Real Progress, Real Benefits, Real Support
Utah is growing, and communities across the region are working together to shape that growth in ways that protect what we love and enhance our quality of life. The Wasatch Choice Vision provides the roadmap — and developing vibrant city and town centers is a key strategy that’s already delivering results.
Centers Work! highlights this progress, shares examples, and offers resources to help every community create places that strengthen local character and benefit the entire region.
Real Progress
This is a strategy that has made real progress across our region.
The number of City and Town Centers planned or being developed in our region has grown significantly in recent years. Nearly every community in our region is building or plans to build one or more Centers — growing from 229 in 2023 to 393 in 2025.
But Centers are not just dots on a map. Communities across the region are building them into great places that people love. Below are just a few of the many examples of what’s possible when a community embraces the creation of a Center.
What is City and Town Center?
Centers are the hearts of our communities — walkable areas where activity is focused, with places to live, work, and play.
South Jordan Downtown Daybreak
Transportation choices create a regional entertainment hub
“We are creating a regional hub where you can live, work, play, dine, shop, and we're trying to make sure it's easy for everyone to get to.”
Millcreek Common
Multiple homes within walking distance of fun & city services
“We're actually leveraging this space for multiple reasons. It's a gathering place for our community, but it's also a place where we are creating a lot of housing around it, so that people can come here, walk here, and take advantage of the amenities and have a great time.”
Bountiful Main Street
Reinvented gathering place for the whole community
"We love our main street. We love our town square. It's really the heart of our community and where all of our vibrancy comes from.”
Provo City Center
Art, food, and historic charm come together seamlessly
“We are really proud and excited that our downtown Provo is one of the historical, still true-to-itself downtowns. It is definitely the heart of the city.”
Real Progress
This is a strategy that has made real progress across our region.
The number of City and Town Centers planned or being developed in our region has grown significantly in recent years. Nearly every community in our region is building or plans to build one or more Centers — growing from 229 in 2023 to 393 in 2025.
But Centers are not just dots on a map. Communities across the region are building them into great places that people love. Below are just a few of the many examples of what’s possible when a community embraces the creation of a Center.
What is City and Town Center?
Centers are the hearts of our communities — walkable areas where activity is focused, with places to live, work, and play.
South Jordan Downtown Daybreak
Transportation choices create a regional entertainment hub
“We are creating a regional hub where you can live, work, play, dine, shop, and we're trying to make sure it's easy for everyone to get to.”
Millcreek Common
Multiple homes within walking distance of fun & city services
“We're actually leveraging this space for multiple reasons. It's a gathering place for our community, but it's also a place where we are creating a lot of housing around it, so that people can come here, walk here, and take advantage of the amenities and have a great time.”
Bountiful Main Street
Reinvented gathering place for the whole community
"We love our main street. We love our town square. It's really the heart of our community and where all of our vibrancy comes from.”
Provo City Center
Art, food, and historic charm come together seamlessly
“We are really proud and excited that our downtown Provo is one of the historical, still true-to-itself downtowns. It is definitely the heart of the city.”
Real Benefits
These Centers yield real benefits not just for these communities but for the entire region!
These are some of the benefits that we are currently experiencing from our existing Centers. Embracing Centers as a strategy to absorb growth helps mitigate congestion, use less water and land, increase access to opportunities, and more.
More homes in Centers
More homes in Centers
Mitigates congestion
Mitigates congestion
Increased access to jobs & education
Increased access to jobs & education
More natural & agricultural land conserved
More natural & agricultural land conserved
Less water is used
Less water is used
Fewer public dollars spent
Fewer public dollars spent
More homes in Centers
More homes in Centers
Mitigates congestion
Mitigates congestion
Increased access to jobs & education
Increased access to jobs & education
More natural & agricultural land conserved
More natural & agricultural land conserved
Less water is used
Less water is used
Fewer public dollars spent
Fewer public dollars spent
More homes in Centers
More homes in Centers
Mitigates congestion
Mitigates congestion
Increased access to jobs & education
Increased access to jobs & education
More natural & agricultural land conserved
More natural & agricultural land conserved
Less water is used
Less water is used
Fewer public dollars spent
Fewer public dollars spent
Real Support
Every community has the opportunity to create great places that reflect its local character. As part of the Centers Work! effort, we’ve recently published two new resources — the Missing Middle Toolkit and the Centers Visualizations. These tools can help you explore the many possibilities for shaping a City or Town Center in your community.
We also offer Technical Assistance programs to help turn ideas into community-driven plans and projects.
If you have questions or want to learn more, please connect with your regional planning organization: the Wasatch Front Regional Council (serving Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Box Elder, Morgan, and Tooele counties), the Mountainland Association of Governments (serving Utah, Summit, and Wasatch Counties), or any of the Wasatch Choice Vision Partners.
Visual resources that allow you to experience many types of centers from multiple viewpoints. Explore and imagine your next Center!
Would you like some help getting your community’s project going? We provide technical assistance on a variety of projects that implement the Wasatch Choice Vision.
A collections of resources that aids Utah communities of all sizes in learning about, planning for, and implementing more housing options tailored to their city or town.
Stay Connected
Want to keep up with the latest on Centers Work! and other efforts to shape the future of our region?
Subscribe to WFRC’s newsletter or to MAG’s newsletter — or both — to stay informed on progress and opportunities for your community.
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