Governor Walker said, "It is essential that we keep and grow high-technology companies here in the state. There is not a more educated and well trained workforce in the country. Utah has more computers per capita than any other state in the country. I marvel at the state's potential and the opportunities the future holds are unlimited. Many of the great technologies of the world, like the television and network computing, were developed in Utah, and we must strive to build on this legacy.

"Since November Utah business has added more than 1,000 jobs per month. But this is not enough. We need more quality jobs, like those found in the tech industry, so that we can keep our most valuable resource - our families' children - here in this state. To accelerate industry growth we need to find ways to bring more venture capital to the state, promote close cooperation between our schools and industry, and incent business growth through pro-business policies."

Richard Nelson, UITA president, "Governor Walker has helped facilitate the tech industry through her hard work and leadership. This UITA Roundtable was an excellent opportunity to bring together some of the leading minds in the state to advance technology initiatives in Utah, especially the $100M Fund of Funds." The Fund of Funds will provide several hundred million from 5 to 10 new venture capital firms for investment in Utah-based high-growth businesses.

Venture Capital
Governor Walker went on to say, "Utah has an entrepreneurial spirit and the ideas to build business from but there needs to be money and capital to grow these ideas. In 2002, Utah only had two venture capital groups and now we have 14. We need more. I am hoping that in the very near future we will be able to launch the Fund of Funds. With this initiative we will be working with industry to promote the next great, Utah-inspired business idea or technology."

Education
Governor Walker said, "Utah industry needs to keep up with the research coming out of our world-class universities. Everybody benefits when we work better with the universities but let's not forget the elementary education. The high-tech industry must strive to plant seeds of reading, math and science into our children's curriculum at an early age. And don't forget the girls."

Utah Is Business Friendly
"I have grown a company that has created a lot of jobs here in Utah and I know that this is a business-friendly state. It isn't the state's business to start companies or to run them, but we need feedback from business leaders to ensure our policies and tax structures continue to be business friendly. Whether its one-stop business licensing or otherwise.

"We also rely on Utah business people to be good salesman throughout the world for the state of Utah and your company. Utah and the businesses located here are globally connected and must continue to leverage and foster our international connections and capabilities.

The State of Utah Leverages Technology
"I hope that we are pushing the technology envelope in the state's services to the point where technology advances our ability to provide top-notch customer services instead of limited bureaucracy. We need to make sure that our government is not creating barriers for good technology. So far we are doing things that other states tell me are impossible. We have about 200 services available online and that number is growing everyday. For instance, technology has helped our Department of Workforce Services better integrate with other state departments to better serve potential employees. We must be using technology right when people can get fishing licences at 3:00 am."

UITA
As Utah's premier professional organization for technology companies, the Utah Information Technology Association (UITA) exists to form closer relationships with industry and community leaders, develop superior management talent, sharpen professional skills and help gain access to capital. For more information on UITA, please visit http://www.uita.org.

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