According to the Utah Department of Work Force Services, Uintah County’s unemployment rate is 8.4 percent. That is more than double the national average of 3.5 percent.
But Uintah County’s travel and tourism director Lesha Coltharp said the recent job losses and brain drain weren’t as bad as some said.
“We really haven’t lost that many people. Several shops in town still have signs for those looking for help, “said Coltharp.” You know, the unemployment rate is pretty high, but we’re not a ghost town. “
Uintah County has the Dinosaur National Monument, the Green River, and three state parks. Coltharp says the county gets nearly a million visitors each year, but needs to continually use tourism to sustain life and money in the area.
“You know, we know tourism will never replace oil and gas, but it’s a great place to relax and so we’re trying to come up with some of those ideas and get them out there so they know, hey, Vernal.” – Have fun riding the ATV, have fun. Extra things besides the dinosaurs and besides oil and gas, “Coltharp said.
This week, Uintah County and Utah State Parks in Vernal are hosting an Outlaw ATV Jamboree to attract people to visit the city.
“We’re definitely not where we used to be, but we’re trying to improve,” said Coltharp.
Coltharp said events like the jamboree are an attempt to diversify the economy so that people don’t feel the crisis quite as badly when the oil and gas plunge.
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