Interview with Blake Wahlen
General Manager, Business Depot Ogden
Industry: Business/Industrial Park
Founded: 1999
Employees: 5,400
Chamber Member Since: 1993
Business Depot Ogden is a 1,118 acre master-planned business park with excellent access to Interstates 15 and 84. BDO has over 10 million square feet of existing space and in excess of 300 acres of ground available for new development.
Q: What are the top reasons why businesses locate at BDO?
A: “Flexibility, location and timing. We are within a mile of two I-15 interchanges, allowing for easy truck access to BDO. We also have the ability to
move very quickly on new construction, allowing us to meet the timing needs of most companies.”
Q: What trends do you see in the types of businesses wanting to locate in Ogden?
A: “We’ve seen tremendous interest from the outdoor recreation industry. The work by Ogden City to promote the area as a recreation hub has resonated with these companies. The Internet has changed the way companies do business. A one to two day product delivery time is requiring companies to build distribution centers in our area.”
Q: What businesses have recently located at BDO and are you expecting more in the near future?
A: “A few recent additions include Wayfair, Osprey Packs and WhiteClouds 3-D printing. Interest in BDO and Ogden is very high. At BDO we have 122 business and are approaching 5,500 employees. Occupancy of our older military buildings is 95%, while the newer buildings are 98% leased. Since 2001 we’ve added 3.7 million square feet of new space.”
Q: What are you doing to attract new businesses?
A: “As a community, we are making it easy to do business here. We work closely with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCU) as well as local and regional brokers. We are attracting businesses that need custom facilities quick and want to be in a highly supportive business climate.”
Q: What will BDO look like going forward?
A: “Of the total park area of 1,118 acres, we have 300 acres of open ground ready for construction. This gives us space for several more new buildings over the next 15 to 20 years. Our goal is to keep the momentum we have established and make BDO home to new businesses coming to Utah.”
Q: What is something people might be surprised to learn about Business Depot Ogden?
A: “Business Depot Ogden was not only an Army Supply Depot, but home to Italian and German 
prisoners of war during World War II. Those prisoners were put to work at Defense Depot Ogden and some stayed in Ogden after the war. Also, BDO is a partnership between The Boyer Company and Ogden City. Through this relationship we can get a business in a new building in 6-8 months, where it may take them over a year at other locations.
