Cover Stories
Housing shortage good for some but may hamper economic future
By Brice Wallace Utah’s housing shortage is great for homeowners but tough for young people and eventually could hamper the state’s economic development. Those conclusions by James Wood at a recent presentation in Salt Lake City included his belief that it is “almost inescapable” that local housing price increases will outpace the national average. “This is a great advantage for all of us who...Deadline nears to take advantage of solar compromise
By John Rogers Utahns who have installed rooftop solar energy systems and those who plan to do so have a couple of important dates to remember under an agreement negotiated late last month between solar advocates and Rocky Mountain Power and endorsed by the Utah Public Service Commission. The agreement followed anxious negotiations among the stakeholders over the costs and advantages of...Report: Employers' health insurance costs up 8 percent
Utah’s Employers Council has released the findings of its annual Utah Health and Welfare Plans Survey that shows that Utah employers experienced an 8 percent increase in health insurance plan costs at their last renewal after negotiations and plan changes. The study reported that the average monthly premium for employee-only coverage of all types of plans is $513. The Employers Council report...
This Week's Headlines
Medtech expansion means $100M spending, 540 jobs
By Brice Wallace Stryker, a worldwide medical technology company, will grow its Utah operations by 540 jobs in Salt Lake City over the next decade. The company announced the expansion last week after being approved for a nearly $3.4 million tax...Lehi Marriott hotels sold
MCR, the seventh-largest hotel owner-operator in the United States, has purchased two Marriott hotels located in Lehi. Both properties, the Courtyard Lehi and SpringHill Suites, are situated near the entrance to Thanksgiving Point, Lehi’s...Vista Outdoor board appoints Metz CEO
Vista Outdoor Inc., based in Farmington, has named Christopher T. Metz as the company’s CEO. In a release, the company’s board of the directors said that the appointment became effective on Oct. 9. Metz will have responsibility for day-to-day...Draper home to ticker reseller's new 400-employee call center
StubHub, an online ticket reseller based in San Francisco, has opened its new call center in Draper. The company celebrated the occasion with a reception for employees, government officials and media last Wednesday. StubHub announced in May that...WTC launches student program
Women Tech Council has launched the Student Innovators program (WTCSI) aimed at increasing the number of women in STEM fields and careers by helping more women complete STEM degrees. To do this, WTCSI will integrate students with industry,...Business and energy leaders encourage RMP not to change 'wattsmart'
Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) recently proposed reducing its incentive-driven “wattsmart” program by 32 percent beginning in 2018. A coalition of business and community led by Utah Clean Energy have joined in asking Rocky Mountain not to cut what...Online tool will help new SLC businesses
Salt Lake City has launched a new online tool designed to make the zoning and permitting process easier and more efficient for those starting a new business. OpenCounter is a customized guide to help applicants achieve their project goals while...GOED career program honored by developers group
The Utah career pathways program in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) recently was honored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The council presented GOED with a Silver Excellence in Economic Development...UofU agrees to source 50 percent of its power from carbon-free generation
Alta View Sports Medicine has joined the Granger Medical Clinic group of independent, physician-owned medical facilities. The merger brings the total of orthopedic specialists at Granger to 13 across the Salt Lake Valley. Granger also announced...I maintain that the DOC should be renamed the Department of Cronyism
By Veronique de Rugy I have long said that the Department of Commerce should be renamed the Department of Cronyism. First, apart from the Census Bureau and the Patent and Trademark Office, the department mostly functions as a one-stop shop for...Blaming shooting incidents on mental illness is a cop-out; call it what it is
By Fareed Zakaria “He’s a sick man, a demented man,” said Donald Trump, trying to explain the latest mass shooting in the United States. We hear this view expressed routinely, after every new incident. But it is a dodge, a distortion of the facts...Story of Nordea Bank and how our wise politicians can learn from it
By Robert Pembroke A Sept. 7 Wall Street Journal story by Josef Joffe” titled “Germany’s Boring Election is Nothing to Snore At” said, “[Friedrich] Engels famously predicted that, after the revolution, the ‘rule over men’ would be replaced by the...Industry Briefs - 10-16-17
Industry Briefs are provided as a free service to our readers. Company news information may be sent to brice@slenterprise.com. The submission deadline is one week before publication. GOVERNMENT • The Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation...Three to be inducted into Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame
The Utah Technology Council (UTC) has announced three inductees to its Hall of Fame: Aaron Skonnard, Amy Rees Anderson and Patrick M. Byrne. The three will be inducted Nov. 10 at the annual black-tie Hall of Fame Gala at the Salt Palace...Lofgren tabbed as NAIOP developer of the year
Commercial real estate development association NAIOP Utah has named Dan Lofgren of Cowboy Partners and Cowboy Properties as 2017 NAIOP Utah Developer of the Year. The association said the honor was bestowed because of Lofgren’s impact on Utah’s...Funds available for renewable energy projects
Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program is now accepting funding applications for renewable energy projects. The program, funded by more than 44,000 Blue Sky customers, is available to help cover the cost of installing renewable energy systems...
