The Utah Inland Port Authority shared the initial proposal for the Greater Washington Project Area, a draft project area plan requested by Washington City to support strategic infrastructure investment, industrial growth and long-term economic diversification in one of Utah’s fastest-growing regions.
The proposed project area is centered around the Sunrise Valley Industrial Park and planned industrial expansion areas in Washington City. The draft plan identifies the Purgatory Road corridor as the primary infrastructure priority, creating a critical connection between Washington City, Hurricane and surrounding areas while improving freight movement, roadway safety and regional mobility.
“This project area is about helping a fast-growing region plan ahead,” said Ben Hart, UIPA Executive Director. “Washington County is already seeing strong demand for industrial land and business growth. UIPA’s role is to help communities deliver the infrastructure needed to support that growth in a responsible and coordinated way.”
Washington City Council unanimously passed a resolution on June 10 requesting creation of the project area. Under UIPA’s project area process, today’s meeting served as the first public board review of the draft plan. Final consideration and potential creation of the project area are anticipated in August, following required notice, public input and board action.
The Purgatory Road corridor has been identified through prior environmental study and regional planning efforts as an important transportation investment for the area. Once completed, the corridor is expected to provide an alternative route for industrial and regional traffic, reduce pressure on existing local roads and improve connections to Interstate 15, St. George Regional Airport and other logistics assets in Southern Utah.
The proposed project area also benefits from proximity to the St. George Regional Airport, which is undergoing significant capital improvements, including terminal expansion, taxiway reconstruction and air traffic control upgrades. While Washington County does not currently have direct rail infrastructure, the area is positioned to connect by truck to regional rail-served logistics assets, including the Iron Springs Inland Port Project Area in Iron County.
If approved in August, the Greater Washington Project Area would give Washington City and regional partners another tool to advance infrastructure, attract private investment, create high-quality jobs and strengthen Southern Utah’s long-term economic position.
“Washington City is growing quickly, and we have a responsibility to make sure that growth is supported by the right infrastructure,” said Councilman Kurt Ivie from Washington City. “The Greater Washington Project Area gives us a tool to move important transportation and utility improvements forward, support responsible industrial development and create more opportunities for residents to build careers close to home. This partnership helps us plan for the future instead of simply responding to growth after it happens.”
The draft plan outlines a recruitment strategy focused on industries that align with Washington County’s growth, workforce and resource priorities. Target industries include advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, aviation-support industries, technology, life sciences, medical device manufacturing, outdoor products, corporate headquarters and regional operations.
Incentives, if awarded, would be structured as post-performance rebates from generated property tax differential and would require approval by the UIPA Board in a public meeting. No business is guaranteed an incentive. The draft plan also notes that projects classified as high-water-use by the Washington County Water Conservancy District would generally not be eligible for incentives.
Author: Kaitlin Felsted
Published: 06/25/26