Partnership promotes business
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
lpark@standard.net
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strong>Davis, Morgan and Weber want to attract entrepreneurial seeds
FARMINGTON -- Sew-N-Save owners opened their doors 30 years ago in Davis County and have stayed and flourished.
A new tri-county partnership hopes to attract and help more entrepreneurial ventures like the locally owned fabric shop, community leaders said.
Davis, Morgan and Weber county leaders announced Thursday the formation of "Stimulating the Expansion of Entrepreneurial Development."
County commissioners from the three counties along with Weber State University President Ann Millner announced the joint enterprise.
The tri-county project is part of SEED Utah and led by Grow Utah Ventures, a private nonprofit organization.
The aim is to encourage and support Utah's entrepreneurs.
Jon Little, co-owner of Sew-N-Save, said when he and his wife, Ann, opened the doors of their small shop in Syracuse 30 years ago there was no organization like SEED available.
"If it was, I would have considered using it and I assume I would have looked into it," Little said.
The Littles, who began by selling fabric and patterns for clothing, have watched the local trends and now cater to those who quilt.
They moved the store to its present location in Clearfield several years after opening in Syracuse, but have never considered leaving Davis County, Little said.
"It's where we live," Little said. "We like to support the hometown folks and be one of them."
Davis County Commissioner Louenda Downs said nurturing new businesses to start and stay in the three counties helps the local economy grow.
By joining all three counties together in one project it sends out the message that the three local economies are intertwined, Downs said.
"Our purpose is to let young businesses know what is available and how they can house their businesses," Downs said.
The project received funding from the three counties, Weber State University and the state's Utah Science Technology and Research program. Grow Utah Ventures and Zions Bank also provided funding from the private sector, according to a press release.
Weber County Commissioner Craig Dearden said if entrepreneurs have a good reason to start and grow their businesses locally, they are less likely to establish them elsewhere.
Downs said it is important to let entrepreneurs know that Weber State, the Davis Applied Technology College and other agencies are available to train employees.
"We've been told we have a great pool of employees, but we also do not have enough employees," Downs said.
Grow Utah Ventures will provide work sessions, input from advisers and capability assessments to local county leaders.
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