Raising Kane summit puts local businesses center stage

The 15th Annual Raising Kane Business Summit drew about 200 participants to Kanab for a full day of discussion, networking and practical guidance focused on small busi­ness and economic development in Kane County and surround­ing communities.

Attendees fill the Kanab Center gymnasium during the Raising Kane Business Summit, where local business owners, community leaders and state representatives gathered for a day of networking and discussion focused on rural economic development. Photo by Nicholas Meyeres.

The annual event brought together busi­ness owners, public of­ficials, and state agen­cies under the theme “New Tricks for ’26,” emphasizing adapta­tion and resilience in rural economies.

Breakfast was pro­vided by Parry Lodge, with lunch catered by Party in a Box, both of which were well received by attendees.

Keynote speaker Trent Staggs spoke about his experience leading and advising small businesses, fo­cusing on regulatory changes at the federal level and how reduced regulatory pressure may create new op­portunities for entre­preneurs. His remarks centered on practical decision-making and long-term planning for locally owned busi­nesses.

Updates were also provided by county and city representa­tives, along with Ca­mille Johnson of the State of Utah’s Office of Tourism, who dis­cussed statewide tour­ism trends and their implications for rural communities.

Several sessions high­lighted local business perspectives. Shannon Henderson of Thunder­bird Resort presented a history of the business and its evolution over time. Craig Embley of Buckskin Tavern spoke about the importance of giving back to the community and the role local businesses play in supporting small-town quality of life.

Kourtney Millard of The Shop Coffee Co discussed the realities of running a business in a small town, including workforce challenges and seasonal demand. Ashley Romero and Sam Atkinson of Hot Mama’s Pizza & Brew shared their experi­ence rebuilding after a fire and described the community sup­port that helped them reopen.

One element that stood out was the strong emphasis on local voices, with busi­ness owners featured from across the region, from Duck Creek Vil­lage and Orderville to Fredonia, Arizona. The range of perspectives enriched the event, adding local meaning and grounding the discussions in the real experiences of rural businesses across the region.

Kyler Ludwig intro­duced Kanab City’s “love letters” initia­tive, a project aimed at highlighting com­munity identity and quality of life. Don Jennings of South­ern Utah News spoke about local journalism as infrastructure and its role in supporting informed communities and economic stability.

Local musician Eric Sims provided mu­sic during networking breaks, providing an authentic local vibe.

The summit was sup­ported by a wide range of sponsors and exhibitors representing local government, nonprof­its, lenders and busi­ness support organiza­tions, underscoring a collaborative approach to economic develop­ment across the region.