May 27, 2025
Hi Team Commerce,
Happy May! I hope you’re enjoying this beautiful spring weather. As you know, Governor Cox has launched an initiative called GRIT: Government Reform, Innovation, and Transparency. I wanted to share more about what this means for us and how you can get involved!
This initiative aims to enhance how Utah state government serves its people. GRIT is about building on our strengths, not cutting programs or staff, and finding innovative ways to be more effective. We want to streamline processes, save resources, and provide a better experience for all Utah citizens.
What are the key goals of GRIT?
- Spark Innovation: Your ideas matter! We want to know what you think we can do differently or better. Those of you on the “front lines” have valuable insights into processes that can be streamlined or improved.
- Boost Efficiency: We’re looking for ways to save time, reduce unnecessary steps, and use our resources more wisely.
- Enhance Services: At its core, GRIT is about providing a better experience and more effective services to the people of Utah. Your work directly impacts their lives, and we want to make that impact as positive as possible.
- Foster Collaboration: We want to collaborate across divisions to share best practices.
How can you get involved?
We will soon provide clear channels for you to submit your ideas. Consider complex, time-consuming, or outdated processes and think about how we can improve them. In some instances, this may even involve reworking statutes. Division directors will play a pivotal role in implementing projects that stem from your suggestions. Start brainstorming about what improvements you’d like to see!
Hybrid Work & Parking Updates:
Now, let’s quickly discuss our hybrid work and parking updates. As you know, we’re continuing with our hybrid work model, and starting July 1, the minimum in-office requirement is two days per week. We’re addressing concerns about space, parking, and noise. We’re maximizing space, increasing ‘hoteling’ options, and providing noise-canceling headsets.
You’ll soon receive new Hybrid Work Agreements, which will be reviewed annually based on performance.
We’re adjusting our parking plan to ensure everyone has a place to park. You’ll have the option of a parking permit or a transit pass. Additional parking spots are being assigned in the Metro garage, and we will soon be handing out new parking permits to help manage spaces better. Our hybrid work and parking policies will soon be on the Knowledge Base.
Upcoming In-Person Events
Finally, we have two in-person events coming up next month.
- Summer Quarterly Event: June 19 at Liberty Park from 2-4 PM.
- One Commerce Meeting: June 24 at the Salt Lake City Public Library auditorium at 10:30 AM where we’ll have the privilege of hearing from House Majority Leader Representative Jeff Moss speak. We have partnered with Representative Moss on much of our work and we’re looking forward to hear him speak.
I look forward to seeing you all at these events. Thank you for your dedication and service. We appreciate everything you do!
Best regards,
Margaret Busse
