If you haven’t followed the Castle Country Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) group on Facebook, I encourage you to do so. Thursday BEAR leaders rolled-out of a new Demographic Recruitment website and immediately thereafter, sent out the press release.
What is demographic recruitment?
Demography is “the composition of a particular human population.” Our community is made up of a wide array of age, race, class, beliefs, skills, education, history, and culture. Demographic recruitment is a way to strategically attract the type of people to this area that will help it grow through both their knowledge and their economic contributions (i.e. taxes, housing, local spending, etc.).
How will Demographic Recruitment help our area?
“Initially we were targeting those who were looking for a place to retire, but as we started working on this, we began focusing on those who are 35-40 years old who are still actively employed and are in the raising stage of their family,” said Ethan Migliori, Director of the Center for Workplace Development at USU Eastern.
Attracting both demographics (retirees and young families) will accomplish several things. The homes that are vacant and, on the market, will be purchased or rented, fixed up, and property values will increase.
Others will come, buy property and build homes customized to their family. Property tax income for our area will increase thus allowing for infrastructure improvements and growth.
Retirees are a great asset to our community. They have life experience and often like to get involved in the community. They like to enjoy the world around them and take advantage of eating out, playing golf or other recreational activities that support our local businesses.
Young families will support our economy through professional activities, enrolling children in schools, and supporting local businesses. Telecommuting jobs and opportunities for home-based income, which brings dollars to our economy from larger markets through salaries and commissions, might also bring people here.
“But I don’t want growth. I like the small-town feel.”
Me too! Unfortunately, for nearly a century, our population has essentially remained stagnant with occasional ups and downs based on coal demands.
This cyclical economy will continue if we do what we have always done. Heaven forbid we become a Salt Lake or even a Tooele. We won’t.
My point?
I support this initiative and I hope readers will too. Take the time to become familiar with the website, www.whereshouldilive.com, share it on social media, and understand how growth will improve our area and our lifestyle.
Bringing in the right people will contribute to bringing in the right businesses, which provide jobs for our people and strengthens our families, schools, local businesses etc.
If done correctly, we can create an economy that not only brings tourism dollars but provides stable, year-round, high-paying jobs because we develop the proper population to support industry.
If you have a story about what brought you here, and why you stayed, please share it with Rick Shaw at rick@reddogcommunications.org. They want to hear why you chose to “come for a day and live for a lifetime.”
Trenton Willson is a local careers coach and occasional business reporter and columnist for the Sun Advocate. He can be reached at dreamcoachers@gmail.com.
BEAR demographic effort good for area
Trenton Willson