Brice Wallace
This spring, the Utah Inland Port consisted of one location, in Salt Lake City’s Northwest Quadrant. Now it has three, with a fourth vying for approval.
The Utah Inland Part Authority board of directors, at its July meeting, approved the creation of the Verk Industrial Park project area in Spanish Fork. It joined the 899-acres Iron Springs Inland Port near Cedar City, which was approved in April as the first inland port approved in a rural part of Utah. On schedule for approval in August is a proposed Golden Spike Inland Port project area, encompassing several pieces of land totaling about 1,500 acres in parts of Brigham City, Garland and Tremonton in Box Elder County.
The areas are hoping to tap into funding, resources and benefits provided by UIPA to foster economic growth and enhance the community.
The Verk Industrial Park consists of 2,200 acres, with visions calling for about 10 million square feet of new industrial facilities. It is west of Interstate 15, with access also to State Route 77, U.S. Highway 6, Union Pacific rail and the Spanish Fork Municipal Airport.
That access is seen as a great way to improve freight movement, optimize logistical assets and create new economic opportunities throughout the region. UIPA says Spanish Fork “offers a unique advantage as a strategic hub for freight transportation to and from major ports such as L.A. and Long Beach. By leveraging its location, cargo that would typically pass through Utah County and Salt Lake County can be processed locally in Spanish Fork for efficient distribution.”
“We are honored to be invited by the city of Spanish Fork to help establish the Verk Industrial Park project area,” said Miles Hansen, UIPA board chair. “This partnership represents a tremendous opportunity to drive positive change, foster economic growth and create a sustainable logistics future for both the local community and the broader region. We are committed to working closely with stakeholders to unlock the full potential of this project and deliver long-lasting benefits for generations to come.”
Ben Hart, UIPA’s executive director, said at the July board meeting that the goal for UIPA in Spanish Fork is “to ensure that we have the best possible economic outcomes that the city has prepared this area for.” UIPA is committed “to help you achieve the economic goals and the economic future for your city that you have envisioned.”
“So as we work together, we hope that we can recruit the businesses here that the community wants,” he said. “We hope that we can create more sustainable transportation and logistics opportunities for shippers in the community, but more than anything else, and I believe this, this action, this collaboration that you are seeing today, will be one of the most important economic decisions to have happened in Utah County in the last 50 years. …”
Officials involved in the project noted that “verk” is Icelandic for “work” and is a nod to Spanish Fork’s Icelandic heritage. Dave Anderson, the city’s community and economic development director, said “that was absolutely what we’re after.”
“And we believe that the creation of this port area is the best way to make sure that things are happening in a deliberate, well-planned way to take advantage of the situation which, again, from our perspective, is tremendous.”
The city’s motives are “really simple,” he added. “Employment is a big deal for Spanish Fork. … It’s never been just a bedroom community. It’s always been a center for commerce of different types. We think there’s a lot of opportunity and room for that to continue to grow.”
In a news release, Spanish Fork Mayor Mike Mendenhall said the city “has the opportunity to play a critical role in Utah’s economic and logistics strategy, without sacrificing its heritage and environment.”
“Progress is being made, while still protecting property owner rights and respecting sensitive lands,” Mendenhall said. “The Verk Industrial Park aligns perfectly with our city’s general plan and zoning objectives. Verk Industrial Park will be instrumental in creating an economic focal point for high-wage jobs, which will allow for enhanced economic opportunities and a better quality of life for those living in and around Spanish Fork. We are the ‘Home of Pride and Progress,’ where both can live in harmony.”
Utah County Commissioner Brandon Gordon stressed the project’s significance in strengthening the regional economy and attracting high-tech advanced manufacturing jobs to the region, while also providing economic balance with the other strong industries in the county.
“Sustainable growth in the Utah County region will require investments in multi-modal options for both public transportation and the movement of goods,” Gordon said. “This project area will allow regional businesses to better utilize its existing rail options and ensure less pollutants that stem from dependency on the roadways for truck transit.”
The earlier-approved Iron Springs port includes 825 acres owned by Commerce Crossroads Logistics Park and 74 acres owned by Savage Railport-Southern Utah. When fully developed, the industrial park and transportation hub are expected to help companies move goods in and out of the area, create high-paying jobs and generally boost economic opportunities throughout Southern Utah. The hub is a collaboration among UIPA, steel producer BZI and Commerce Crossroads, one of BZI’s affiliated companies. The site will become BZI’s new headquarters, with groundbreaking scheduled in 2024.
The proposal for the Golden Spike Inland Port will be up for approval by the board at its Aug. 22 meeting. The three areas of the port include Bailey Farms, near Iowa String Road; Brigham City on both sides of Interstate 15; and Garland and Tremonton.
Industries of focus and recruitment include light industrial and distribution, light manufacturing, logistical support, defense and aerospace support and agriculture and ag tech for Garland and Tremonton, plus composites, food manufacturing and steel producers/users for Brigham City.
“The reason that we have people like Procter & Gamble, Nucor, Autoliv, Northrop Grumman and all these companies in Box Elder County is because they know of the logistics that are available here,” Stan Summers, Box Elder County commissioner, told the UIPA board.
Lynne Mayer, UIPA’s business development coordinator, said the Golden Spike area “has so many opportunities and we’re really excited for it.”
“They have imports and exports moving in and out of this region, and as they expand their infrastructure and rail lines, we know that they will make this region of Utah even better and will become a vital hub for lots of collaboration and benefits across the state,” Mayer said.
Paul Larsen, Brigham City’s community and economic development director, said the project area has “some assets and some characteristics that really set it apart,” including I-15, Union Pacific rail lines and air transportation access.
Hart said UIPA will be considering more project areas for approval in future board meetings. He said that Iron County and Spanish Fork were among communities “that were really ready when the opportunity arose.”