Utah’s LDS influence is turnoff, some firms say

A new survey of businesses looking to relocate found that while Utah is competitive, concerns persist about the effect of the "Mormon influence" as well as limitations posed by the state’s size and location.

The 48-page report, made public Wednesday, was compiled to boost Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.’s economic development efforts on behalf of a group calling itself Real Estate Professionals for Economic Growth.

The group of commercial real estate companies picked up half the $55,000 cost of the survey. The rest was paid for by the state, Salt Lake County and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, which has contracts with the state and other entities.

"We still have a perception problem," acknowledged the head of the group, Bill Martin, managing partner of the state’s largest commercial real estate firm, Commerce CRG. "The Olympics helped reduce that but it’ll never go away."

By Lisa Riley Roche
Deseret Morning News

Full Story: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635167177,00.html