SALT LAKE CITY (April 25, 2007) - From the show floor of the largest trade show of its kind West of the Mississippi, the Salt Lake Chamber today announced a new campaign to collect 1000 names over the next 100 days of willing and capable people to serve on boards and commissions within state, Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City governments. The campaign is designed to provide Governor Huntsman, Mayor Corroon, Mayor Anderson and other appointing officials/entities with people who understand and can represent the business perspective on public issues. The Chamber has formed a committee of business and community leaders and developed a robust database to help execute this campaign to strengthen the voice of business in public affairs.

“There are literally hundreds of boards and commissions that advise or make policy decisions impacting our business climate,” said Deedee Corradini, former Salt Lake City Mayor and chair of the Chamber’s Boards and Commissions committee. “Appointing officials want to appoint people with business experience, but too often they are unaware of the immense pool of talent available.”

The Chamber welcomes anyone interested in community service to visit our Web site and submit a name. To apply or nominate someone see us online at www.saltlakechamber.org or call (801) 328-5070 to receive a FAXABLE questionnaire.

Chamber research verified that more than 400 boards and commissions exist with state, Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City governments. Many of these boards influence or make critical decisions impacting Utah businesses:

• The Transportation Commission makes decisions about what roads to build and in what order.
• State Ethnic Advisory Councils serve the needs of ethnic constituents of Utah.
• The Tax Commission influences state tax policy such as what is taxable at what rates and how our taxes are administered.
• Planning Commissions guide planning and zoning decisions.
• The Board of Regents and Board of Education set education policies such as tuition rates and curriculum requirements.
• The Board of Business and Economic Development grants business incentives.

These are just a few of the many examples of appointed entities that influence Utah’s business climate.

The Chamber has identified 144 boards and commissions with the greatest impact on the business environment and will target these boards. Major categories of interest include economic development, travel and tourism, arts and culture, finance, health care, energy, water, legal, ethnic affairs, transportation, environment, education, tax policy and housing. Within each of these categories the Chamber will use a robust database that includes the name of the board, appointing official, membership requirements, term and timing of the next vacancy. The database will be used to organize potential nominees and track new openings.

“We have reached out to other Chambers of Commerce within the state and secured their support to strengthen the voice of business on Boards and Commissions,” said Salt Lake Chamber President and CEO Lane Beattie. “Our objective is to get business people involved in public decisions that affect their bottom line.”

The Chamber is particularly interested in people who have not previously served in an elected or appointed capacity.

“There is a tendency to look at the same people over and over again,” said committee member and former Senator Jake Garn. “We are asking for small business owners, vice presidents of major corporations, CEOs and others to identify outstanding people within their organizations who are not currently involved, but who are willing to share their talent in the public realm. Their service will make our government more representative and the economy more prosperous.”

The Chamber Boards and Commission Committee includes business leaders, former elected officials, and other community-minded Chamber members.

The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-serving business association and represents more than one in every three jobs in the state. Recent Chamber public policy successes include the Utah Science Research and Technology initiative, Proposition 3 (expanded transportation system) and Downtown Rising, a new vision for Salt Lake City.

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