The Salt Lake Chamber’s formation of the Utah Chamber isn’t the only such chamber-creation initiative in the state.
Silicon Slopes, which champions Utah’s startup, technology and broader entrepreneurial community, has formed the Silicon Slopes Chamber.
“This is not your typical chamber of commerce,” it said in an email announcing the action. “This is a purpose-built advocacy organization created exclusively for Utah’s tech ecosystem — by founders, for founders, and for every entrepreneur building the future of our state.”
Silicon Slopes said the chamber “builds on the foundation” of the Utah Technology Council, in place since 1991 and once known as the Utah Information Technology Association. Silicon Slopes acquired UTC in 2019 and figured it would be an advocacy platform. At the time, it explained that UTC would become “the voice” of Silicon Slopes on public policy, advocacy and government relations because UTC’s status as a 501(c)(6) entity allowed it to be involved in lobbying. Meanwhile, Silicon Slopes is a 501(c)(3), which has heavy restrictions regarding lobbying and political activities.
Silicon Slopes says the new chamber “is dedicated to fostering growth, collaboration and advocacy.”
“Innovation moves swiftly,” the organization said. “Tech companies face unique challenges that traditional business organizations simply weren’t designed to address. And policy decisions being made today — on Capitol Hill and in our state Legislature — will shape the competitive landscape of tomorrow.
“Utah’s tech community deserves a powerful voice to ensure that policymakers understand our industry, its challenges and its potential. We need advocates who speak both languages — technology and policy — and who can turn innovation challenges into legislative wins that keep Utah ahead of the competition.”
The chamber vowed to “fight for policies that remove barriers and create opportunities at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.”
The chamber’s priorities are:
• Entrepreneurial freedom, in the form of championing policies that empower entrepreneurs to innovate and scale rapidly, removing regulatory barriers that stifle growth, and positioning Utah as the premier destination where bold ideas become thriving businesses.
• Infrastructure, driving strategic investments in digital and physical infrastructure that power connectivity, enable rapid scaling, and sustain long-term growth for Utah’s technology ecosystem.
• Workforce and talent development, by transforming Utah’s talent pipeline through industry-aligned training programs and strategic partnerships that attract, develop and retain the innovators driving the tech economy forward.
• Regulatory frameworks, in the form of advocating for clear, innovation-friendly regulations that accelerate startup growth, reduce compliance burdens, and position Utah as the most business-friendly tech hub in the nation.
• Education innovation, driving education programs from K-12 through higher education that spark curiosity, develop technical expertise, and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit fueling Utah’s innovation economy.
• Access to capital, by championing policies and programs that expand funding opportunities — from venture capital to angel investor networks — ensuring Utah startups and entrepreneurs have the resources to launch, scale and compete globally.
Silicon Slopes said the chamber will advocate for tech giants and Fortune 500 companies but also for solo company founders, emerging startups, and small businesses building the next generation of Utah enterprises.
“The Silicon Slopes Chamber is your voice on Capitol Hill,” it says on its website, www.siliconslopes.com. “It’s your advocate in the state Legislature. It’s your champion in every room where decisions are made that affect your ability to innovate, grow and compete.”
More than 150,000 Utahns work in the tech industry, representing 7.1 percent of the state’s total workforce, Silicon Slopes says on its website. The industry has more than $28 billion in annual economic impact, or 10 percent of the state’s overall economy. And the Silicon Slopes area has more than 1,200 tech companies.
The website also says that Utah’s tech economy’s success means more opportunity, higher wages and stronger communities in Utah. “We’re not just advocating for an industry; we’re building shared prosperity that reaches every Utah community,” it says.