The Utah Inland Port Authority Board is scheduled to consider adoption of the proposed Black Gold Project Area at its March 16 board meeting, following an earlier review of the draft project area plan in January.
The Black Gold Project Area spans approximately 2,780 acres in Duchesne County and Roosevelt City and is intended to support infrastructure coordination, freight mobility and long-term economic development strategies in the Uinta Basin.
Project areas are established under state law as planning and financing mechanisms designed to facilitate coordinated infrastructure investment and economic activity within defined boundaries. The framework allows participating communities to align infrastructure planning with regional transportation patterns, industrial land availability and local development priorities.
“The Black Gold Project Area reflects ongoing coordination with local partners and the region’s long-term economic objectives,” said Jenna Draper, Associate Vice President of Regional Project Area Development for the Utah Inland Port Authority. “The project area structure is designed to support infrastructure planning and investment tools while maintaining local land-use authority.”
The proposed project area emphasizes logistics-supportive and industrial uses, including manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, and other industries aligned with the Basin’s transportation and economic environment.
The UIPA Board reviewed the draft Project Area Plan and Budget for Black Gold during its January meeting. No formal action was taken at that time, consistent with the board’s standard project area evaluation process.
If adopted, the project area would establish a framework for coordinating infrastructure improvements and economic development tools within the designated acreage. Local land-use authority would remain under the jurisdiction of Duchesne County and Roosevelt City.
Published: 02/23/26
Author: Kaitlin Felsted