April 18, 2006

  

A Publication of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah

CEO Jeff Edwards

PRESIDENT'S  

MESSAGE

Utah's Language Translation Skill-set Is Nonpareil


One of our state's least tapped natural resources is our depth of skilled linguists and language translators, a resource not many states, if any, can match. As we enter a global economy, language translation is becoming more in demand, a skill-set upon which Utah can capitalize. Today's feature article discusses this natural resource of ours, and how Utah is poised to become an industry leader in this growing service sector.

Today's Economic Review also includes links to many of the ED-related news stories from the past week. As always, if you have comments, suggestions or topics you'd like to see in the Economic Review, please contact us by clicking the "Comments" button on the bottom of this page.

Enjoy!

Jeff Edwards
Jeff Edwards
President and CEO

FEATURE STORY

Translation Services: An Economic Development Cluster in the Making?


In March, while college basketball fever swept the nation, some of the best minds in linguistics and translation quietly gathered in Salt Lake City for a Translation Summit, co-sponsored by the National Virtual Translation Center, the American Translators Association, and the BYU Center for Language Studies.

Approximately 100 people attended this first-of-its-kind event, which brought together translators, government representatives, and corporate executives to discuss translation services and U.S. government language policy. The fact the Summit was held in Utah is subtle recognition of the state's strength in translation services and follows on the National Security Agency's plans to open a foreign-language translation center here.

It's also no accident that Utah is home to the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade, the only military intelligence linguist brigade in the nation, with 700 members involved in translation, interpretation, and transcription services in the State of Utah alone.

"Translation services is an economic cluster in the making," says Fred Lange, director of procurement technical assistance centers (PTAC) for the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED). "Industry, government, and academia have recognized the increased demand for translation services and Utah is well-positioned to be a big player in this growing sector-we have the critical mass."

Jeff Mitchell, commander of the Utah National Guard's 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) and director of translation services for NWB Technology, LLC, an 8(a) Small Business, says Utah is a largely untapped resource for translation services. "We are looking at growing that resource," he says. NWB, which is owned by the NorthWestern Band of Shoshone Nation, is one of a small handful of Utah companies currently tapping into the state's workforce of trained linguists.

NWB estimates that because of the LDS Church's missionary program, about 60 percent of the 10,000 missionaries returning to Utah each year speak a foreign language, which means the state has a trained workforce of about 6,000 linguists in over 100 languages replenished each year.

When the NSA came calling at BYU, Ray Clifford, director of BYU's Center for Language Studies (and chair for the Translation Summit), told the Deseret Morning News (link: http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635187139,00.html) that "77% of the BYU student body (and 85% of its seniors) speak a second language." Furthermore, Clifford said 93% of the students who served as missionaries abroad for the LDS Church are at advanced or higher levels, compared to 47% at five major liberal arts colleges in the U.S.

Lange says Utah is the ideal place to provide translation services because those workers with language skills typically have "in country" experience and conversational abilities. "They are easier to train and can pick up additional skills quicker," he says. Mitchell adds that the large numbers of workers who speak multiple languages minimizes the logistical costs of running a translation services operation. "People are starting to recognize Utah for its reasonably-priced resources," he says. NWB typically pays translators anywhere from $20 to $30 an hour.

The National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC), a co-sponsor of the Summit, was created by Congress in February 2003, and acts as a brokerage firm for many different government agencies like, the Dept. of Defense, Dept. of Homeland Security, FBI, and others.

The American Translators Association (ATA), which also co-sponsored the Summit, was founded in 1959 and is the largest association of translators and interpreters in the U.S., with approximately 10,000 members.

Successful Trade Mission to Mexico Returns

Ten companies met with business counterparts to create business links

Representatives from ten Utah companies just returned from a highly successful trade mission to Mexico and were pleased with the new business opportunities developed during the trip. Organized by the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), Miguel Rovira of the International Trade and Diplomacy Office led the trade mission.

The company representatives were briefed by a NAFTA expert, the U.S. Commercial Attaché for Mexico, the Deputy Trade Minister of the Mexican Secretariat of the Economy and the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico.
(Read more: GOED press release)

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IN THE NEWS

Economic Development Headlines

Unemployment Rate Could Limit Growth

- Utah's low unemployment rate could put the brakes on the state's zooming economy, according to a quarterly economic report from Zions Bank. Although the state's economy has shown impressive growth over the past two years, the unemployment rate-which sits at a five-year low-will restrain future growth somewhat. (Utah Business Magazine)

Business Lures Still Mostly a Secret

- For nearly a year, The Salt Lake Tribune has been battling to gain access to meaningful information about the companies the state offers tax breaks and cash to. In a hearing today, the State Records Committee will review the case, which stems from a reporter's January request for public records. (SL Tribune)

Editorial: Huntsman's Openness Policy

- When it comes to understanding the value of open government, one Utah public official really does get it. Almost immediately after the State Records Committee last week denied The Salt Lake Tribune's request for the names of companies that have been offered tax incentives to move here, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., stepped in and announced that from now on, all such offers will be disclosed immediately. (Morning News)

Guv Wants Open Book on Offers to Business

- Hours after a state committee ruled that the identities of companies offered lucrative economic incentives could remain secret, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. released a new policy mandating that details of such offers be made public. The policy will affect only future projects. The state will honor existing confidentiality agreements with companies. (SL Tribune)

Nebo District, Utah Economy Growing

- Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. tied a bow on the Utah economy Thursday, but warned that the state must always be looking forward. "Let's take advantage of the most memorable time in our state's history," he told a large gathering of business people at the Nebo Economic Summit on Thursday in Payson. (Daily Herald)

New Store Could Lead G-ville Business Boom

- If all goes as planned, Grantsville residents could soon enjoy shopping at a new retail store that may lead the way to a commercial boom in the city. (Tooele Transcript)

Airport 2: The Expansion?

- Like much of Salt Lake County's west side, development is popping on the land surrounding Salt Lake City Airport No. 2. (SL Tribune)

GOED Roundtable Focuses on Talent Pipeline

- The Talent Access Program in the Governor's Office of Economic Development today offered the first in a series of roundtable discussions focused on helping businesses recruit talent. The program is a partnership with the University of Utah's Eccles School of Business. (Utah Business Magazine)

Defense Contractor Opens Door to Nonmilitary Sales

- A division of defense contractor L-3 Communications is looking to make its first nonmilitary sales of technology that gives U.S. field commanders a bird's-eye view of the battlefield. (Arizona Daily Star)

U.S. Power Prices Down, Prices for Summer Below Last Year's Levels

- U.S. wholesale day-ahead power prices are down 27 percent from the beginning of the year, according to data released by Platts, a provider of energy information. Platts electricity pricing data also shows that current prices for power to be delivered this summer are below last summer's price levels. (Utah Business Magazine)

Utah's Mountain Communities Face Tough Choices

- Heber Valley doesn't want to become another Park City, while Park City doesn't want to become another Vail or Aspen. "Just who do we want to be?" asked area business and economic leaders, members of a Utah Business roundtable discussion about economic development in Summit and Wasatch Counties. (Utah Business Magazine)


CALENDAR

April 19-20:  Rural Business Conference with Sen. Robert Bennett, Vernal (Click here for more information)

April 19:  21st Century Entrepreneur Workshop (Click here for information/registration)

April 23-26:  CoreNet Global Summit Spring Convention. Philadelphia

April 26:  Utah Technology Council Industry Breakfast (Click here for information/registration)

May 2-4:  SAMPE Advanced Materials Conference, Long Beach, CA

May 3-4:  Salt Lake Chamber Business-to-Business Expo, SLC

May 21-24:  ICSC Spring Convention, Las Vegas

June 8:  EDCUTAH Quarterly Update

August 9:  EDCUTAH Annual Meeting