This report to citizens and leaders is based on the Utah County Community Assessment 2015. It focuses on income and poverty. Data show that Utah County's household and family income is on par with those of other communities. It also shows that Utah County family income increases with the number of children in the family-a trend that is contrary to national norms. While Utah County's income is generally good, residents, local government, and business leaders must continue to build economic opportunity in order to assure strong families for future generations. The implications and recommendations found in this brief were developed by Civicus Consulting Group after analysis of community data, telephone survey data, focus groups, and consultations with scores of community leaders, residents, and stakeholders. Funders of this project, though gratefully acknowledged, are not responsible for the recommendations found herein.

By all measures, Utah County is the youngest county in the nation. With a median age of 24.2, it is the youngest of all counties of significant population (500,000 or more) in the United States. Utah County has the highest percentage of children under age 5 (10.4 percent) and children under age 18 (35 percent) of any large county in the country. It has the highest proportion of young adults ages 18 to 24 (17 percent), besting higher- education communities such as Suffolk County, Massachusetts (15 percent) and Dane County, Wisconsin (13 percent). And its older population-those over age 64-is the smallest of any county at only 7 percent. Being such a young community has pros and cons. Such high numbers of children, youth, and young adults positions the county as a center of energy, innovation, technology, and good health. At the same time, it can place burdens on education, childcare, healthcare, public parks and recreation, and other community systems and resources. In the fall of 2014, Civicus Consulting Group, of Richmond, Missouri, was contracted to conduct a follow-up community assessment of Utah County. The prior community assessment, conducted in the fall of 2010 and early spring of 2011, had served as a guiding document and resource for policy makers, business leaders, human service providers, educators, health care providers, and others. The intent of conducting an updated assessment was to obtain current data, learn public perceptions, consider stakeholder expertise, and develop recommendations surrounding human service issues. This document is the second in a series of in-depth examinations of specific topics in the 2015 Community Assessment. Booklets in this series delve further into the data in order to assist community members, policy makers and human service providers in their efforts to improve the quality of life in Utah County.

With more than 76 percent of its residents over age 25 having a college education, Utah County is among the most highly educated counties in the nation. In fact, only four other counties of significant size (with populations over 500,000) have higher percentages of college-educated adults. This commitment to education is in the fabric of Utah County's culture: more than 21 percent of its adult population is currently enrolled in college-the highest percentage of any large county in the country.With such impressive levels of educational attainment and of enrollment in college, one would presume the overall success in all aspects of education in Utah County would be high. However, data show that there are some areas in which the area is coming up short. And with the County's kindergarten through 12th grade population more than doubling in the next 35 years-from roughly 122,000 in 2015 to 251,000 in 2050-the issue of education is only amplified. This document explores both areas of success and areas of challenge in the education of Utah County's residents. Civicus Consulting Group of Richmond, Missouri conducted the 2015 assessment of Utah County. The prior community assessment, conducted in the fall of 2010 and early spring of 2011, had served as a guiding document and resource for policy makers, business leaders, human service providers, educators, health care providers, and others. This year's assessment draws on current data, public perceptions, and stakeholder expertise, to develop recommendations surrounding human service issues. The final assessment includes more than 700 pages of data and analysis.This document is the first in a series of in-depth examinations of specific topics in the 2015 Community Assessment to assist community members, policy makers and human service providers in their efforts to improve the quality of life in Utah County.

Utah County, situated just south of Salt Lake County in central Utah, is experiencing tremendous growth. Since 2000, the population has grown to nearly 550,000 residents-an increase of 47 percent: the fastest of any county in Utah. Indeed, of the total population increase in the state of Utah the past decade, nearly one-third is attributable to Utah County. With rapid population growth comes economic development and opportunities for jobs, education, entrepreneurship, and cultural and social vitality. But rapid growth can also bring increased demands on infrastructure, education, health care, and human services. In the fall of 2014, Civicus Consulting Group, from Richmond, Missouri, was contracted to conduct a follow-up assessment of Utah County. The prior community assessment, conducted in the fall of 2010 and early spring of 2011, had been a guiding document and resource for policy makers, business leaders, human service providers, educators, health care providers, and others. The intent of conducting an updated assessment was to obtain current data, learn public perceptions, consider stakeholder expertise, and develop recommendations. In order to provide adequate context for this study, the assessment analyzes Utah County in a number of ways. First, it compares Utah County of today with the Utah County of the recent past; this approach allows trends to be identified. Second, it compares Utah County to other geopolitical units, including Salt Lake County, Davis County, Summit County, Wasatch County, and Juab County. With some data, comparisons are also made to the State of Utah and to national figures as well. Third, it considers the perceptions and views of experts, stakeholders, and the public at large. This assessment is divided into five sections: The Place, The People, The Future, The Perceptions, and an appendix, published as a separate volume. The largest section in Volume 1-The People-is further divided into an Overview, followed by Education, Income, and Health. The companion Appendix with hundreds of data tables is presented as Volume II of this assessment. After culling through this data, a number of observations can be made, among them* Utah County has tremendous assets. Parks, recreation, cultural activities, public and private education, and access to outdoor activities abound. Despite the rapid population growth, crime has remained remarkably low. * Improvements in education. Following the 2011 assessment, the community embarked on efforts to improve 3rd grade reading scores and other outcomes of good education. Recent measures indicate improvements have been made, although more has yet to be accomplished.* Utah County continues to experiencing growing pains. * Affordable housing is an issue. The prior assessment identified affordable housing as a need in the Utah County area. That need has only increased; the awareness of this need among the general public indicates that more and more individuals are being affected by the high costs of housing. * Low-income and minority population gaps. Despite improvements in some areas, the influx of non-English speakers continues to cause gaps in income and education. * Utah County lacks a comprehensive, collaborative, long-term human service plan. Although some individual agencies and some groups of similar-mission nonprofits work together to collaborate in the delivery of services and in strategic planning (such as the Housing Solutions Workgroup and the Mountainland Continuum of Care), there is no long-term human service planning group or mechanism addressing 10- to 20-year efforts. United Way of Utah County and the agencies that joined forces to produce this assessment are pleased to present this report to public officials, community leaders, service providers, public policy advocates, and others. We welcome your feedback and trust you will find this document of tremendous value as you join with us to improve Utah County.

Volume 2 of a two-volume community assessment of Utah County, Utah. Conducted by Civicus Consulting Group, this community assessment looks through the lens of education, income, and health in order to capture a snapshot of life in Utah County. Volume 2 contains the appendix only.

Volume 2 contains data only. Utah County, situated just south of Salt Lake County in central Utah, is experiencing tremendous growth. Since 2000, the population has grown to nearly 550,000 residents-an increase of 47 percent: the fastest of any county in Utah. Indeed, of the total population increase in the state of Utah the past decade, nearly one-third is attributable to Utah County. With rapid population growth comes economic development and opportunities for jobs, education, entrepreneurship, and cultural and social vitality. But rapid growth can also bring increased demands on infrastructure, education, health care, and human services. In the fall of 2014, Civicus Consulting Group, from Richmond, Missouri, was contracted to conduct a follow-up assessment of Utah County. The prior community assessment, conducted in the fall of 2010 and early spring of 2011, had been a guiding document and resource for policy makers, business leaders, human service providers, educators, health care providers, and others. The intent of conducting an updated assessment was to obtain current data, learn public perceptions, consider stakeholder expertise, and develop recommendations. In order to provide adequate context for this study, the assessment analyzes Utah County in a number of ways. First, it compares Utah County of today with the Utah County of the recent past; this approach allows trends to be identified. Second, it compares Utah County to other geopolitical units, including Salt Lake County, Davis County, Summit County, Wasatch County, and Juab County. With some data, comparisons are also made to the State of Utah and to national figures as well. Third, it considers the perceptions and views of experts, stakeholders, and the public at large. This assessment is divided into five sections: The Place, The People, The Future, The Perceptions, and an appendix, published as a separate volume. The largest section in Volume 1-The People-is further divided into an Overview, followed by Education, Income, and Health. The companion Appendix with hundreds of data tables is presented as Volume II of this assessment. After culling through this data, a number of observations can be made, among them* Utah County has tremendous assets. Parks, recreation, cultural activities, public and private education, and access to outdoor activities abound. Despite the rapid population growth, crime has remained remarkably low. * Improvements in education. Following the 2011 assessment, the community embarked on efforts to improve 3rd grade reading scores and other outcomes of good education. Recent measures indicate improvements have been made, although more has yet to be accomplished.* Utah County continues to experiencing growing pains. * Affordable housing is an issue. The prior assessment identified affordable housing as a need in the Utah County area. That need has only increased; the awareness of this need among the general public indicates that more and more individuals are being affected by the high costs of housing. * Low-income and minority population gaps. Despite improvements in some areas, the influx of non-English speakers continues to cause gaps in income and education. * Utah County lacks a comprehensive, collaborative, long-term human service plan. Although some individual agencies and some groups of similar-mission nonprofits work together to collaborate in the delivery of services and in strategic planning (such as the Housing Solutions Workgroup and the Mountainland Continuum of Care), there is no long-term human service planning group or mechanism addressing 10- to 20-year efforts. United Way of Utah County and the agencies that joined forces to produce this assessment are pleased to present this report to public officials, community leaders, service providers, public policy advocates, and others. We welcome your feedback and trust you will find this document of tremendous value as you join with us to improve Utah County.

Summary, implications, and recommendations based on the Utah County Community Assessment 2015.