Erin Farr shares with us about her journey to EDC Utah, insights on economic development, and empowering advice for students—especially young women pursuing STEM and impact-driven careers.
Salt Lake City, UT — July 23, 2025
Erin Farr didn’t take a straight path to success—and that’s exactly how she likes it.
“Oftentimes our path in life isn’t just a linear path,” says Farr. “I’ve been all over the place, but I’ve gained valuable skills and experience along the way. Always be willing to let your path unfold for you.”
Farr grew up near Utah’s Capitol building and later Bountiful. She received a bachelors degree from BYU, and then an MPA from The George Washington University. She began her career as an administrative assistant at the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDC Utah). That led to roles in marketing, government, consulting, and wealth management—before eventually returning to EDC Utah, where she was recently named as Deputy Director and Vice President of Business Development.
“All the opportunities I’ve had in life came because I knew somebody who knew somebody. None of what I’ve done came from job boards. Relationships open doors that hard skills alone can’t.”
She’s passionate about networking—and wants others to prioritize it too.
“While you’re building hard skills, focus on soft skills—listening, communication, collaboration—and build your network. Grades matter, but the relationships you build last longer. Get to know your professors. Take every internship you can.”
Farr describes EDC Utah as a nonprofit focused on growing Utah’s economy and attracting companies from around the world.
“Our goal is to create a high-performing economy that gives Utahns a great quality of life and strong job opportunities.”
In order to meet that goal, EDC Utah works to help companies inside of Utah grow and companies outside of Utah be attracted to Utah. EDC Utah and similar initiatives are working to transition away from Utah’s previous economic and industrial conditions.
“For a long time, Utah’s economy was mainly mining and agriculture. For people that were going to a university and studying other things it was hard to find a good job here. You’d see them leave to go somewhere else to find a great job, and then eventually come back. Leaders across the state have really been proactive in trying to build a more diverse economy so that we not only weather economic storms better, but also where people don’t have to leave the state anymore. They can stay here because there’s plenty of opportunity available to them. We have, with our partnership with the state, kind of followed in that same footstep.”
The types of companies EDC Utah works with greatly vary, though they saw a surge of manufacturing groups during and since the pandemic.
That includes recruiting industries like aerospace, financial services, tech, life sciences, and manufacturing. COVID disrupted supply chains, which spurred interest in Utah from companies that didn't have a presence in the mountain west.
EDC Utah has helped companies such as Procter & Gamble, Texas Instruments, and Nusano establish a presence in Utah. It has also promoted Utah’s inland ports, operated in partnership with the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA), which has 14 inland ports so far:
Businesses at Utah’s inland ports include:
“I get to tell people around the world how amazing Utah is—the collaboration here, the talent, and the quality of life. It doesn’t even feel like work.”
Farr is especially proud of the tangible impact of her efforts.
“I’ve seen friends get jobs at companies I helped bring here. That’s the most rewarding thing—knowing you helped improve someone’s life.”
When asked what advice she’d give young people just starting out, Farr emphasized curiosity and problem-solving.
“See problems as opportunities. Stay curious. Ask questions. The smartest people are the ones who ask—they learn and use that knowledge to move things forward.”
Though she didn’t pursue STEM herself, she strongly encourages it—especially for young women.
“STEM is a fantastic career path. Sometimes I feel like I missed the boat, but I’ve still been part of the ecosystem by helping tech companies expand to Utah. I personally want to be a mentor or advocate to help these young girls succeed."
Whether in STEM or not, her advice is the same: be bold, ask questions, build relationships, give back, and help others along their way.
Lisa Kimball recently graduated from Green Canyon High School in North Logan where she served on the CAPSA Youth Council and as a SheTech Media Intern.