Grand County at the Capitol: How Commission Representation Is Bringing Results Home

Three weeks into the 2026 session, local advocacy is already changing state policy for Grand County.

When the Utah Legislature convened on January 20, Grand County commissioners traveled to Salt Lake City with a clear mission to ensure rural Utah has a seat at the table. Three weeks later, that presence is producing measurable results.

Dedicated Rural Funding Secured in Economic Mobility Bill

Commissioner Brian Martinez testified before the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee on January 28 in support of SB165, a statewide economic mobility initiative. He told legislators about Our Village Community Center, a Moab nonprofit that distributed nearly 34,000 pounds of food last year that included 10,000 pounds to the Navajo Nation, while providing early childhood and family support. That federal funding recently disappeared.

Martinez described what he called Grand County’s “hidden poverty,” where 70 percent of residents work directly in tourism, earning around $30,000, while housing costs in our gateway community require an average income of $120,000 to be a Grand County homeowner. After Martinez’s testimony, Commissioner Winfield testified about his experience volunteering at the Grand County food bank, about how affordability impacts working families living on the edge—the working poor.

Film Incentive Funding at a Critical Moment

Utah’s rural film incentive has driven over $200 million in spending across 28 counties, with Grand County as one of the biggest beneficiaries. Godzilla x Kong: Supernova generated $3.9 million for the local economy in 10 days, hiring Moab extras and crew members, and supporting local restaurants and retail. Despite its impact on Grand and other rural counties, the program’s $11 million authorization is set to expire if the legislature doesn’t act this session.

Commissioner Winfield made the case to Appropriations Chair Jerry Stevenson, who committed in writing to the County’s support for rural film. After authoring a letter of support and distributing it to every appropriations subcommittee member, Commissioner Martinez returns to the Capitol the week of February 9 to advance the bill through the House.

Watershed Funding Protects Mill Creek

The county is also pursuing continued state funding through the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which has invested in five successive restoration projects along Mill Creek. That work, led locally by Rim to Rim Restoration, has regenerated over 150 acres of invasive-choked riparian habitat, stabilized stream banks before and after flooding, and reduced wildfire fuel loads along the Mill and Pack Creek corridors—areas rated “very high” to “extreme” fire risk.

These aren’t abstract policy wins. They’re Our Village-grown food on tables, paychecks from film crews, and healthier waterways running through our community, and they happen because Grand County shows up.