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AGRICULTURE
• The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is seeking grant proposals through April 9 for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant. The funding is available for projects designed to enhance the competitiveness of Utah-grown specialty crops, which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops. The competitive grant program is operated by UDAF to administer federal funds from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The grant is open to producers, private businesses, schools, trade associations, nonprofits, and farming and ranching co-ops headquartered in Utah. With current federal funding freezes, this funding could be reduced or canceled, but UDAF is collecting applications with the hope that the funding will still be available. Details are available by contacting Allison Ross at aross@utah.gov or by visiting https://ag.utah.gov/specialty-crop-block-grant-program/.
COMMUNICATIONS
• Comcast Corp. has upgraded Xfinity Internet speeds for more than 20 million of its customers, including more than 450,000 customers in Utah. Among the benefits are 50 percent to 100 percent faster upload speeds than before. Download speeds will also increase for most Internet tiers.
CONTESTS
• Nominations are being accepted through April 14 for the fourth annual SALT Awards, a program of Visit Salt Lake. The awards honor people in the hospitality industry who exemplify Service, Accomplishment, Leadership and Tenacity. Nominations are encouraged from colleagues, supervisors and community members. Award categories include Restaurant Front and Center, Restaurant Behind the Scenes, Lodging Front and Center, Lodging Behind the Scenes, Scene Maker (for attractions, venues, caterers, event production and transportation services), Spirit of Service (for overall excellence), Best Boss, Large Facility Operations (centers, arenas, resorts), and Most Hospitable Workplace. An awards event takes place June 24 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Each award recipient will receive $2,000. Nominations may be made at https://www.visitsaltlake.com/salt-award/nomination-form/.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
• Salt Lake City/Murray is ranked No. 3 on a list of metro areas for house renters, compiled by Point2Homes. It ranked the 75 largest metros using 25 metrics across two categories: economy and housing, and community and quality of life. The study indicates the Salt Lake City/Murray metro offers economic opportunities to house renters, with 1.9 percent year-over-year job growth; a low unemployment rate; and an average renter household income of $93,345, which is one of the highest among the metros analyzed. Single-family renters also benefit from larger homes (around four bedrooms), making it easier to find extra space for a home office or a growing family. The metro also scores big in community well-being and walkability; for an average commute time of just 23.3 minutes; and for after-work recreation options. On breakout lists, Salt Lake City/Murray is ranked No. 6 for “average number of bedrooms and renters’ insurance” and No. 9 for community and quality of life. The top-ranked metro overall is Richmond, Virginia. Details are at https://www.point2homes.com/news/research/best-metros-for-single-family-home-renters.html.
• Sixty-seven percent of surveyed Utah small-business owners say hiring has become more challenging because job-seekers are avoiding roles that AI could make redundant in the near future, according to a study by Goldman Sachs. The national average is 52 percent. The number is highest in Colorado, at 72 percent. It is lowest in Maryland, at 18 percent. In Utah, some businesses are leaning on AI to plug the holes or cut back on junior hires, but most aren’t sold yet, the study shows. The survey indicates that only 35 percent have jumped on the AI bandwagon, while 65 percent are waiting. For the year ahead, Salt Lake City is ranked No. 84 on a list of cities where managers are most optimistic about expanding. The No. 1 city is North Las Vegas. The No. 175 city is Clarksville, Tennessee. Details are at https://altatechnologies.com/pages/business-buzz.
• Utah is ranked No. 9 on a list of “most innovative states,” compiled by WalletHub. It compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 metrics, including considering the share of STEM professionals to research and development spending per capita. Utah is ranked No. 1 for eighth-grade math and science performance, No. 7 for projected STEM-job demand by 2030, No. 8 for share of STEM professionals, No. 8 for venture capital funding per capita, No. 13 for share of technology companies, and No. 24 for R&D spending per capita. The highest-ranked location is the District of Columbia. The lowest-ranked location is Mississippi. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/most-innovative-states/31890.
• Utah homeowners pay a median $2,412 in property taxes, which is 7.6 percent more than a year earlier, according to a study by PropertyShark, based on the latest census data. The nationwide median property tax reached $2,969 this year, a 3.5 percent rise. It was the result of the rising home values, with the national median home value reaching $303,400, up from the previous $281,900. The median home value in Utah has increased 11.4 percent, reaching $455,000, while the effective tax rate inched down to 0.53 percent. The only state that had a higher median tax increase than Utah was Georgia, growing 8.1 percent. New Jersey has the country’s highest effective property tax rate at 2.23 percent, while Hawaii had the lowest, at 0.27 percent. Details are at https://www.propertyshark.com/info/property-taxes-by-state/.
• Three Utah locations are on a list of top cold-water plunge spots in the U.S., compiled by AMFM, based on a survey of regular cold-plunge participants. They are No. 53 Fifth Water Hot Springs, Spanish Fork; No. 62 Mill Creek Canyon, Moab; and No. 78 Homestead Crater, Midway. The top spot nationally is Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, New York. Details are at https://amfmtreatment.com/blog/polar-plunge/.
• Recapture Lodge in Bluff recently was voted the top “mom-and-pop” hotel in Utah, based on a survey of frequent road-trippers conducted by Gunther Volkswagen Fort Lauderdale. The Robbers’ Roost Motel in Green River finished at No. 2. Details are at https://www.gunthervw.com/time-travels/.
• Three Utah locations are on a list of “top U.S. destinations with a ‘foreign feel,’” compiled by Paige Travel, based on a survey. They are No. 21 Park City, No. 28 Midway and No. 115 Ephraim. The top location nationally is New Orleans’ French Quarter. Details are at https://www.turnthepaigetravel.com/heritage-havens/.
• Salt Lake City is ranked No. 37 and Park City is No. 51 on a list of “party hotspots” named by business executives for their nightlife draw, compiled by MarketBeat.com. The top-ranked location is Honolulu. Details are at https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/corporate-crawl-where-business-trips-turn-into-party-nights/.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
• Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, based in Provo, has renamed its College of Optometry to the College of Optometric Medicine. The university said the change reflects the institution’s commitment to advancing health care by emphasizing the medical and clinical foundations of the profession of optometry. The degree awarded remains the Doctor of Optometry (OD).
• Rasa Legal, Utah Women in Trades and the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation have joined forces to launch a workforce development initiative. Supported by a $20,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, the collaboration will provide pre-apprenticeship training, employment pathways, and legal support to justice-impacted individuals who face barriers to entering the workforce. Through this initiative, UWIT will form a cohort of justice-impacted people to participate in its Apprenticeship Readiness Program, a 12-to-15-week pre-apprenticeship course. Rasa Legal will provide access to record-clearance services, allowing participants to navigate legal barriers that often prevent them from securing career-line work.
ENERGY
• Torus Inc., a South Salt Lake-based builder of mini power plants, has received commercial energy storage approval for Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart battery program. It is one of only two providers to pass RMP’s testing standards for the program. The approval covers grid-scale energy storage systems ranging from 30 kilowatts to 1.2 megawatts. The milestone builds on the January memorandum of understanding between Rocky Mountain Power and Torus to deploy a 70-megawatt demand response initiative capable of powering the equivalent of approximately 20,000 homes using Torus’ Nova technologies.
GOVERNMENT
• The Salt Lake City Council has approved a $100,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan for Plov & Borsch, a new Eurasian restaurant and market that plans to open in late summer at 55 N. Redwood Road. The EDLF funding will assist with buildout, equipment, and operational costs to establish the restaurant and market. The project will create six new jobs within the first year and retain three existing jobs. Plov & Borsch secured the EDLF loan with support from the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development’s Business Development Division. The EDLF program 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
• Salt Lake County leaders, the Utah Department of Health & Human Services, mental health advocates and community partners recently celebrated the grand opening of Clinical Consultants Featherstone Boarding Home, a 30-unit residence for individuals with severe mental illness. This new facility at 1001 N. Featherstone Drive, Salt Lake City, provides intensive, on-site support and is part of the county’s Five-Year Human Services, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Action Plan. Featherstone has been a partnership among the state of Utah, DHHS and the county.
MANUFACTURING
• 1-800 Contacts, a Draper-based online vision care company, has introduced The Framery at 1-800 Contacts, an online destination for high-quality frames and lenses designed to simplify and personalize the eyewear shopping experience. Features include seamless prescription integration, virtual try-ons, and a complimentary in-home try-on program. Various options are available as part of complete prescription eyewear starting at $79.
PARTNERSHIPS
• Utah Motorsports Campus in Grantsville has been renamed and rebranded as Burt Brothers Motorpark, following a partnership deal signed in December. The partnership between Burt Brothers Tire and Service and the Motorpark will include those visiting the Motorpark to be treated to giveaways, special promotions, interactive experiences with Burt Brothers, and special offers for tire service and automobile repairs. Fans and drivers can anticipate Burt Brothers-branded events, such as tire safety clinics, performance driving workshops, and sponsorship opportunities for race teams. The two organizations will collaborate on educational programs, products and community initiatives designed to expand interest in motorsports and cultivate the next generation of automotive enthusiasts.
• E-commerce logistics and shipping solutions company eHub, based in Sandy, and Osa Commerce, a company offering unified commerce and operations software, have announced a strategic partnership designed to transform the way businesses manage their supply chain and fulfillment operations. This collaboration brings together eHub’s expertise in shipping optimization and Osa Commerce’s proprietary unified data platform. The partnership integrates eHub’s shipping API and rate optimization capabilities with Osa Commerce’s ability to unify fragmented data across ecommerce platforms, warehouses and marketplaces.
• Qualtrics, a Salt Lake City-based company focused on experience management, and LangChain, a company offering a platform for building and deploying AI applications using large language models, have announced a partnership to develop Qualtrics Experience Agents on LangChain’s LangGraph Platform. Experience Agents are AI agents from Qualtrics designed to interact directly with customers and employees in proactive, personalized and brand-aligned ways, to foster loyalty and trust. As part of the partnership, Qualtrics will use LangGraph Platform to build and manage Experience Agents. Qualtrics will also work with LangChain to create a standard open-source operating framework for building AI agents.
• Just Ingredients, an Orem-based health and wellness products company, has announced a partnership with Bryce Harper, professional baseball player and advocate for healthy living. Together, they aim to empower individuals to prioritize their health by choosing products made with safe and effective ingredients. The company is introducing a new line of protein powders, electrolytes, and pre-workout powders, all formulated specifically for athletes.
PHILANTHROPY
• Mountain America Credit Union, based in Sandy, has donated $17,500 to the American Red Cross of Utah as part of its program of donating $50 for every three-point shot made by Brigham Young University men’s basketball team this season. The latest gift brings the total funds donated to the American Red Cross of Utah since 2018 to $157,000. The American Red Cross will use the funds to assist Utah communities in preparing for, preventing and responding to emergencies, including house fires.
• Forty-three Jersey Mike’s locations in the Salt Lake City area participated in the “Eat a Sub, Help a Charity” campaign March 26, during which they donated 100 percent of sales (in-store, online or through the app) to Make-A-Wish Utah. It was part of Jersey Mike’s nationwide 15th Annual Day of Giving.
REAL ESTATE
• Havenpark Communities, an Orem-based operator and developer of manufactured home communities, has pledged to invest $43.7 million in 2025 to enhance and modernize its properties. It builds on the $36.4 million investment Havenpark made across its communities in 2024. The planned investments will prioritize critical infrastructure upgrades; the development of new amenities; and enhancements that foster stronger, more connected communities.
• CandyCo, a confectionary manufacturer, has pre-leased the entirety of North Pointe Building F in American Fork. The 110,004-square-foot building at 1260 S. 630 W. was designed with food-grade operations in mind.
RECOGNITIONS
• The Pleasant Grove-Lindon Chamber of Commerce recently honored winners at its most recent awards gala. Award recipients are We Win Injury Law, Relationships Matter Award; Summit Brain Spine and Orthopedics, Relationships Matter Award; Flood Impact Xperts, Relationships Matter Award; CCBank, Relationships Matter Award; LGCY Power, Relationships Matter Award; Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater, Presidents Award; Maceys, Heroes Award; Tabitha’s Way, Heroes Award; Lisa Coombs Real Estate Diva, Chamber Person of the Year Award; Utah Valley University, Chamber Organization of the Year Award; Bank of Utah, Lindon Mayor’s Choice Award; Olpin Mortuary, Pleasant Grove Mayor’s Choice Award; and The Fellas Barbershop, New Business of the Year Award.
• Nightingale College, a Salt Lake City-based provider of nursing education, has received a 2024 Beacon Award from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities for the success of its student support services. The college’s wrap-around support services have improved academic success, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The support services provide nursing students with personalized resources to help them succeed. These include foundational courses for at-risk students, personalized academic coaching, and access to the MyNightingale digital platform, which centralizes tools to meet each student’s unique needs. The Beacon Award for Excellence in Student Achievement and Success is awarded annually and recognizes NWCCU-accredited institutions demonstrating measurable, replicable innovations that advance student achievement.
RETAIL
• Harmons Neighborhood Grocer has awarded Pettingill Fruit Farm, Cache Toffee Collection and Daily Rise Coffee $5,000 each in Harmons Local Supplier Development Grant Initiative grants to help support their continued growth producing high-quality, local products. Each year, Harmons awards local business suppliers with grants for their dedication to producing exceptional products for its stores. Harmons carries more than 3,000 local items in stores.
TOURISM
• The Utah Film Commission, in partnership with the Utah Office of Tourism, has unveiled the Utah Film Trail, a way to highlight landscapes featured in some of Hollywood’s most iconic productions. The statewide series of physical markers can guide visitors to locations of films or television shows produced at that real-world location. The trail includes the hideout of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” the set of the infamous car scene in “Thelma & Louise,” and the location for “The Sandlot.” Details are at https://www.visitutah.com/things-to-do/film-tourism/utah-film-trail.
