Utah Tech University sends out survey for proposed Innovation District

Posted on December 31, 2022 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

ST. GEORGE —A group of over 40 organizations led by Utah Tech’s Innovation District Project Manager and Strategic Partnership Executive Cheryle Caplinger have been working together to formulate a comprehensive plan for the proposed Innovation District at the Desert Color Campus near the intersection of the Southern Parkway and River Road.

Part of this plan is finding out what Southern Utah’s business community would like to see from an Innovation District. In an effort to receive that feedback and input, Utah Tech University’s Innovation District planning committees have sent out an online survey to the business community of St. George.

The CEO of St. George Area Chamber of Commerce Shawn Christensen told St. George News that his subcommittee sent the survey to all current members as well as anyone in his database that was associated or involved with the Chamber.

“Doesn’t matter whether they’re members of the Chamber or not, this is for the business community to give input,” said Christensen. And he added that since his committee is acting for the community, feedback from this survey will be very important in what he recommends for the upcoming Innovation District.

The survey includes questions about the growth potential of current industries in St. George, as well as innovative resources that should be more accessible and challenges that the business community faces.

Caplinger told St. George News that the survey has multiple purposes. The first is to ensure that businesses know about the Atwood Innovation Plaza. The second was to see what people liked about the Atwood Innovation Plaza and what they think should be implemented into the Innovation District. The third was to find out opinions on how St. George is developing and growing.

“It’s important that we connect with the community of what they are thinking the Atwood Innovation Plaza has to offer them as well as how that might integrate into our idea for the innovation district,” said Caplinger.

The committees have received around 60 responses and are encouraging anyone with the survey to send in their feedback.

Caplinger told St. George News that the survey would be open through the “What’s Up Down South” economic summit that will be held Feb. 1.

Caplinger’s committees will have a full comprehensive plan together by June of 2023. This will be submitted for consideration in putting together the master plan for the Desert Color Campus.

The proposed Innovation District will be a place where “bumpability” will thrive. “Bumpability” is a term trademarked by Wayne Provost, Jeffery Stewart, and Berkeley Anderson, all members of Utah Tech University’s Innovation Plaza.

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the term explains an environment that “[provides] work space and social areas for collaboration between students, freelancers, start-ups, existing businesses and non-profits.”