The Growing Influence of Southern Utah

On this special episode of The Hinckley Report, we're on location in St. George. As the population of southern Utah continues growing, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about how local leaders manage the needed infrastructure and natural resources for an expaning population. Plus, with more people comes more political power. We examine the growing influence of Washington and Iron Counties on both the state and federal governments.

THE DEEPER DIVE:

• ️ Southern Utah is growing fast, and local leaders are working to balance that growth in community character, housing needs, and quality of life.
• From water conservation to billion-dollar infrastructure investments, the region is planning ahead to make sure growth is sustainable in one of Utah's driest areas.
• ️ The economy is shifting beyond tourism with healthcare, construction, technology, and education playing an increasing role in southern Utah's future.
• Transportation, land use, and federal land restrictions add unique challenges for the area, but also highlight the complexity of building in this part of the state.
• As population and economic importance rise, the region's influence is growing at the Utah Capitol and in Washington D.C., shaping policy decisions statewide and beyond.

️ FEATURING:
• Christa Hinton – Santa Clara City Council
• Zach Renstrom – General Manager, Washington County Water Conservancy District
• Mary Weaver Bennett – Director, Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at Southern Utah University
• Brad Last – Former Member of the Utah House of Representatives and Special Assistant to the President of Utah Tech University for Community and Government Relations

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley