Clinton City is hoping for an economic comeback

Clinton City, DAVIS COUNTY — Businesses along one of Clinton City’s main thoroughfares have been struggling amid years of major road construction.

“The construction is so intense and it’s on both of those main arterials,” said Marie Dougherty, Clinton City Mayor. “They’ve just been avoiding Clinton.  Even people who live here, they tell me they just go to Riverdale, they just go to Layton to shop.  They go to Syracuse.  And it’s been really hard to hear that.”

The affected roadways are 2000 west and 1800 north. UDOT has been widening and updating infrastructure on 2000 west in Clinton for the past couple of years and just finished up.

Now the city feels it’s the perfect time to ramp up visitation to the area. So they are launching Clinton’s Comeback Week to incentivize people to do all their Valentines Day shopping there.  The city has even created a web app to drive sales and make it fun.

“They can sign up, upload their receipts and play the game.  If they shop at as many businesses as possible, they have the potential to win prizes.” said Dougherty.

Dougherty is hoping this initiative will jumpstart commerce in their downtown.  She’s become worried about the wellbeing of Clinton businesses after many reported losses of over 40%. 

The city has also faced significant drops in sales tax revenue which then causes other taxes to go up. Last year, the city’s finance director forecasted a $200,000 shortfall in their sales tax.

Related: Clinton business owners concerned, optimistic as major construction project begins

“Getting that support from the public right now would be huge for us.  It’s a way for us to say, we know we are making an investment in the future with this construction,”said Dougherty. “But we need an investment right now in the local businesses who have been hanging on for dear life for us.  They’ve been trying to keep their lights on through this construction.” 

But the struggle isn’t over. 1800 north remains under construction so Dougherty says they may need to incorporate more initiatives like this in the future.