A new chapter of Wasatch Front-based Silicon Slopes, the nonprofit organization that promotes Utah’s startup and tech community, is being launched in Carbon and Emery counties. The creation of the chapter has been a primary focus of the Utah Coal Country Strike Team, an effort to revitalize Eastern Utah’s adversely impacted coal-producing areas initiated by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute a little over two years ago.
The new entity will go by the name Silicon Slopes East. Two Eastern Utah technology companies have signed on as charter members of Silicon Slopes East. Intermountain Electronics and Emery Telcom are leading the effort, according to a release from the Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments (SEUALG), another major force in the creation of the new organization.
“It is with great excitement that we announce the official beginning of the Silicon Slopes East chapter in Carbon and Emery counties,” said Clint Betts, Silicon Slopes executive director.
Carbon and Emery Counties have been known for over a century as the energy hub for the Utah, mainly based on coal mining. With the changing emphasis on coal and the resulting economic downturn, Eastern Utah business leaders have looked to diversification, including a new emphasis in technology.
Bobby Houston, director of mission critical operations with Intermountain Electronics in Price and a co-chair of Silicon Slopes East, said, “Our company is a great example of the shift to tech-related services because we have been building electrical systems for coal mines and now we are constructing equipment for major data centers.”
“We are proud to be a founding member of Silicon Slopes East,” said Brock Johansen, Emery Telcom CEO. “Being in the tech industry for many years, we are willing to guide the way for other companies in Carbon and Emery counties. With Emery Telcom’s full fiber-to-the-premise network in the two counties, we are poised to take advantage of these opportunities.”
“It’s been an exciting couple of years of planning,” said Mayor Michael Kourianos of Price, “and it’s even more exciting to see the plans start to come to fruition.”
Mayor Danny Van Wagoner of Castle Dale said, “Silicon Slopes East really piqued my interest. In a community that sees a lot of remote workers that like to come to Emery County to climb, boulder and recreate, we need to adapt to support the remote working economy.”
Carbon County Commissioner Tony Martines added, “For many years Carbon County has been lush with mineral lease money. Now as that money isn’t as constant as it once was, I am grateful that the businesses are now being innovative and diversifying products and services.”
Emery County Commissioner Kent Wilson said, “There are two types of industries in the tech world: software and hardware. Coal Country is building the hardware that many software companies are using.”
“The Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments is excited to be a part of this great endeavor,” said Geri Gamber, the organization’s executive director. SEUALG has been selected to manage the new Silicon Slopes chapter.
Silicon Slopes East has scheduled a launch event on March 4 beginning at 10 a.m. at Utah State University Eastern (410 E. 400 N. in Price). Reservations for the event can be made with Jade Powell, SEUALG community development program manager and Coal Country Strike Team coordinator, at (435) 613-0022 or by email at jpowell@seualg.utah.gov.