Rio Tinto Kennecott Reaches Out to the Community

Since its inception, Kennecott has always played an important, and at times an overwhelming, role in the development of the Oquirrh Mountains and the Salt Lake Valley. Newspapers and other media abound with stories of Kennecott, sometimes portrayed as a villain, sometimes as a benefactor. This article focuses on five events that have occurred in the recent past where Rio Tinto Kennecott has reached out to support the community in which they are an important member. 

In 1988, the Kennecott Utah Copper Visitors Center Charitable Foundation—also known as the Kennecott Charitable Foundation—was founded with the intent to help those in need. Money was raised by charging an entrance fee to tourists who visited the observation platform (now known as the Kennecott Visitor Experience) that overlooked Kennecott’s open pit mine (Rio Tinto 2022; Salt Lake Tribune [SLTR] 24 December 1995: B2). The fees, first instigated in 1989, were $1 for motorcycles, $2 for passenger cars, and $20 for tour buses (Magna Times 13 April 1989:7). As of 1995, Kennecott’s foundation had distributed $500,000 among 102 local, non-profit organizations (SLTR 24 December 1995: B2). 

By 2023, the Foundation had distributed over $3 million dollars to local non-profit organizations (Mining 2023) that operate within Salt Lake and Tooele Counties, with an emphasis on those non-profits that are in areas adjacent to Kennecott operations. Non-profits and charities that cater to the poor, the homeless, the disabled, children in need, veterans, senior citizens, and those struggling with expenses associated with illness and disease can apply for grants of up to $5,000. In partnership with the Foundation, the Bingham Canyon Lions Club donates a portion of all proceeds raised from the selling of souvenirs in their gift shop that is located at the entrance to the Kennecott Visitor Experience (Rio Tinto 2022)

Kennecott thanks tourists for their generosity in an advertisement (SLTR 24 December 1995: B2).

On July 24, 1976 (Pioneer Day), Kennecott Copper Corporation presented the State of Utah with two beehive sculptures. The beehive is one of Utah’s most important symbols and represents industry, which also happens to be the state motto. The beehive was adopted as a symbol by the Utah pioneers in 1851. To the members of the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the beehive represented “industry, thrift, and cooperation,” values that supported the Church’s belief that a successful, self-sustaining community could be achieved when individuals worked hard, not for themselves, but as a group towards a common goal (Ethan 2023; Utah nd). The Utah State motto, Industry, was adopted in 1959. The two sculptures are located at the Grand Staircase on the south side of the state capital (Utah nd). 

One of the beehive sculptures flanking the Grand Staircase at the state capital (Utah nd). 

Plaque describing the donation of sculptures to the State of Utah. 

In 2008, Rio Tinto Kennecott partnered with the Major League soccer team Real Salt Lake (RSL) who had just completed a new soccer stadium in Sandy, Utah. This lucrative partnership with Rio Tinto had the potential to bring in as much as $20 million over a 10-year period. In exchange for naming rights, Rio Tinto would contribute $1.5 to $2 million annually towards the operation of the 20,000-seat soccer stadium. The first match played in Rio Tinto Stadium was October 9, 2008, against the New York Red Bulls (SBJ 2008). 

Rio Tinto Stadium (Niche Homes 2020).

Rio Tinto retained naming rights, most likely through additional negotiations with RSL, until September 2022, when naming-rights were acquired by America First Credit Union. Unfortunately for the newly named America First Field, the name takeover came with a slight hitch. The RSL fans had developed a vested interest in the pet name they have given the stadium, the RioT (pronounced riot, not Rio T), so much so, that the name was incorporated into one of the game chants named “Believe”, which was written by Rancid drummer and RSL fan Branden Steineckert (Vejar 2022) (hear Believe at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa1DJ008t9Y).

For die hard RSL fans, and most likely for not so die hard RSL fans, whatever the name of RSL’s stadium is, it will always be known as the RioT. Fans sympathize with whoever may hold the naming-rights in the future, but “some things are permanent” (Vejar 2022). Although Rio Tinto no longer retains stadium naming rights, they continue their support of RSL through a corporate partnership (OSC 2023; RSL 2024). 

Also in 2008, Rio Tinto made a $15 million donation in cash and copper siding, to the construction of the new Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) building. The copper, of course, was from the Bingham mine (NHMU Fact sheet n.d), located in the Oquirrh Mountains near Copperton. The museum was dedicated in 2011 and had more than 4,000 visitors on opening day (Natural History Museum of Utah 2024). 

The Rio Tinto Center, which houses the NHMU, is 163,000 square feet and clad with 42,000 square feet of copper. The museum is nestled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains at the east margin of Salt Lake City near the University of Utah (Natural History Museum of Utah 2024). 

The NHMU is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country with a staff of 30 scientists. The museum offers traveling and permanent exhibits, special events, and programs in public education, collection preservation, and environmental stewardship. Since its establishment in 1963, the NHMU has been informing visitors about Utah’s natural wonders and native cultures through its collection of over 1.6 million objects. Each year, the museum receives approximately 180,000 visitors (Natural History Museum of Utah 2024).

The building was constructed with recycled materials, local resources, photo voltaic energy, radiant cooling and it has an extensive storm water catchment and management system. The NHMU is currently seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification (Natural History Museum of Utah 2024). LEED is a green building certification program with four certification levels; LEED certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, and LEED Platinum (LEED 2024). Should the NHMU receive such certification, it would make it one of 18 buildings in Salt Lake City with LEED certification (Natural History Museum of Utah 2024). 

The Rio Tinto Center, home of the Natural History Museum of Utah (Rio Tinto Center 2014).

In 2023, as part of its 120^th anniversary celebration of mining operations in the Oquirrh Mountains and the Salt Lake Valley, Rio Tinto Kennecott pledged $10 million toward the construction and operation of the new Museum of Utah. Money will be distributed over a 10-year period. The edifice will be built on the Utah State Capital complex and is slated to open in 2026 (Rio Tinto 2023). This museum is the first of its kind in Utah, where the focus is on Utah’s “unique history, culture, and art through world class exhibits, programming, and community spaces.” The museum will be operated under the auspices of the Utah Historical Society (UHS 2019). The museum will be free and open year-round. The building will encompass over 17,000 square feet of exhibition space (Rio Tinto 2023).

Today, Kennecott still plays an important role in Utah’s economy and is invested in not only the products that it produces, but the people and communities that support it.