Interview, Fireside Chat, Panel
2025 Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Overview
- The city anticipates setting records in key performance metrics and achieving top-ranking status during the coming year through community collaboration.
- Officials plan to advance critical mass and entrepreneurship by continuing to attract investment and leveraging a vibrant downtown ecosystem as the primary driver of economic density.
- NC State's engineering school is expected to expand enrollment from 35,000 to 40,000 students in new capacity located near downtown.
- New programs in AI and quantum fields are projected to remain strong components of the local technology industry.
- Data centers and lighter manufacturing investments are expected to grow in the region due to available land and multi-county presence, facilitating a diversification beyond high-tech sectors.
- Ogden aims to host the 2034 Olympics to showcase the community and catalyze investment, utilizing the event to drive infrastructure and development momentum.
- Future growth strategies focus on reducing household costs, including taxes, energy, and transportation, to improve the income-to-cost delta for residents.
- Housing projects in the coming year will target the identification and removal of obstacles to increase unit availability and achieve diversification through multiplexes, accessory dwelling units, and non-single-family units via recent zoning changes.
- The administration intends to address the unhoused population in the intermediate term and improve transparency on housing metrics through better data dashboards and budget language.
- Officials expect to hire a new police chief and explore alternative response units for mental health and drug addiction issues outside the traditional police department.
- Workforce development plans include OTEC high school programs for high-skill trades and adult education initiatives to transition workers from lower-paying jobs to advanced manufacturing.
- Public-private partnerships are planned to renovate buildings and introduce restaurateurs for park food and beverage services, with implementation expected to begin in spring.
- A significant risk exists that housing supply failures could drive displacement if demand outpaces growth, potentially pushing residents out of the county and city.
- Lawsuits are identified as a major destabilizing factor and obstacle to housing diversification and necessary mindset shifts regarding single-family homes.
- The city expects to leverage social infrastructure and "social capital" to drive physical infrastructure development in partnership with private industry.
- The diverse Hispanic Latino population, comprising one-third of the city, is anticipated to continue driving vibrancy and appeal to international labor.
- The "Utah way" spirit of collaboration and the "mountain to metro lifestyle" are expected to remain central to community success and quality of life.
- Public spaces are expected to demonstrate capacity to bring communities together safely, evidenced by events like the Dreamville Festival drawing 55,000 people daily for two days.