Economy

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert may have to pick up the pace if a proposal to consider potential relocation of the state prison is to meet a legislatively set deadline.

After weeks of debate, state lawmakers approved legislation this year calling for the establishment of a new prison relocation and development authority (PRADA) and for that group to meet by June 15.

The makeup of the board was a sticking point for legislators. The board is to be made up of 11 members, six of whom will be appointed by the governor. To date, the governor has not appointed anyone to the board.

A change in the age of women missionaries for the LDS Church may be limiting the number of contestants in some area Miss Utah preliminary pageants.

“Pageantry is taking a hit with this one,” said Steffani Nielson, director of the Miss Davis County scholarship pageant.

“If a girl is interested in being in a pageant, this is the year to try out,” she said, noting fewer expected entries and better chances of success.

But some pageant directors aren’t sure the missionary age change is the only reason participation is down.

OGDEN — City officials hope to make Ogden the cycling capital of the United States, but they say the key to getting there is nearly 7,000 miles away.

Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell and City Business Development Director Steve Fishburn recently spent a week in Taiwan, pitching Taiwanese bicycle manufacturers on the benefits of setting up shop in Ogden.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah also made the trip.

OGDEN — A new report from the Wasatch Front Economic Development District shows that Weber County and particularly Ogden are below the regional average in education and employment.

The WFEDD’s Draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy report shows that of the five counties within the Wasatch Front — Weber, Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake and Tooele — Weber County has the second-lowest percentage of adults older than 25 with a high school diploma, at 89.1 percent, in front of only Salt Lake County, which has 88.9 percent.

SALT LAKE CITY — The size of a possible deficit the state Legislature will have to tackle this session seems to be anyone’s guess.

The estimates range from $300 million, outlined by Gov. Gary Herbert earlier this year, to a more modest $50 million. One key lawmaker actually thinks the state may have a small surplus.

No one is guessing what the source of the shortfall is, however. All fingers seem to be pointing to the federal government and the uncertainty looming as a result of the so-called fiscal cliff.

LAYTON — One of Layton’s more visible vacant commercial buildings is being renovated in preparation for a Chinese buffet-style restaurant to move in.

Hibachi Grill Buffet, owned by Ivan Foo, will occupy the north side of the building that formerly served as home to the Hometown Buffet restaurant at 1120 N. Main St.

Foo said his restaurant, to open in mid-February, will feature about 100 buffet menu items.