Defense Related Biz to Hit $7B in Utah

None by KCPW

GOED Renews Focus on Sector

(KCPW News) A renewed focus on homeland security and defense-oriented businesses by the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) is expected to reap billions for Utah businesses, which currently garner less than one percent of that market nationwide.

Defense contractors with operations in Utah include Northrop Grumman, L-3 Communications, Boeing, and Lockheed, while many smaller companies act as subcontractors with these larger "primes" or work directly with military installations such as Hill Air Force Base.

Annually, the Department of Defense, according to Gary Harter, director of GOED's Homeland Security And Defense Cluster, issues contracts worth nearly $400 billion. By 2011, that number is expected to hit $500 billion.

Utah is home to many military installations, including Hill, Dugway Proving Ground and Camp Williams, which present many business opportunities. But Harter says companies first need to register with the state's Procurement Technical Assistance Center:

"They are a group of professionals put together to assist small companies in getting through the registration process that they need to do, to work with the Department of Defense and the contracting offices on the various military installations."

PTAC can be reached via GOED's webpage, www.goed.utah.gov.

In October, GOED will host a homeland security and defense procurement symposium.

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