Lakeshore Learning Materials' newest distribution center in Garland, Utah, will bring more than 500 jobs to a growing rural community.
Lakeshore Learning, which develops and sells educational materials for teachers, children and families, opened its 1.2-million-square-foot distribution center at the end of 2024 in Garland, Utah. The project earned a 2025 CoStar Impact Award for commercial development of the year in Salt Lake City, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
The project broke ground in late 2023 and is part of Lakeshore Learning's $62 million commitment to rural Utah over the next decade and is projected to add 550 new jobs.
Collaboration was a cornerstone of the project's success, judges said. It came together through several state and local partnerships between EDCUtah, the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, Utah Inland Port Authority and Box Elder County.
"The company is a great match for Utah with our shared priorities and focus on education, our value of teachers and schools, and our emphasis on families and their diverse needs," said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.
Challenges were numerous. Developer Millstream Partners had to facilitate the moving of several canals and drainage systems.
The property is Lakeshore Learning’s third center in the U.S. and features automation and modern robotics in its operations.
About the project: The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity granted Lakeshore Learning a post-performance tax reduction in recognition of its expansion in Box Elder County. This corporate incentive is part of the state’s Rural Economic Development Tax Increment Financing program. Additionally, the Go Utah board has approved a non-matching grant of up to $1 million from the Industrial Assistance Account to support infrastructure development and talent growth.
What the judges said: This project "brings life to an area that had the available land size to accommodate such a use for distribution. It provides economical impacts to the area that will be seen in the years to come," said Jordan Johnson, senior commercial leasing manager at Property Reserve.
They made it happen: Tom Dischmann, executive vice president, CBRE; Jason Robbins, managing partner, Millstream Partners, LLC; Reed Hart, vice president, ARCO Design-Build (project general contractor); Linda Bourne, mayor, Garland City, Utah; Stan Summers, former county commissioner, Box Elder County; Ben Hart, executive director, Utah Inland Port Authority; Scott Cuthbertson, president, EDCUtah; Ryan Starks, executive director, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity; Chris Wong, chief financial officer, Oakland Capital; Artin Ghazarian, chief supply chain officer, Lakeshore Learning Materials.