Feature

New Faces in Economic Development

Economic development is a fluid effort and occasionally the names and faces of economic developers with whom we serve change. This week we'd like to spotlight three leaders that, while not necessarily new to Utah, are serving in new roles in economic development.

Tim Tingey, Murray City's Community and Economic Development Director

Tim Tingey took over as director of community and economic development at Murray City three months ago and he's been going non-stop since day one.

“We have a lot of great opportunities in economic development going on, especially with the construction and opening of Intermountain Health Care's Intermountain Medical Center,” he says.

He came to Murray City after working 11 years for the City of Pocatello, Idaho, where he was a manager over neighborhood and community services. In that capacity, he was involved in community development, urban renewal and economic development. A native of Carey, Idaho (near Sun Valley), he obtained a bachelor's degree in business from Utah State University. He holds a masters degree and doctorate in public administration and political science from Idaho State University. For the past three years, he has served as an adjunct professor at Idaho State.

Tingey says IHC's new Intermountain Medical Center is a powerful anchor and has given the Murray City an opportunity to focus on clustering opportunities there, along with promoting redevelopment, business retention and expansion and mixed use—especially adjacent to the TRAX line. Murray enjoys three TRAX stops within its city limits, which present great opportunities for mixed use and redevelopment nearby. The Fireclay redevelopment project is an example of the city's mixed use, transit-related developments near TRAX.

Revitalization of historic downtown Murray is also an area of focus. Tingey says the city is currently involved in developing a master plan to manage the redevelopment effort there. The plan will consider available land, projected growth and business retention over the next few years.

Bob Farrington, Salt Lake City's Economic Development Director

“My first few months have been a rocket start,” says Bob Farrington of his move in June from the Downtown Alliance, where he served as executive director for 16 years, to become director of economic development for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker.

Since day one Farrington has been working through a backlog of projects and initiatives and just now feels like he is able to be proactive in his new position.

“There is a lot of interest and economic development activity going on in Salt Lake City and I am pleased to help drive the agenda,” he says.

Farrington guided the Downtown Alliance from its inception through 16 years of phenomenal growth for the capital city, during which he was heavily involved in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the implementation of First Night Salt Lake – the city's New Year's Eve celebration, the introduction of TRAX light rail and the current resurgence of investment in the city core. He is well-equipped to take on Salt Lake's many economic development projects.

A native of New Orleans, Farrington attended graduate school at the University of Texas San Antonio, where he obtained a master's degree in urban planning. He worked for 15 years in San Antonio before coming to Utah, serving five years as the economic development director for the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, five years with the San Antonio Downtown Alliance, and five years with a planning and project management company there.

Garth Day, Morgan County Economic Development Director

Garth Day, who in July took on a newly created position as economic development director at Morgan County, is also a seasoned economic development veteran.

Having lead economic development efforts in Box Elder County for the last 10 years, Day served an integral in role in the location and development of an agribusiness and industrial park, which is now sold out and full, the location of Nucor Steel's new plant in Brigham City and economic development efforts involving Malt-O-Meal, West Liberty Foods and Tarter Gates.

Day describes his new role as Morgan County's first shot at being aggressive in the economic development front. The county has lots of potential for both economic development and retail, he says. Among the efforts on his agenda, Day will be busy helping to develop an entrepreneurial center in which the county is partnering with the Davis Applied Technology Center and the State of Utah, and planning for development of a light industrial park.

“I've had a wonderful experience working with EDCUtah, especially in its support of rural communities, and hope can continue that relationship at Morgan County,” he says.

An Ogden native, Day holds a bachelor's degree in political science and urban planning from Weber State University. Before joining Box Elder County, he worked in economic development for Pleasant View City and Perry City.