t in the region and how they work together to continue to drive growth. CONSIDER: Most of us don’t get many opportunities to quiz a bona fide economist – not to mention one as down-to-earth as Gochnour. There are big policy issues shaping development and growth in the Salt Lake City region, and this will be a chance to hear the data behind the headlines. 9:30 AM Regional Collaboration: Salt Lake City’s Secret Sauce Sponsored by the Community Foundation, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation and Robins Foundation • Abby Osborne, VP, Public Policy and Government Affairs, Salt Lake Chamber • Brad Wilson, Speaker of the State House of Representatives • Cliff Fleet, COO of SIR and Chair Elect of ChamberRVA - moderator In this panel discussion, two key leaders will speak to the ways in which the greater Salt Lake City region collaborates and works together to get more done. Utah is known nationally as a leader in regional planning, thanks to the efforts of far-sighted leaders and organizations like Envision Utah. In Salt Lake City, that success comes in the form of an extensive light rail and commuter rail system, the Utah Inland Port and sustainable urban development projects like City Center. Wilson sits on the board of directors of Envision Utah and can speak to its groundbreaking approach to building and sustaining a shared community vision.