Since 2021, the University of Utah has been deeply engaged in a game-changing initiative in West Valley City—a partnership that reimagines how universities can work hand-in-hand with communities to create meaningful, sustainable change. Unlike traditional outreach programs, U West Valley has been co-designed with local residents and community leaders to address the area’s most pressing challenges in health care, education, and economic opportunity.
A transformational $75 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation marks a major milestone as the university prepares to break ground on the new hospital and health campus later this summer. With this progress, we’re expanding our focus, inviting departments across campus to develop complementary initiatives that will help achieve the broader goals of this presidential priority project.
Working closely with West Valley stakeholders, the university has identified seven key priority areas where faculty and staff expertise can make a significant difference:
- Health & Wellbeing: Improving health care outcomes and access
- Education & Workforce Development: Creating pathways to higher education and career advancement
- Economic & Community Development: Supporting local businesses and building community wealth
- Capacity & Influence Building: Empowering local leadership and decision-making
- Youth Empowerment: Investing in the next generation
- Community Representation & Enrichment: Ensuring diverse voices shape the project
- Environment & Sustainability: Creating healthy, sustainable spaces
If you are interested in developing a partnership aligned with these priorities, please fill out this form, and we will follow up with you.
West Valley: Promise and opportunity
“What I like most about West Valley is it is a place where the American Dream happens,” explains University of Utah President Taylor Randall. “You see many cultures… entrepreneurs… the American Dream in action.”
Despite its vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship and cultural diversity, West Valley faces significant challenges. Health outcomes in West Valley lag behind neighboring communities, and economic opportunities remain limited for many residents. This unique combination of community potential and opportunity makes West Valley the ideal community for the University’s first “presidential societal impact initiative.”
A holistic approach
While the soon-to-break-ground health campus represents a critical component of this initiative, the vision extends far beyond traditional health care. As one of only nine public institutions nationwide with an academic medical center fully integrated with its main campus, the University of Utah brings a rare combination of resources to address interconnected issues.
“We’ve invested tens of thousands of hours integrating, interviewing, and working with the local community in West Valley,” shares President Randall. The result is an approach to health care that will also address underlying community concerns and priorities.
For example, when a patient is experiencing legal issues in addition to complex health conditions, this comprehensive approach may include training Community Health Workers to also serve as legal advocates. These specially trained workers can help patients by providing limited scope legal help to a community resident experiencing housing instability or provide guidance on medical debt.
This holistic approach demonstrates how the University of Utah’s resources create unique value, bringing together health care professionals, educators, legal experts, and community members to develop integrated solutions.
Reimagining education
Through extensive community engagement, University of Utah has identified key barriers that prevent West Valley residents from accessing higher education. Many residents face the challenge of balancing family responsibilities with their educational goals and are unable to attend traditional classes due to work commitments.
In response, the university has developed innovative educational pathways that offer:
- Certifications that qualify residents for immediate employment in the health care sector
- Flexible scheduling, enabling students to continue their education while maintaining employment
- Comprehensive financial aid and support services to ensure successful program completion
Proxima Careers, a B-corporation incubated at the University of Utah, has already placed graduates into health care jobs within the university’s system.
Economic growth
The West Valley project is expected to create approximately 2,000 new jobs, but the economic vision extends far beyond employment figures. We are currently exploring the creation of a community investment trust and other wealth-building opportunities. Looking ahead ten years, university leadership anticipates:
- Thousands of West Valley residents employed in health care roles
- Significantly improved health outcomes
- Measurable gains in educational attainment and household income
Breaking down institutional silos
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of the initiative is how it’s changing the university itself by breaking down traditional divides between health care and education.
“What’s exciting to me is to sit in meetings with people from our health care campus and our educationally focused campus and you start to see the magic happen,” notes President Randall. “It’s creativity at its best. It is innovation at its best, and I think ultimately impact at its best.”
Join this transformative vision
The success of this initiative depends on engagement from across the University of Utah community. You can also:
- Join the project email list for regular updates and opportunities
- Request a presentation for your department to explore potential collaborations
- If you live in the West Valley area, consider joining the West Valley Steering Committee, which brings together over 120 community leaders