Industry Briefs 3-24-25

Industry Briefs are provided as a free service to our readers. Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.

CORPORATE

• Health Catalyst Inc., a South Jordan-based provider of data and analytics technology and services to health care organizations, has repurchased shares of its common stock in an aggregate amount of approximately $5 million. These repurchased shares were acquired between March 3 and March 10 as part of the company’s existing share repurchase program approved by its board of directors in 2022, which authorized repurchases of up to $40 million of common stock. These recent repurchases resulted in the retirement of approximately 1.1 million shares of common stock.
• Megaplex Theatres has rebranded to Megaplex. The company said the move emphasizes Megaplex “as a premier entertainment destination and the place where awe-inspiring moments become memories.” The rebranding effort was a collaborative project between Megaplex and Matchstic. A first-of-its-kind Megaplex entertainment center in Downtown Daybreak is expected to open this year and will feature large-format auditoriums, bowling with lane-side dining, a variety of food and beverage options, games, and private event and party space. Megaplex operates 17 locations throughout Utah and Southern Nevada.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• Thirty-three percent of young Utah job candidates deliberately lean on their regional identity when applying for out-of-state jobs, according to a survey by Resume.io. It surveyed adults between 18 and 25 years old to discover how candidates increasingly leverage geographic stereotypes to stand out in a competitive job market threatened by automation and AI. Utah job-seekers don’t just mention they’re from the Mountain West but emphasize the traits that come with it, including a “roll-up-your-sleeves attitude” to fix problems with old-fashioned grit or finding a new way through when the going gets rough, and many also bring a tight-knit sense of community and teamwork. The highest percentage where regional stereotypes influence the most is New York at 46 percent. The smallest is West Virginia, at 7 percent. Details are at https://resume.io/blog/regional-resumes.
• Utah is ranked No. 44 on a list of “best states to live off the grid,” compiled by Home Gnome. It considered laws and regulations impacting off-grid homes, renewable energy growth and climate, among 28 total metrics. The top-ranked state is Iowa. The bottom-ranked state is Rhode Island. Details are at https://www.homegnome.com/blog/studies/best-states-for-living-off-the-grid/.
• Utah saw the least change among states in the rate of injury-related deaths from 2020 to 2024, according to a study by MyBioSource. It measured fatal injuries from both intentional causes, such as homicides and suicides, as well as unintentional accidents, including motor vehicle crashes, falls and other preventable incidents. In Utah, Grand County experienced the largest increase, at 42 deaths per 100,000 people. Emery County saw the largest decrease, at 16 fewer deaths per 100,000 people. Among states, West Virginia had the highest increase, rising by 23 deaths per 100,000 population during that time. Details are at https://www.mybiosource.com/learn/injury-mortality-rates-in-america/.
• Salt Lake City is ranked No. 85 and West Valley City is No. 111 on a list of “happiest cities in the U.S.,” compiled by WalletHub. It compared 182 of the largest cities using 29 metrics focused on emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment. The top-ranked city is Fremont, California. The No. 182 city is Cleveland, Ohio. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-places-to-live/32619.
• Three Utah locations are on a list of “favored burial spots” in the U.S., compiled by life insurance agency Choice Mutual, based on a survey. They are No. 79 Glenwood Cemetery, Park City; No. 108 Grafton Cemetery, Rockville; and No. 123 Salt Lake City Cemetery. Details are at https://choicemutual.com/blog/americas-most-cherished-final-resting-places/.
• Provo is the highest-ranked Utah city on a list of “best-run cities in the U.S.,” compiled by WalletHub. Salt Lake City is ranked No. 130. WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 148 of the largest U.S. cities. It constructed a “quality of services” score made up of 36 metrics grouped into six service categories, which were then measured against the city’s per-capita budget. On a breakout list, Provo is ranked No. 3 for the lowest rate of violent crime. The top-ranked city overall is Nampa, Idaho. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869.
• Utah has four counties in the top 100 on a list of “most landslide-vulnerable counties” in the U.S., compiled by Home Gnome. They are No. 47 Utah County, No. 69 Washington County, No. 94 Weber County and No. 95 Salt Lake County. For comparison, San Juan County is ranked the lowest among Utah counties, at No. 729. Home Gnome compared more than 700 of the biggest U.S. counties based on three categories, considering landslide, earthquake and avalanche risk; the net change in tree cover over the past 20 years; and expected annual financial loss from landslides among 11 total metrics. The most vulnerable overall is Lincoln County, Oregon. The least vulnerable is Allamakee County, Iowa. Details are at https://homegnome.com/blog/studies/most-landslide-vulnerable-counties/#rankings.

GOVERNMENT

• The Salt Lake City Council recently approved a $75,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan for Policy Kings Brewery, a brewpub that will open at 79 W. 900 S. It is the city’s first black-owned craft brewery. The company opened in Cedar City in 2018. Working with the Department of Economic Development’s Business Development Division, Policy Kings Brewery received the EDLF loan to assist with building renovations, leasehold improvements, machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and working capital. The EDLF aims to stimulate business development and expansion, create employment opportunities, encourage private investment, promote economic development, and enhance neighborhood vitality and commercial enterprise in Salt Lake City by making loans available to businesses.

HEALTH CARE

• Biopharmaceutical company iVeena Delivery Systems Inc., a Salt Lake City-based company advancing a treatment of pediatric myopia, has closed a fully subscribed Series B-2 financing of $3 million. The company said the investment will support the advancement of its pediatric myopia program. Ophthalmologist Dr. Jerry Hu will join the company board as an independent director. Hu is a private practitioner involved in academic and research endeavors. He is a partner, owner and co-founder of Texas Eye and Laser Center. He specializes in refractive surgery, cataract surgery, and cornea and anterior segment diseases.

INVESTMENTS

• Iconiq Growth, based in California, has announced an investment in DX, a Salt Lake City-based company offering an engineering intelligence platform that equips engineering leaders and platform teams with a comprehensive view of developer productivity. The amount was not disclosed. DX was founded by Abi Noda and Greyson Junggren and developed in collaboration with experts on developer productivity. DX is expanding its Salt Lake City headquarters, planning to double its 80-person team by the end of the year.

MANUFACTURING

• YESCO, a Salt Lake City-based sign company, has completed new interior fine pixel pitch displays for Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. The project included installing 54 displays across the property, totaling 335 million pixels — a centerpiece is the showroom’s 15-by-32-foot, 1.5mm display, engineered to be lowered and raised with a hoist system to accommodate live performances.

PARTNERSHIPS

• Ski Utah, a marketing firm owned and operated by the 15 statewide ski resorts that make up the Utah Ski and Snowboard Association, has announced a new partnership with Ariens, making Ariens the “official snowblower of Ski Utah.” As part of the partnership, Ariens will have prominent visibility as a presenting partner of Utah Powder Day alerts on both the app and website. Ariens is the original brand of AriensCo, headquartered in Wisconsin. Established in 1933, AriensCo is a privately owned global manufacturer of outdoor power equipment and provides service and product support from its RapidCare division.

RECOGNITIONS

• Four companies emerged as winners at the 2025 E&I Shark Tank-style pitch competition at the Wilson Sonsini Entrepreneur & Investor Life Sciences Summit, presented by BioUtah, in Salt Lake City. Twelve companies competed in several categories. Winners are Medical Devices & Diagnostics Group 1, Demeter; Medical Devices & Diagnostics Group 2, RefloDX; Therapeutics & Pharmaceuticals, Sethera; and Digital Health & Biotechnology, Monere. Each of the winning companies received a $4,000 cash prize, along with services from marketing firm Serfwerks and a one-year membership in BioUtah. The 12 companies that presented were selected from an initial group of 37 applicants.
• Finalist teams have been announced for the 2025 Tim Draper Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, a college-student business-model competition. Students from across the state are competing for $75,000 in cash and prizes. The competition is managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a division of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, and sponsored by Tim Draper, a venture capitalist. The competition showcase and awards ceremony took place after Business Journal deadlines. The finalists are Bear Essentials, Snow College; Bidi, Brigham Young University; Bleeped, Utah State University; Buzzed Honey, Utah Tech University; Caribe Jewelry, Ensign College; Impact IQ, Southern Utah University; Interval AI, BYU; Killer Spice, Utah Valley University; MoonButter Co., Ensign College; OCOVES, Salt Lake Community College; PicPortal, BYU; Pivvt, University of Utah; Reset Dating Socials, Ensign College; Roots Remedy, SLCC; Signspaces, UofU; Simpll, UVU; Social Sync, Snow College; SOUR, UofU; Tarriflo, USU; Upadr, Weber State University; Wing Tutor, SUU; and Zilk, USU.
• Halia Therapeutics, a Lehi-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has been awarded the Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket to advance its groundbreaking research in obesity and the role of inflammation in metabolic diseases. The award provides Halia with a fully sponsored year of lab bench and office space at BioLabs Heidelberg or Paris, two of Europe’s leading incubators for biotech startups. The Golden Ticket also grants Halia access to Novo Nordisk’s scientific and industry advisors team, offering mentorship and networking opportunities to accelerate its research. Halia’s HT-6184 is an inflammasome inhibitor designed to target metaflammation, the chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with obesity, metabolic dysfunction and related diseases. The company is preparing to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study in combination with Semaglutide in early 2025.
• Two brands of Five Star Franchising, based in Springville, are included in an annual ranking of “Fastest-Growing Franchises,” compiled by Entrepreneur, recognizing their success in the United States and Canada. The rankings are based on the net total of new franchise units added between July 2023 and July 2024, as verified by Entrepreneur. The list includes No. 28 Five Star Bath Solutions, a bath transformation franchise in the home remodeling industry, and No. 48 Mosquito Shield, a provider of residential mosquito, tick and perimeter pest control services. Five Star Bath Solutions appears for the second year in a row and Mosquito Shield for the third.
• Utah has six facilities on the Best of Senior Living 2025 list, compiled by Seniorly. It identified the 336 best senior living facilities in the U.S. after analyzing 500,000 online customer reviews across 60,000 facilities. The six are Truewood By Merrill, Cottonwood Heights; Sunrise At Holladay, Salt Lake City; Park Lane Senior Living, Salt Lake City; Valencia At Willow Creek, Sandy; Treeo South Ogden; and Ivybrook, Taylorsville. Truewood by Merrill is listed among the 20 best senior living facilities in the U.S. Seniorly partnered with Skypoint, a generative data company, to mine and analyze customer and family reviews to create a sentiment rating across six categories: cleanliness, dining services, staff ratings, value, care services and overall resident satisfaction. To qualify, communities had to be in the top 5 percent of sentiment ratings, have no serious licensing violations in the last three years, and have no negative media coverage in the last two years.

SPORTS

• Weber County, Visit Ogden, Ogden City, the Utah Sports Commission and the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation have been awarded the 2026 LGT World Men’s Curling Championship to be hosted next spring at the Weber County Ice Sheet in Ogden. The event takes place March 28-April 5. The event is the annual world championship for men’s curling, organized by World Curling and contested by national championship teams. The championship features a global selection of teams, with entries determined through zonal qualification events. The last time the event was hosted in the U.S. was in 2022 in Las Vegas. The Weber County Ice Sheet has not hosted a curling event of this caliber since the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. For the 2026 event, the organizing committee will include a collaboration from community leaders, including Weber County, the venue owner; Visit Ogden, responsible for host city activation; Ogden City supporting public services; and the GOAL Foundation providing volunteer support. Instrumental in the securement of the event, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation will provide event delivery and staff expertise, and the Utah Sports Commission will contribute essential financial and promotional support to the event.