But today, the county is reaching out, said County Commission Chairman Gary Anderson.

"It's an exciting time," Anderson told the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce Friday afternoon. "We're back with a flourish."

Anderson and Commission Vice Chairman Larry Ellertson gave a "state of the county" report at the chamber's First Friday Forum. They plan to give a more in-depth report at the Historic Utah County Courthouse at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Provo.

Anderson said in recent years the county withdrew from Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) and privatized its tourism-promotion efforts. Anderson said the thought was that the commission should concentrate on serving the residents of the unincorporated county and leave the rest to city governments.

Utah County, the largest financial contributor to MAG, had decided to leave the organization because commissioners felt neighboring Wasatch County was getting more services and grant assistance.

"We feel like we're whole again," said Darrell Cook, MAG's executive director.

Anderson said the county is also working with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah to better promote the county's businesses.

Ellertson said the county is also making efforts to develop more trails, including plans to have a trail network running along the Murdock Canal.

dmeyers@sltrib.com