The Future of Blanding

My Message

Blanding has a chance to grow and still protect the values that this community holds dear. This campaign is all about allowing limited, regulated alcohol sales inside city limits as a way to support local restaurants, increase business opportunities, make jobs, keep tourism money in town, and improve access to more dining options. It doesn't have to be a drastic change. After all, the question is not whether or not alcohol will be consumed — it will be. The question is if we want more money, more opportunity, and more safety.

83%

of surveyed residents identified access to healthy/quality food as an issue.

The Problem

Blanding, Utah, has a massive problem on its hands. The city has, at its core, poor welfare of many of its citizens. Out of over 20 possible categories to choose from, the 200+ Blanding Residents who were involved in a survey conducted by Dr. Courtney Flint of Utah State University determined that the biggest issue was Access to Healthy/Quality Food, with a staggering 83% of participants citing it is an issue. You can see this chart to the left. Other issues that were listed as major were Employment Opportunities and Shopping Opportunities.

The Solution

Although it may seem trivial, the town has limited dining options, therefore fewer business opportunities, and a significant amount of tourist money that leaves the town instead of staying local. At the same time, this issue has been debated for years, but the time to act is now. The problems are real, and the longer we wait, the worse the problem will get. Those findings from Dr. Flint are actually worse in her 2024 version of the study than the 2020 one. The campaign is about one simple solution: allowing regulated alcohol sales – keeping money in the community and helping our town grow.

Campaign Deliverables

Design choice

The color scheme helps ensure we have a strong identity.

ATTENTION

Flyer

EMOTION

Poster

EXPLORE

Website

ACTION

Letter

What You Can Do

Real change happens when people take action. Here are ways you can help the cause.

Letter to the City Council

Blanding City Council
50 W 100 S
Blanding, UT 84511

Dear Members of the Blanding City Council,

There has been a pressing issue in my mind entailing something that could easily improve the economics of the town that we live in. As you are likely aware, the town has had a dry-town law that has been standing for many years. However, I believe that it is time for this law to change, or at least be brought to the table to change.

The law does not stop people in our town from gaining access to alcohol, but rather pushes them out of town to get alcohol, arguably more dangerous considering they could come back intoxicated, further adding danger to our streets. There needs to be a discussion had about the values that need to evolve so our town can evolve with them. The moral standpoint is obsolete, as people will get access to alcohol regardless. All the law does is push money out of our town, remove access to more quality food establishments, therefore creating less job opportunities. The town would simply be better off in most regards.

By keeping the current ordinance, we are not preventing alcohol consumption; we are simply extending the location of it. Residents drive to neighboring communities, spend their money there, dine in their restaurants, and contribute to their revenue rather than ours. In doing so, we effectively help the growth of surrounding towns while stopping our own economic development.

If our goal is to protect public safety and preserve community values, then we should ask whether the existing policy really achieves that purpose. When people must drive out of town to purchase alcohol, the chances of impaired driving increases simply because travel is required. Allowing controlled sales within town limits could reduce that risk while giving local authorities clearer oversight and enforcement capability, and simply could get us more money.

Next, removing the dry-town law would attract new businesses such as restaurants or event venues that currently skip our town thanks to the policy. These things do more than sell alcohol; they create jobs, stimulate tourism, and broaden our dining and entertainment options. The ripple effect could be huge. More potential revenue for existing businesses, more tax revenue, and more job opportunities.

This is not about abandoning our community’s values. It is about realizing that communities evolve. Ultimately, the question is not whether alcohol will be consumed — it already is. The question is if we want more money, more opportunity, and more safety. It is time to open a discussion about revisiting this law so that our town can move forward.

Sincerely,
George McNaughtan
Blanding Resident
San Juan High School Student Body President

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Research & Resources

The following documents can all be freely viewed and downloaded in order to view the painstaking research and work that has been put into the project. All sources, evidence, and steps to the process are found below.