The Cache County Council provides a backdrop as Alan Rindlisbacher (front left), EDCUtah director of community strategy, presents a Development Ready Communities certificate of completion to Shawn Milne, (front, right) Cache County director of community development.
CACHE COUNTY – The Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) has recognized Cache County for achieving certification in its Development Ready Communities (DRC) program.
A certificate of completion was presented to Economic Development Director Shawn Milne at the regular meeting of the Cache County Council on Mar. 29 by Alan Rindlisbacher, director of community strategy for UDCUtah.
“According to the 2020 census, Utah was the fastest-grow state, increasing by 18.4 percent between 2010 and 2020,” said County Executive David N. Zook. “The EDCUtah Development Ready Communities has helped us prepare for the future economic opportunities to meet the needs of our growing population.”
The program trains Utah communities in site selection, recruitment and incentive training, according to Rindlisbacher. Utah cities and counties that complete the program are better prepared for future business and economic development, including the potential for business relocation opportunities.
“The EDCUtah Development Ready Communities program is extensive,” said Milne. “The request of information (RFI) training is crucial for keeping community leaders and businesses throughout Cache County up-to-date regarding key information needed by inquiring businesses seeking to relocate here.”
Milne was hired away from Toole County in November of 2020.
He is a 2001 graduate of Westminster College. Milne settled in Tooele shortly after that to start a small business that installed residential and commercial audio, home theater, phone and security systems.
After gaining experience with economic development efforts while serving on the Tooele City Council and the Tooele City Redevelopment Agency, Milne joined the Tooele County Commission in 2013.
As a commissioner, his assignments included overseeing that county’s economic development and tourism activities.
The Development Ready Communities program held 16 training sessions in 2020-2021 that Milne attended. Their intent was to teach the five stages of economic development preparedness including community assessment; planning; community marketing; training/preparation; and EDCUtah integration and support.
So far, only 19 Utah cities and counties are DRC certified.
“It’s vital to update local data and metrics, highlight certain economic benefits of doing business in Cache Valley and to promote our excellent quality of life,” Milne concluded.