CORONAVIRUS: STRONGER TOGETHER

Report: Two Utah Cities Among Most Prepared For Economic Recovery

May 12, 2020, 7:27 PM | Updated: Jun 13, 2022, 4:38 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A new ranking from Forbes put the Provo and Salt Lake City metropolitan areas among the best-positioned regions in the country to recover from the pandemic.

The Forbes article said that Moody’s Analytics came up with the list using population density, workforce quality and educational attainment.

The authors listed the top 10 and bottom 10 cities alphabetically — not in a ranked order.

In addition to Provo and Salt Lake City, other cities in the top ten were:

  • Boise, Idaho
  • Denver, Colorado
  • Durham, North Carolina
  • Madison, Wisconsin
  • Raleigh, North Carolina
  • San Jose, California
  • Tucson, Arizona
  • Washington, D.C.

Zions Bank senior economist Robert Spendlove said the Wasatch Front areas were in such a good place because of a diversified economy and all the right building blocks that businesses need.

“That’s kind of our secret sauce is we’ve got a really good workforce,” Spendlove said. “We’ve got great employers and we’ve got good conditions for success.”

Spendlove cautioned it is important not to sugarcoat the severity of the pandemic’s economic damage.

“In some sectors, it will be years before they fully recovery,” he said. “If you think about travel and tourism, if you think about entertainment or retail trade or bars and restaurants, it’s going to be a while and it’s going to difficult.”

Spendlove said he is encouraged by Utah’s response to the pandemic and that the state has the fundamentals in place that are strong enough to weather the storm.

The article said cities that were growing quickly before the pandemic will continue their ascent as they exit the economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Denver and Salt Lake City are well-positioned to retake their crown as two of the fastest-rising metro areas in the U.S.,” Moody’s senior regional economist Adam Kamins told Forbes.

As for the bottom 10, tourism hot spots like Miami and Honolulu were among the worst positioned to recover, along with densely populated areas like New York City and Los Angeles.

Other cities predicted to struggle:

  • Detroit, Michigan
  • McAllen, Texas
  • New Haven, Connecticut
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Stockton, California
  • Tampa, Florida

Coronavirus Resources

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

  • Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Coronavirus: Stronger Together

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 09: A pharmacist prepares to administer  COVID-19 vaccine booster sho...
Jed Boal

University Health recommends getting omicron booster and flu shot now

The CDC approved the COVID-19 bivalent boosters that target the most recent omicron variants on September 1. Since then, tens of thousands of Utahns have rolled up their sleeves.
6 months ago
Only 50% of Utans are vaccinated and cases are surging because of the Omicron variant BA.5. FILE PH...
Jed Boal

BA.5 variant driving new surge of Utah COVID-19 cases

President Joe Biden’s positive Covid case Thursday was a sober reminder that Utah is not done fending off COVID-19 in many communities.
8 months ago
Utah COVID testing site. Getty images...
Cary J. Schwanitz, KSL TV

New mobile COVID-19 testing sites open in Utah

With the summer travel season underway and a steady stream of people still testing positive for COVID-19, Nomi Health opened several mobile testing sites across Utah.
10 months ago
The lawn of Timpanogos Regional Hospital was adorned with flags to honor the lives lost to COVID-19...
Ashley Moser, KSL TV

Hospital ceremony honors survivors, healthcare heroes as U.S. hits one million COVID-19 deaths

The lawn of Timpanogos Regional Hospital was adorned with flags to honor the lives lost to COVID-19, those who survived it, and the caregivers and healthcare workers who cared for the sick.
10 months ago
...
Debbie Worthen, KSL TV

Utah County couple gives Minky Couture blankets to medical team at Utah Valley Hospital

Russell Greene doesn't call himself a COVID-19 survivor, he calls himself a COVID-19 miracle. His family thanked medical workers for saving his life.
1 year ago
Salt Lake City's streets were deserted in the early days of the pandemic. (KSL TV)...
Alex Cabrero, KSL TV

A reporter looks back on two years of pandemic in Utah

Two years ago on March 11, 2020, the world changed for many Americans as COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Today, things are slowly getting back to normal. 
1 year ago

Sponsored Articles

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
house with for rent sign posted...
Chase Harrington, president and COO of Entrata

Top 5 Reasons You May Want to Consider Apartment Life Over Owning a Home

There are many benefits of renting that can be overshadowed by the allure of buying a home. Here are five reasons why renting might be right for you.
Report: Two Utah Cities Among Most Prepared For Economic Recovery