An Association of Local Governments: Serving Southwestern Utah since 1972
Phone:(435)673-3548 Fax:(435)673-3540 Address: 1070 W. 1600 S., Bldg. B; St. George, UT
The Five County Association of Governments is a voluntary association of local governments from the five southwestern counties of the State of Utah. The five counties in southwestern Utah that comprise the Five County Association of Governments are Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington.
This year, 2023, marks the 50th year since the formal establishment of the Five County Association of Governments. Articles of Association were formally adopted in 1973 by the entities who comprise the Association, thus this year (2023) is this organization's 50th anniversary. While the Five County AOG was officially created in 1973, informal cooperation amongst the five member counties, along with the municipalities within them, as a group, has taken place since the 1950's.
Farsighted leaders of the past envisioned the time when our world-class scenic landscapes, mild climate, beautiful communities and hard-working people would foster the evolution of a major regional center in the West. That time has arrived. Southwestern Utah has come into its own. The Five County Association of Governments is a key player in aiding locally elected officials in coping with regional challenges.
The Association has a main office location in the Tonaquint Center High Tech Business Park in St. George City and a satellite office in Cedar City. We also have dedicated staff in several other locations providing important services within our five county service area. More information on the Association, including our Vision and Mission, can be viewed using the "What is The FCAOG" link on the "About" tab above. Our office addresses, as well as maps to locate them, are found using the "Contact" tab above.
Five County News
2023-09-25
| DRAFT CEDS DOCUMENT
AVAILABLE |
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) was
prepared by FCAOG staff in conjunction with the CEDS Strategy Committee
and Steering Committee, through a capacity building grant from the U.S.
Economic Development Administration (EDA). The goal for this strategic plan is to provide guidance for regional growth while promoting a coordinated approach towards region-wide economic development objectives in Southwest Utah.
The CEDS and Consolidated Plan both employ long-range planning processes in their development.
This planning method allowed staff to consolidate information from a wide range of stakeholders and synthesize the findings into a comprehensive regional growth strategy.
This consolidation also provides consistent and unified policy direction for regional economic development efforts.
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy adheres to and satisfies all guidelines provided by both the Economic Development Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
CLICK HERE to view and/or download the draft CEDS document.
| EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AT THE FIVE COUNTY AOG |
There are currently two open positions
at the Five County Association of Governments.
The first position
is for ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN / ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. Responsibilities include, but are not
limited to, processing of Medicaid claims, provider billings, general accounting,
and fiscal management, monitoring of program budgets and authorized services,
completion of fiscal reports, data entry, and provider contracts, quality
assurance and audit support. Other clerical/receptionist duties and
administrative support for the Aging Department as needed to support program
and fiscal administrative oversight Position is open until 5:00
pm on Monday, September 25, 2023.
The second position is for a Local Administrative Advisor. This position is responsible for building capacity in cities and towns by training and advising mayors, council members, and in-house staff on best practices and policy considerations. To provide professional support and assistance to the staff, Mayor, or Elected Body (“CITY LEADERS”) of a city or Town (“CITY”) while representing all programs within Five County AOG. Position is open until 5:00 pm on Monday, October 2, 2023.
The second position is for a Local Administrative Advisor. This position is responsible for building capacity in cities and towns by training and advising mayors, council members, and in-house staff on best practices and policy considerations. To provide professional support and assistance to the staff, Mayor, or Elected Body (“CITY LEADERS”) of a city or Town (“CITY”) while representing all programs within Five County AOG. Position is open until 5:00 pm on Monday, October 2, 2023.
Click HERE to go to our Human Resources page to view the
complete job announcement and position description,
as well as specific instructions on how to apply, for this
open position.
| POTENTIAL PASSENGER
RAIL SERVICE PRESENTATION |
Passenger rail service between Salt
Lake City and Las Vegas, with the possibility of extending that service into
Cedar City and Washington County, is being studied. There was a presentation
made to the Dixie Metropolitan Planning Organization's governing board, the
Dixie Transportation Executive Council, made by Mr. Bryan Thiot, Executive
Director of the Five County Association of Governments.Please click on THIS LINK to view/print that presentation (which was originally done as a PowerPoint presentation). This is a PDF version of the presentation.
| STATE
OF UTAH COORDINATED ACTION PLAN |
In 2022, the State of Utah embarked on a strategic planning
process to create a Coordinated Action Plan for Economic Vision 2030.The purpose of this Statewide Plan is to unify the goals and direction of State government with those of seven regions in the State of Utah. This involves, among other things, aligning each region’s existing Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) developed by each of the state’s Association of Governments (AOGs). The overarching objectives are to optimize growth and expand prosperity throughout all counties.
The unified approach to economic development requires the State and regional interests to work together in harmony to advance mutual goals.
The Coordinated Action Plan for Economic Vision 2030 document can be viewed/downloaded by clicking on this LINK.
| ASAP
REPORT FOR THE FIVE COUNTY REGION |
The Five County Association of Governments (FCAOG) is a regional
organization serving the Utah counties of Beaver, Garfield, Kane,
Iron and Washington. The FCAOG also serves as the regional economic
development district as a planning partner with the U.S. Economic Development
Administration (EDA). Working regionally the AOG develops and maintains a regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The goals, objectives, and strategies identified in the comprehensive strategic plan, support the economic development goals of the region, as well as those of the counties and communities that comprise the region.
To further its strategic goals the AOG developed an agreement and partnered with the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) to implement an Area Sector Analysis Process (ASAP) for its five member counties and produce a final summary regional report. The May 2023 Area Sector Analysis Process (ASAP) is an economic development tool that identifies the most desirable and compatible industries for a single community.
To View/Print the ASAP Report please click on this LINK
|
THE ASSOCIATION'S
FY2022 AUDIT REPORT |
Each year
the Five County Association of Governments
has an independent audit of our organization
conducted by a qualified public auditing
firm. The FY2022 Audit was completed by the
Certified Public Accounting firm of Hafen|Buckner
of St. George City, Utah and the report was presented
to our governing body, the Steering Committee,
for acceptance, which they did at their meeting
on December 29, 2022.
The FY2022 Audit Report
is available for public review as a PDF
scanned copy of by clicking on THIS LINK.
| ANONYMOUS ETHICS AND
COMPLIANCE HOTLINE |
The Utah Counties Indemnity
Pool (UCIP) is our Association's "insurer".
A Fraud Tip Hotline has been established
by UCIP, in cooperation with Lighthouse Services,
LLC. This service has been set up for UCIP members,
such as the Five County Association of Governments,
in order to provide their staff and citizens with
easy access to report fraud, and keep government open
and honest.Fraud tips can be submitted four ways:
Website: www.lighthouse-services.com/uciputah (available in English or Spanish)
Toll-Free Telephone: • English – (877) 410-0007 • Spanish – (800) 216-1288
E-mail: reports@lighthouse-services.com (must include our Association's name with report)
Fax: (215) 689-3885 (must include our Association's name with report)
|
OPPORTUNITY ZONES
DESIGNATED IN UTAH |
A provision from the tax cut legislation
passed
by by Congress in 2017 may have positive
economic impacts in southwestern
Utah, with investors incentivized to develop
businesses in some of the area’s lowest-income
neighborhoods. Large swaths of
Washington, Iron, Beaver and Garfield counties
are among the places across Utah identified
this summer as federally-recognized “Opportunity Zones”
— areas designated
where investors can avoid some taxes in
exchange for funding new development.
The hope is that development creates jobs, reduces poverty and sets the groundwork for further economic growth in areas largely being left behind by the state's overall job growth. This region, including even fast-growing Washington County, still ranks overall as a distressed regional economy, based on federal guidelines, thanks to low wages and a limited mix of businesses.
The hope is that development creates jobs, reduces poverty and sets the groundwork for further economic growth in areas largely being left behind by the state's overall job growth. This region, including even fast-growing Washington County, still ranks overall as a distressed regional economy, based on federal guidelines, thanks to low wages and a limited mix of businesses.
Click HERE to go to view a PDF map of this region's Opportunity Zone areas. Click HERE to go to a web page with an interactive map of the nation that you can view all Opportunity Zones.
|
NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION
PLAN FOR
REGION |
A
updated regional Multi-jurisdictional
Natural Hazard Pre-disaster Mitigation Plan was developed
by the Five County Association
of Governments' staff in collaboration with
all of the cities and towns, the five counties
in this region, as well as the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. The
Plan update includes information regarding the type,
location and extent potential and regularly
occurring hazards in the Five County area
and also includes information on previous occurrences
of hazard events and the likelihood of a future
natural hazard events. This update was done through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once adopted as a "guidance document" by each entity, the 5-year plan will be valid for that entity until 2027. If there are any questions on the Plan update, please contact Mr. Nate Wiberg, Senior Planner, at (435) 673-3548 ext. 105, or via e-mail to nwiberg@fivecounty.utah.gov
Click on this link: https://hazardmitigationplan.org to go to the special web site developed to present the plan to the cities, towns, counties and the public.
|
COMMUNITY SERVICES
DIRECTORY
AVAILABLE
|
The popular Community
Services Resource Directory for southwestern
Utah is available. The Directory,
published with Community Services Block Grant
funding, is distributed through the Community
Action Partnership of the Five County Association
of Governments. While the Directory is targeted
primarily to the under served population, many services
apply to all levels of income and need. The Directory
is available to view online or may be purchased.
To view the Directory, please visit the H.E.A.T. and Community Action website at this link: http://fivecountycap.wordpress.com
|
COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY |
The updated Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) document
for the Five County Association
of Governments economic development region was
submitted to U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development
Administration Denver Region and was
approved by that federal agency. For more information on the CEDS
document, please contact
Bryan Thiriot, Executive Director, Five County
Association of Governments, via e-mail:
bthiriot@fivecounty.utah.gov
or by telephone: (435) 673-3548.
| THE ASSOCIATION HAS
A MICROLOAN
LOAN PROGRAM |
The Five County
Association of Governments
has a microloan fund. The purpose
of this fund is to create permanent, long-term jobs
within the southwestern region of Utah
by providing needed financing to qualified businesses
for eligible activities. Loans made
through the fund are intended to help when commercial
financing proves unreachable. Funds loaned at interest
are repaid into the program and recycled to other
businesses, thus allowing an on-going job creation program.
Funds are available in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane
and Washington County, Utah. The Southwest Utah Microloan Program, established by the Five County Association of Governments, focuses on loans of $50,000 or less with most being $25,000 or less. The importance of these loans lies in their ability to offset the difficulty that businesses experience in receiving traditional bank financing.
To
find out
more about the loan fund, please contact
Gary Zabriskie, Director of Community
and Economic Development at: gzabriskie@fivecounty.utah.gov , or
phone
(435) 673-3548 ext. 126
As required
by Utah Code the Five County Association
of Governments publishes
all of its public meetings on the "Utah Public Meeting Notice"
(UPMN) web site.
You can search for
our meetings
by date or subject keyword. To
locate all of the meeting announcement
postings published on the UPMN site by the
Five County Association of Governments you
can use this link and use the "Advanced Search"
tab. You will need to
type in
the word five
into the "Entity"
box, highlight the "Five County Association of Governments" link that
comes up, select a date range you want to view and then click on
the "Submit"
button. It
will then show all upcoming meetings scheduled
by the Five County AOG in the date
range you selected.
Alternatively, you
can use
this LINK, choose to Find a Notice, and
select
"Associations
of Governments" for Government type, choose
"Five County Association
of Governments"
for the Entity, and you will see the
Public Body list with links to each of them.
Click Here for more info on what the Five County AOG is about.
