You know you’re in for a good time when you’re heading for Happy Valley, the area that surrounds Provo, Utah (UT). Even better, the Beehive State’s second-largest metro area has made a good showing on a variety of national “Top/Most Happy Community” lists over the years for quality of life factors; residents and visitors report that there are plenty of enjoyable things to see and do in Provo, in addition to the amazing scenery, educated workforce, low crime, and general satisfaction of community members.
The state of Utah receives regular props for similar positive characteristics, including ranking close to the top of USA Today’s 2018 list of “Best States for Happiness.” This particular list ranked physical, mental, economic, and spiritual pros and cons of every state.
Today, the Garden City is a dynamic and exciting community. Provo has a population of about 115,000 within its city limits, and 520,000 in the greater Provo-Orem metro area. It’s the third-largest city in the state, just under Salt Lake City and West Valley City.
The area is also home to Brigham Young University, which attracts students from around the world and has plenty of support from NCAA football fans. Provo serves as a training area for young people heading into the world as missionaries for the Mormon Church as well. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is the dominant faith in these parts, with which about 75 percent of residents are affiliated. This means that you’re more likely to see ice cream stands in Provo than bars, vape lounges, or coffee shops.
The combination of desert and mountain climates presents all sorts of opportunities to enjoy the area all year long and there’s no end to the recreational opportunities in Provo, from hiking to snowboarding. The area hosted some events during the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in 2002, so there are even more snowy, recreational outdoor options.
In addition to Provo being a downright happy, family-friendly place to live and play, it also has a variety of business opportunities. Provo is the home-base for a variety of national and international companies, everything from Ancestry.com to the security company Vivint.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, 2019) reveals that the area doesn’t have the highest wages in the country, but can fairly be called “competitive” with a mean hourly wage of $22.89 for all occupations, down slightly from the national mean of $24.98. Of special note is that “computer and mathematical” occupations are in high demand and can command high salaries with a mean wage of $41.31 in Provo.
Continue reading to learn more about what areas make Provo appealing to those interested in business opportunities.
Global cuisine. The Provo restaurant scene is legendary. This is partly credited to the global student body and faculty, including heavy Polynesian influences from BYU’s sister campus in Hawaii. The emphasis on missions doesn’t hurt either: when people return from spreading the word abroad, they often bring back favorite treats or favorite recipes that are incorporated into local menus. So it’s not uncommon to see “fusion” spots with delicacies from many cultures.
Cheers! Yes, you can find something to drink around here. Although LDS members and BYU students are encouraged to abstain from spirits and the state officially “does not promote or encourage the sale or use of alcohol,” merchants are happy to take the money from adults who want to imbibe. But there are some legal restrictions, including lower quantities of alcohol content in beer or sales of only one glass or a bottle at a time in some locations. Restaurants also require that people buy food with their alcohol purchases.
LGBT-friendly. Though the LDS church’s view on homosexuality is complicated due to sometimes conflicting, still-evolving policies, personalities, and politics, Provo has a reputation as a community that’s relatively welcoming to all types of lifestyles. While “somewhat friendly” isn’t necessarily a glowing endorsement, progress is being made. For instance, community members have held a Provo Pride Festival with few problems for several years and city officials like to portray the region as welcoming, diverse, and inclusive.
Hollywood calling. The Provo area gets a lot of traffic each January, but folks are not necessarily coming to check out the cool dinosaur fossils at the BYU Museum of Paleontology (although they are worth seeing!). The elite of the moviemaking industry visit the Sundance Resort for the annual film festival launched by Robert Redford to spotlight independent films, often with a Western flair. The two worlds and cultures sometimes stay separate, but do find ways to co-exist: Utahans can buy tickets before the public, and since 2011, Provo has been hosting the Utah Film Festival—its own celebration that includes premieres of in-state independent movies. Organizers also encourage Sundance deal-makers to consider using Utah locations and talent for future films.
Sodalicious – Sodalicious makes customized flavors of carbonated treats using either flavored syrups or existing soft drinks as the base. Customers can get a cool, colorful and unique treat every time they come in.
HaLLo – One of the challenges of learning a foreign language is not being able to practice often enough with others, especially outside of the classroom setting. This social app aims to change that by helping connect people learning English to people who already speak it well, and invite them to converse via live stream/real-time video chatting. The basic conversation service is free with a language partner or native speaker, but future upgrades will allow people to buy extended lessons from the more skilled speakers. It allows people to practice and grow their English language skills and matches people based on skill level. Users can also chat with specific friends if they have the app, and participants receive lists of possible topics to get their conversation started.
My Dental Rep – This service provides automated support for the ordering process at dental offices. Clients can find lower prices, combine orders, and keep track of items that are needed the most often. This helps participating offices always have what supplies they need and never run low. Outsourcing the ordering allows the dentist and office staff to focus on other tasks and patient needs rather than on constantly ordering or negotiating with suppliers. Clients can also call and talk to a knowledgeable ordering assistant about the available products.
Part of LDS history includes an emphasis on the values of working hard, taking risks, and helping others. That’s why many start-up businesses here are able to find a high amount of encouragement and support, whether it’s securing loans, finding focus groups for a proof of concept, or tapping expertise from BYU. Some of these include: