Chambers roll out ‘Best Place for Working Parents’ designation across three Utah counties

Photo: Photo by Naassom Azevedo

PARK CITY, Utah — The chambers of commerce serving Park City, Salt Lake City and Heber Valley on Tuesday launched the Best Place for Working Parents program in Summit, Salt Lake and Wasatch counties, giving local employers a free, three‑minute online assessment that instantly shows whether they qualify as a family‑friendly workplace.

The expansion, done in partnership with the Park City Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Alliance, plugs Utah businesses into a national network designed to spotlight companies that offer policies benefiting working parents and, by extension, their own bottom lines.

“We want to acknowledge regional businesses that support working parents by offering family‑friendly policies and benefits,” Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau Vice President of Operations Sarah Myers said in a statement.

The assessment focuses on 10 research‑backed practices — from flexible schedules to child‑care assistance, that studies show improve retention and productivity. National data cited by the program indicate 83 percent of millennials would switch jobs for better family support, while child‑care gaps cost U.S. employers an estimated $13 billion annually.

“Utah’s economic success is rooted in strong families and forward‑thinking businesses,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Empowering and supporting working parents is not just the right thing to do — it’s a valuable and efficient business strategy.”

Early Childhood Alliance Director Kristen Schulz called the designation a way to “inspire everyone to start investing more into our kids and families,” noting persistent struggles parents face in finding affordable child care.

“Heber Valley’s strong businesses are built from strong families,” added Dallin Koecher, executive director of the Heber Valley Chamber. “Adopting proven, family‑friendly practices gives employers a competitive edge in a tight labor market.”

Businesses can take the assessment and view real‑time benchmark dashboards here. Chamber members may attend an introductory session in person at the Park City Community Foundation or via Zoom on May 14 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., featuring program co‑founder Sara Reddington by registering here.

Best Place for Working Parents began in Fort Worth, Texas, and has spread to more than a dozen regions nationwide.