Mike Ballard, Managing Director of Ephraim Crossing, presented an overview of the master-planned development that Camino Verde Group has been assembling and building in Ephraim, Utah, for more than six years. The presentation covered the origin of the project, the community vision, economic drivers, near-term construction activity, and how Chamber members can get involved.

The Origin Story

The project grew out of a simple observation: Ephraim had a serious housing shortage. Homes were selling within days of listing, many married Snow College students were commuting more than ten miles to campus, and the college was losing faculty who couldn't find adequate housing. Recognizing that the area also sat within a federally designated Opportunity Zone — which provides meaningful tax incentives for long-term capital investment — Camino Verde began quietly assembling land beginning in 2019. What started as 14.7 acres has grown through a series of acquisitions to approximately 311 acres today.

The Vision

Ephraim Crossing is designed as a walkable, master-planned community with a modern Scandinavian aesthetic. The buildout includes nine residential neighborhoods, more than 40 acres of retail and hospitality, a 56-acre industrial park, a town center with a park and town square, and a future hospital campus. The project addresses what the community said it needed most: a grocery store, entry-level homes and rentals, a hospital, child care, quality jobs, and more dining options.

Economic Drivers

Several major employment anchors anchor the development's economic case. Intermountain Health acquired 35 acres within Ephraim Crossing in late 2022 and plans to open a $100+ million hospital in 2029, employing on site more than 200 permanent healthcare professionals. CO Building Systems already employs over 100 locals in its 198,000-square-foot facility and continues to expand. SoapCreek, a fast-growing natural skincare manufacturer sold in more than 25,000 stores nationwide, is acquiring 21 acres to build a state-of-the-art facility projected to employ more than 600 people. Snow College provides a stable employment base and adds a steady pipeline of students, faculty, and staff who need housing and services. Between these and some other smaller employers, Sanpete County will add more than 1,000 jobs. The presentation framed these drivers with a simple logic: jobs attract residents, housing supports workers, services serve households, and growth creates more jobs.

What's Happening Now

Over the next 18 months, Ephraim Crossing anticipates various developers or builders to start construction on additional single-family homes, Canyon Townhomes, retail buildings, a hotel, industrial buildings, a child care facility, a charter school, and a gas station. Road and utility infrastructure work is already underway across multiple parts of the development.

The Opportunity Zone Fund

Ephraim Crossing sits in a federally designated Opportunity Zone, offering investors the ability to defer, reduce, and potentially eliminate capital gains taxes through the Ephraim Rural Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund — a compelling incentive for long-term investors.



The Invitation

Ballard closed by inviting Chamber members to engage directly — whether by buying a home in one of four residential neighborhoods, leasing commercial space along the Parkway, purchasing entitled land for development, or simply advocating for intentional growth in Sanpete County. Tours of the property are available immediately at https://ephraimcrossing.com/?page_id=12