This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Gov. Gary Herbert used a couple of Paralympic-caliber archers Tuesday to emphasize that his job-creation goals were right on target.
The governor recounted Tuesday how there were "a lot of naysayers" when he issued a challenge to the private sector in January 2012 to create 100,000 jobs in 1,000 days.
The private sector's response was revealed when Michael Lukow and Steve Bosson, Iraq War veterans who are part of USA Archery's elite Para team, popped balloons with arrows at about 30 paces. A board hidden by the balloons displayed the number: 112,200 new jobs.
"It's not just a number. This is about people, 112,000 people who have jobs," Herbert said. "They can support families, pay bills. They can have optimism about the future."
He attributed the success to a variety of factors.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development has persuaded companies to move or expand operations in the state, Herbert said, citing the investment made in the Easton Salt Lake Archery Center where the press conference was staged and high-tech aerospace work being done nearby at Exelis Corp.
The Utah Department of Workforce Services has helped provide the skilled labor force needed by employers, he added, while the private sector provide the entrepreneurial spirit that invigorated the state's performance.
"We're here today to celebrate our accomplishments," Herbert said, "but we can't rest on our laurels."
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