About a month or so ago, the online magazine PandoDaily published an article regarding Provo's "Billion Dollar Row" - the series of businesses (Ancestry.com, Vivint, and Qualitrics) all located in the Riverwoods business complex. It was exciting for Provo to have these businesses highlighted. It showed that Provo does have a legitimate big-business community.In the last week I've spoken to representatives from two of the three businesses mentioned in the article. Each indicated how difficult it is for them as primarily technology-based companies to attract and retain talent. One of the three is actively looking to relocate. As I spoke with them, two common themes emerged:
1) Provo has a perception problem
2) The Riverwoods is a difficult place to get to
The Perception Problem
Even with two major universities churning out new graduates every year, these companies are still looking for talent. And it's not that BYU and UVU don't generate talent, it's that these companies value and need diversity of experience and ideas in order to develop new products and stay competitive in the global marketplace. To see a recent example see this article on the state of technology companies in Utah County.
Provo is seen as boring, unwelcoming, and lacking in diversity. This is something that I don't necessarily agree with entirely, but perception is reality. I don't think Provo can change overnight, but I believe it is happening. We are starting to see a more diverse downtown with a bustling nightlife starting to take hold. For the regular family this may not be a big deal, but for a company wanting to recruit experienced workers from throughout the country we need to continue to see these types of things happen.
I remember LDS President Hinckley during the 2002 Olympics welcoming the world to Utah and promising them they could get a drink here. Now I don't drink, myself, but I agree with President Hinckley's thinking. We are unique in Provo and that is okay, but folks need to know we really are a welcoming city and they can still have a good time here.
We have a wonderful quality of life here and we need to do a better job selling Provo. If Rock Canyon were in southern Utah it would be a state park or national monument. It is a city treasure. Sundance is 20 minutes away. Utah Lake makes up our western border, BYU and all it has to offer make Provo truly a destination place if we want it to be. But for companies looking to attract talent we need to highlight these great amenities and toot our own horn!
The Access Problem
To the second concern; the problem with the Riverwoods (I work there) is that it is in the farthest north east corner of the city. It is outside our commercial business area and traffic is slow getting there. It takes me about 20 minutes to drive from 8th North in Provo to the Riverwoods on most days. Many workers commuting there from other cities, exit I-15 then drive through Orem Center Street or 8th North in Orem to get to work. They shop in Orem on their way to work and shop in Orem on their way home. Provo should be capturing those retail sales!
I believe I have a relatively bold idea. We need to take a serious look at the East Bay/Southern Provo Corridor. Specifically, we need to consider expanding the Novell campus area for both professional office and retail space. In my plan that includes developing on the golf course property. If we want a golf course in the city there are a number of other areas we could look at (such as by the lake near the airport, or in Provo Canyon). But I believe the current property could be put to better use.
East Bay and the golf course property is near the Frontrunner intermodal hub, I-15, and the Provo Airport. That location would allow employees easy access via I-15 and bring in additional traffic to help bouy our stores in that part of town - namely the Provo Towne Center which has a number of empty stores right now (we almost lost Sears a year ago!).
Vision
I believe we need this type of vision and forward thinking if our city is to remain relevant economically. These are strong wonderful companies that create jobs for our local economy and provide opportunites for our local talent to further develop their skills. New spin off businesses are often generated from companies like these. We are losing too many good businesses that once started in Provo to Lehi (Property Solutions and Omniture now Adobe are two examples) where they have easy access via I-15 and their employees can live in Salt Lake where the perception is that Salt Lake County has a better quality of life. Provo can and we must do better.
