Private initiative is a key reason companies are coming to Ogden
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Monday, June 25, 2007
By Curt Geiger
Guest commentary
In a June 20 guest opinion, Mr. Peter Metcalf of the Black Diamond Equipment company attempted to speak for business owners like me, having never talked with me before ("Preserve our wilderness, open space"). His commentary asserts various reasons why companies like mine have made the decision to come to Ogden.
I want people to know from me why Descente chose Ogden. The few public comments made by leaders of other outdoor companies that have recently moved to Ogden indicate that they valued the same things that I did. As with Mr. Metcalf, I, too, am a leader in the outdoor-equipment industry. I've been in this business for 40 years. I'm on the board of directors for the SnowSports Industries America. I am the vice president of two very strong brands. Ogden is our home!
Mr. Metcalf asserted in his commentary that it was the ski areas, quality mountain biking, climbing, bouldering and trails that brought us here. To some degree, he is correct. But it is important that people understand that it was Mayor Godfrey's high adventure recreation vision for Ogden that sealed the deal -- the gondola being central to that vision, as it links all of the key components together: commuter rail, redeveloped downtown, WSU and the mountain.
Please take a moment and think about it. My company and several others came here in the past two years. Sixteen years ago, businesses were fleeing Ogden. They were locating elsewhere, as evidenced by Mr. Metcalf's locating his company in Salt Lake City. This is clearly not the case now in Ogden.
One of the challenges that I found in Mr. Metcalf's commentary was his statement that Ogden's assets (skiing, mountain biking, climbing, bouldering, trails) were "the same reasons why 16 years ago, (he) relocated the fledgling Black Diamond Equipment company to the foot of the Wasatch in Salt Lake City." The skiing, mountain biking, climbing, bouldering and trails specifically referenced by Mr. Metcalf were here in 1990. These wonderful resources and natural competitive advantages were not enough for Mr. Metcalf to put his company in his beloved "former home" of Ogden. In fact, those resources alone were not enough to keep many businesses in Ogden.
Clearly something has recently changed. What changed? Mr. Metcalf appropriately noted that the city "has appropriately tied these initiatives to its efforts to achieve international recognition ... ." This is true and very exciting. But Mr. Metcalf goes on to assert that the gondola project is "troubling news." Important to understand is that the effort that the mayor has tied these initiatives to is the gondola project. It is the gondola itself that "ties" everything together. It is the project that connects the natural assets of Ogden to the downtown. And it does so in a very environmentally clean way -- better than cars or buses.
International recognition has ensued, and outdoor companies and investment are flocking to Ogden. Also in Mr. Metcalf's article were some references to the "stewardship" of the wilderness and trails on the east bench of Ogden. I've been hiking quite a bit lately on this wonderful trail system, as it is in my hometown and very near my home. One troubling thing that I notice is how much graffiti there is on the rocks in Ogden's "wilderness." One thing that gives me great relief is my appreciation for the fact that a significant amount of the "wilderness" trail that I walk on is actually located on private property and that the private property owner, Chris Peterson, has beautiful plans to clean up the graffiti, improve the trails and enhance public access to his "wilderness."
Often, private property owners are much better stewards of the land than the government. Mr. Peterson's gracious treatment of the community and his neighbors by allowing us to freely access his property, along with his contribution to the beautiful enhancements at Snowbasin, indicate that Mr. Peterson is a very effective steward of land.
As to the care of Ogden's rivers -- many may have noticed that there is a great deal of work being done along the Ogden River in our downtown. Private investors, upon learning of Mayor Godfrey's vision for Ogden, have been so encouraged that they are committing massive sums of private money to clean up the river and rejuvenate this natural asset.
Again, this will be achieved with private stewardship and private money brought here by the high adventure recreation vision of the mayor -- the main artery of which is the gondola connection between our rejuvenated downtown, WSU and the mountain.
If you ever want more information about why Descente moved to Ogden, please feel free to call me. I'd prefer that the rationale for the decisions of our company be explained by me rather than Mr. Metcalf. Having never talked to Mr. Metcalf or been present for negotiations and meetings regarding his move to Salt Lake City, I certainly would not write an article in the Salt Lake newspapers, or anywhere, questioning why, if Mr. Metcalf so loved the assets of his "former home of Ogden," that 16 years ago he chose our brother city of Salt Lake as the home for his company. To so many of you who have welcomed us, thank you!
Geiger is vice president of Descente North America.
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