The GRIT initiative calls on every state agency to evaluate how government works — and how it can work better. It builds on Utah’s longstanding reputation as the best-managed state in the nation and calls for even greater transparency, innovation, and employee-led problem solving.

The announcement comes on the heels of Utah being named the #1 Best State in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report for the third year in a row. One of the key factors behind that ranking is fiscal stability, where Utah also ranks #1 among all 50 states. This reflects Utah’s strong budgeting and long-term planning, critical elements of the state’s exceptional services and high quality of life.

“Utahns deserve a government that listens, adapts, and delivers,” said Gov. Cox. “We’re not here to maintain the status quo — we’re here to make things better. GRIT is about building a culture where every employee is empowered to solve problems, and every taxpayer sees the results.”

Under the order, state agencies are required to:

• Submit at least one efficiency improvement project to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (GOPB) by July 1, 2025.
• Independently launch at least one additional internal project per division, office, or bureau.
• Participate in a statewide professional learning network known as EPIC (Efficiency and Process Improvement Collaborative).
• Actively use public feedback gathered through the state’s Customer Experience Initiative.
• Report measurable results related to cost savings, time savings, and improved service delivery.

The new executive order empowers cabinet members and state employees to identify inefficiencies and fix them, while giving Utahns more opportunities than ever to share feedback on their interactions with government.

Through the GRIT initiative, the state will also expand its EPIC network to bring together agency representatives and process improvement professionals for collaboration, training, and shared learning — all aimed at improving how government works for the people of Utah.

The public is encouraged to participate by submitting feedback online or through QR codes posted on receipts and in government buildings across the state.

— State of Utah Office of the Governor press release

Letter carriers collecting food across Utah

The National Association of Letter Carriers, National Rural Letter Carrier’s Association, and United States Postal Service combine forces on Saturday, May 10, to help Utah Food Bank fight hunger statewide during the 33rd annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, one of the largest single-day food drives in the nation.

While Utah Food Bank distributes food statewide, locally donated food will remain in that community. The donations received as a result of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive come at a critical time as school ends and many kids are left without access to school meal programs, making it even more difficult for families to feed their children over the summer. Increased living and housing costs have contributed to an elevated level of need across the state, with no end in sight.

Residents have been encouraged to place a bag of non-perishable food donations next to their mailbox on Saturday, May 10th by 9 a.m. for pickup by their local letter carrier. Letter carriers will be bringing the food collected on their carrier routes to their local post office, where it will be sorted by volunteers from Utah Food Bank or its partner agencies. 1 in 6 Utah children risk missing a meal today due to lack of resources, and 415,000 Utahns are unsure where their next meal will come from.

— Utah Food Bank press release

Utah National Guard conducts exercise Hydra – an innovative readiness building exercise

More than 200 soldiers and airmen came together in Utah for Exercise Hydra, an annual, large-scale joint training event designed to prepare our military units and people for real and evolving threats in a dynamic and ever-changing combat environment.

Service members from the Utah Air and Army National Guard joined with Active and Reserve Air Force units from several locations across the country to participate in this innovative and engaging exercise combining and challenging the capabilities of both Army and Air Force units. The exercise took place primarily on the Utah Test and Training Range and Dugway Proving Grounds among several other smaller locations throughout the state, and focused on challenging the status quo, developing innovative processes and procedures and building cohesive teams.

The name of the exercise refers to the mythical multi-headed serpent the Greek Hero Hercules defeated. In his initial encounters with the beast as soon as he cut off one head two grew back in its place. Today’s military enterprise faces a fast-moving and complex set of threats coming from multiple directions across all battlespaces. Like the Hydra of myth, challenges in the defense community continue to evolve. Overcoming evolving threats demands smart thinking, adaptability, and the determination to stay ahead of competitors.

— Utah National Guard press release

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium welcomes new North American river otter pup

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is excited to announce the arrival of a new female North American river otter to its animal family. Born on March 29, 2024, at Woodland Park Zoo in Washington to parents Valkyrie and Ziggy, the otter was transferred to the Aquarium on April 29, 2025, as part of a collaborative effort among AZA-accredited institutions to care for and educate the public about this important species.

The one-year-old otter is now on habitat at the Aquarium. She is continuing to acclimate to her new environment under the care of the expert Husbandry team. Guests can view her as she explores and becomes more comfortable in her new home.

The Aquarium is inviting the public to take part in a naming contest for the new arrival. Guests can submit their ideas and vote by visiting: https://livingplanetaquarium.org/animal/north-american-river-otter

— Loveland Living Planet Aquarium press release