Beginning local transportation services in April of 2011, the bus service started as a sort of experiment in mass transportation in a highly rural setting.
Conceptually, the BTA was created to deliver low cost transportation option for commuters from as far west as Fruitland and terminating in the Vernal area.
BTA Director Kevin Yack has been at the helm of the agency since the two-year anniversary in April 2013.
Showing posts with label Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Services. Show all posts
Friday, July 19, 2013
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Unemployment Low in Uintah County
The “help wanted” signs that dot the local business landscape and fill the “help wanted” section of the Standard's classifieds section help illustrate the punch line to this story: Preliminary figures released by the Utah Department of Workforce Services shows Duchesne County's unemployment rate is among the lowest in the state, and much lower than the national rate.
Duchesne County's September 2012 rate is 3.5 percent. That's down by .2 percent from the August rate, and 1.6 percent lower than the same time in 2011.
Uintah County’s unemployment rate at 3.3 percent, the lowest in the state. The boom in oil and gas production in the Uintah Basin is credited for the low rates for the two counties.
Daggett County’s rate is 5.3 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate for Utah is 5.2 percent, according to the Workforce Service Department.
The county with the highest unemployment rate is Wayne County, at 10.5 percent.
The nationwide unemployment rate for September 2012 is 7.8 percent.
Natural resources and mining continue to benefit from the oil and gas expansion within the Uintah Basin. It is estimated that 500 jobs have developed over the past 12 months in this industry. This industry employs around 12,600 workers in Utah.
Construction employment is estimated to have contracted once again, down 1,200 over the past 12 months. The back-and-forth nature of the construction estimates this year (up some months, down in others) suggests the monthly employment survey struggles to effectively measure this industry. Construction is dominated by many small employers, and it is hard to gauge the cumulative activity of many small employers through a survey of limited size. Other sources of employment data suggest the construction industry in Utah is growing again, and that growth has been consistent throughout 2012.
Utah’s largest employment sector is Trade, Transportation, and Utilities. Estimated employment gains of 4,300 over the past 12 months are a growth rate of 2.6 percent. These gains are largely occurring on the trade side, both wholesale and retail.
The Information sector is estimated to have added 2,400 new jobs over the past 12 months. Information includes the publishing industry, motion pictures, telecommunications, and internet service providers, among others.
The Financial sector is making a rebound from the hit it took during the recession years. Approximately 3,800 jobs have been added over the past 12 months. Most of these are in financial institutions, as the real estate side of the equation has yet to post noticeable gains as the Utah housing market starts to revive.
The Professional and Business Services sector added the most new jobs in Utah over the past year at 10,800. A sizeable portion is coming from the professional, scientific, and technical side, an area that generally requires greater levels of education for employment and also returns higher-than-average wages. This includes accounting, engineering, design services, computer systems design forms, and consulting services, among others.
Private Education and Health Services is a stalwart of the Utah economy, having grown through both of the recessions of the past 10 years. The sector is estimated to have added 2,500 new jobs in Utah over the past 12 months.
The Leisure and Hospitality sector is estimated to have added 2,900 new jobs over the past 12 months. Much of this is occurring in the restaurant industry.
Government employment is estimated to be down 900 positions over the past 12 months. The bulk of the job loss is coming at the federal government level, mostly at the IRS and the Postal Service. State government employment was up 1.0 percent over the year through higher education employment gains. Uintah Basin Standard
Duchesne County's September 2012 rate is 3.5 percent. That's down by .2 percent from the August rate, and 1.6 percent lower than the same time in 2011.
Uintah County’s unemployment rate at 3.3 percent, the lowest in the state. The boom in oil and gas production in the Uintah Basin is credited for the low rates for the two counties.
Daggett County’s rate is 5.3 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate for Utah is 5.2 percent, according to the Workforce Service Department.
The county with the highest unemployment rate is Wayne County, at 10.5 percent.
The nationwide unemployment rate for September 2012 is 7.8 percent.
Natural resources and mining continue to benefit from the oil and gas expansion within the Uintah Basin. It is estimated that 500 jobs have developed over the past 12 months in this industry. This industry employs around 12,600 workers in Utah.
Construction employment is estimated to have contracted once again, down 1,200 over the past 12 months. The back-and-forth nature of the construction estimates this year (up some months, down in others) suggests the monthly employment survey struggles to effectively measure this industry. Construction is dominated by many small employers, and it is hard to gauge the cumulative activity of many small employers through a survey of limited size. Other sources of employment data suggest the construction industry in Utah is growing again, and that growth has been consistent throughout 2012.
Utah’s largest employment sector is Trade, Transportation, and Utilities. Estimated employment gains of 4,300 over the past 12 months are a growth rate of 2.6 percent. These gains are largely occurring on the trade side, both wholesale and retail.
The Information sector is estimated to have added 2,400 new jobs over the past 12 months. Information includes the publishing industry, motion pictures, telecommunications, and internet service providers, among others.
The Financial sector is making a rebound from the hit it took during the recession years. Approximately 3,800 jobs have been added over the past 12 months. Most of these are in financial institutions, as the real estate side of the equation has yet to post noticeable gains as the Utah housing market starts to revive.
The Professional and Business Services sector added the most new jobs in Utah over the past year at 10,800. A sizeable portion is coming from the professional, scientific, and technical side, an area that generally requires greater levels of education for employment and also returns higher-than-average wages. This includes accounting, engineering, design services, computer systems design forms, and consulting services, among others.
Private Education and Health Services is a stalwart of the Utah economy, having grown through both of the recessions of the past 10 years. The sector is estimated to have added 2,500 new jobs in Utah over the past 12 months.
The Leisure and Hospitality sector is estimated to have added 2,900 new jobs over the past 12 months. Much of this is occurring in the restaurant industry.
Government employment is estimated to be down 900 positions over the past 12 months. The bulk of the job loss is coming at the federal government level, mostly at the IRS and the Postal Service. State government employment was up 1.0 percent over the year through higher education employment gains. Uintah Basin Standard
Monday, April 2, 2012
Building boom taking place in Vernal
The Vernal Towne Center as well as other retail and commercial building projects will completed in the coming year. The new growth has led to a staggering increase in the amount of building permit fees the city has collected this year when compared with the fiscal years ending in 2010 and 2011. In fiscal year 2008-09, the city collected approximately $216,000 in building permit fees. In the next two years, it collected roughly $46,000 and $70,000, respectively. As of Monday, the city had taken in about $238,000 in fees for the current fiscal year, which still has three months remaining. Deseret News
Developers already have commitments for the 26-acre Vernal Towne Center from Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft, Petco, and Shoe Carnival. Negotiations are in the final stages with a major department store, a big-name sporting goods retailer, and at least four additional restaurants.
The development also includes space for a hotel, a bank, a gas station and a tire repair shop. The project's tenants will be latest in a string of new arrivals in Vernal that include national chains like Rue 21 and AutoZone.
Developers already have commitments for the 26-acre Vernal Towne Center from Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft, Petco, and Shoe Carnival. Negotiations are in the final stages with a major department store, a big-name sporting goods retailer, and at least four additional restaurants.
The development also includes space for a hotel, a bank, a gas station and a tire repair shop. The project's tenants will be latest in a string of new arrivals in Vernal that include national chains like Rue 21 and AutoZone.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Uintah Basin sees 'tremendous' job growth
"Help Wanted" is in storefront windows or on business marquees — making a comeback in the Uintah Basin after a two-year hiatus. "We have seen a 2 percent drop in our unemployment rate, compared to this time last year," said Utah Department of Workforce Services Associate Director Shelly Ivie. The region's average unemployment rate in 2009 and 2010 were above the state average, but below the nation average, according to numbers compiled by DWS. That changed in 2011, when Duchesne County's average unemployment rate dropped to 5.9 percent and Uintah County's to 5.4. Deseret News
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Basin to Become "BEAR" Country
After months of preparation, the Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) program is being rolled out in the Uintah Basin.
Carbon and Emery counties have been running the BEAR program since January 2006. To date, the program there has conducted face-to-face visits with nearly 1,300 businesses. The goal is to learn more about each company, then link the business to local, county, regional and state resources.
More than $1.8 million in grants and tax credits have been awarded to 78 businesses in the two counties, 111 jobs have been created and 39 jobs have been retained. In return, more than $8 million has been invested by companies in the counties. “We want to have similar success in the Basin,” Lucero said. “A team of interviewers has been trained and is ready to meet with business managers.”
A 15 to 20 minute interview is conducted, after which the BEAR representative enters the data into a computer system with referrals. The representatives sign a confidentiality agreement that prohibits them from sharing information with other parties.
BEAR partners include more than a dozen local and state organizations. A partial list includes the Small Business Development Center, Uintah Basin Applied Technology College’s Custom Fit training program, VISTA, Utah Vocational Rehabilitation, Utah State University, and the Utah Department of Workforce Services.
Those interested in learning more about the BEAR program should contact Hansen at 435-722-4598 or Lucero at 435-781-6767.
http://www.vernal.com/stories/Basin-to-become-BEAR-country,1168664
Carbon and Emery counties have been running the BEAR program since January 2006. To date, the program there has conducted face-to-face visits with nearly 1,300 businesses. The goal is to learn more about each company, then link the business to local, county, regional and state resources.
More than $1.8 million in grants and tax credits have been awarded to 78 businesses in the two counties, 111 jobs have been created and 39 jobs have been retained. In return, more than $8 million has been invested by companies in the counties. “We want to have similar success in the Basin,” Lucero said. “A team of interviewers has been trained and is ready to meet with business managers.”
A 15 to 20 minute interview is conducted, after which the BEAR representative enters the data into a computer system with referrals. The representatives sign a confidentiality agreement that prohibits them from sharing information with other parties.
BEAR partners include more than a dozen local and state organizations. A partial list includes the Small Business Development Center, Uintah Basin Applied Technology College’s Custom Fit training program, VISTA, Utah Vocational Rehabilitation, Utah State University, and the Utah Department of Workforce Services.
Those interested in learning more about the BEAR program should contact Hansen at 435-722-4598 or Lucero at 435-781-6767.
http://www.vernal.com/stories/Basin-to-become-BEAR-country,1168664
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