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AGRICULTURE
• The Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market, a project of Urban Food Connections of Utah, has launched a “Save the Market” campaign, seeking tax-deductible gifts, in order to continue running the weekly summer market in Pioneer Park. The market has been held in the park for 29 years and features local farmers and growers selling produce and connecting with their community. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes to the market in order to operate safely and responsibly, and the changes will significantly reduce revenue and increase operating costs, Urban Food Connections of Utah said. Details are at www.slcfarmersmarket.org.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
• Utah is ranked No. 32 among states hit hardest by COVID-19’s impact on tourism, according to WalletHub, which compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 10 metrics. The data set ranges from share of businesses in travel and tourism-related industries to travel spending per travel employee and presence of stay-at-home orders. Hawaii is the most-affected state. The least-affected is Arkansas. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/states-hit-hardest-by-covid-impact-on-tourism/72974/
• Utah has seen the 27th-largest decrease among states in spam phone calls during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to AllAreaCodes.com, which analyzed consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic March 8. The number of spam calls have declined 58 percent nationally during the pandemic. Utah has seen a 56 percent decrease.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
• Twelve Weber State University faculty recently were selected to receive Presidential Teaching Excellence Awards. Recipients this year are David Aguilar-Alvarez, exercise and nutrition sciences assistant professor; Brandon Burnett, chemistry assistant professor; Sally Cantwell, associate degree nursing program director and nursing professor; Brian Chung, zoology professor; Tamara Goldbogen, Beverley Taylor Sorenson Endowed Chair for Arts Learning; Spencer Hilton, computer science-school of computing chair and instructor; Brandon Koford, economics chair and associate professor; Kristina Moleni, social work instructor; Marianna Norseth, foreign language adjunct faculty; Will Pollett, English instructor; Tressa Quayle, nursing assistant professor; and Gene Sessions, history professor. Through the support of Marcia and Bob Harris and other donors, Weber State established the award to honor teachers whose work helps students achieve significant success. Each faculty member received a $5,000 award, either as a cash stipend or to enhance their teaching through professional development, curriculum development, research, or equipment and technology acquisition. Students and fellow faculty members submitted nominations from which the final 12 were selected.
• The educator preparation program at Weber State University’s Moyes College of Education has earned full seven-year accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. The accreditation follows a process of self-study and peer review. The newly accredited programs include early childhood education, elementary education, special education, secondary education and the graduate certificate in teaching. The association’s system has members in 20 states and territories with nearly 120 educator preparation providers pursuing accreditation.
ENERGY/NATURAL RESOURCES
• Salt Lake City-based renewable energy independent power producer sPower has closed on a $350 million tax equity commitment for Spotsylvania Solar Energy Center in Virginia. At 620 megawatts DC, it is the largest solar project east of the Rockies. The project is currently under construction, with phases coming online this year through project completion in the summer of 2021. SPower closed on the commitment with Wells Fargo Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance for their Spotsylvania project. Wells Fargo’s Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance group is the sole investor for the $350 million tax equity commitment. The 620 megawatt DC solar project represents sPower’s largest project to date and is the largest single-asset financing in the company’s history. CohnReznick Capital served as financial advisor and Sheppard Mullin served as sPower’s counsel in the deal.
EXPANSIONS
• Tanner LLC, a public accounting firm, is expanding into Utah County with a new office set to open this fall at 3452 Triumph Blvd., Lehi. It will be the company’s second location. Tanner will occupy the second floor of the Traverse Ridge Center III Building. The firm will use the office space to meet the needs of their tax, audit, due diligence, technology, strategic planning, and leadership development services.
INVESTMENTS
• Lucid, a South Jordan-based parent company of two cloud-based visual workspace applications, has closed a $52 million funding round led by ICONIQ Capital, with participation from Meritech Capital, Spectrum Equity and new investor Cross Creek. Lucid has 20 million users in 180 countries. It said the funding will be used to further product innovation, including the expansion of the Lucidchart visual reasoning engine that powers intelligent diagrams that are created automatically and incorporate real-time data from external sources. Lucid also plans to evaluate merger and acquisition opportunities and continue its international expansion after having opened its second international office and APAC headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, earlier this year.
• Everee Inc., a Salt Lake City-based payroll platform company serving small and medium-sized businesses, has closed a $10 million Series A financing round co-led by Origin Ventures and Signal Peak Ventures. Everee said the funding will accelerate its growth to support hiring, advance product development and expand its sales and marketing efforts. Ben Dahl, managing director of Signal Peak Ventures, will join Everee’s board.
MEDIA/MARKETING
• KUER NPR News has hired Emily Means for KUER News and the station’s podcast chief, Tricia Bobeda, will take on a new leadership role. Means will become one-half of KUER News' political team, joining reporter Sonja Hutson. Means joins the station from KPCW in Park City, where she worked as a municipal reporter while also serving as a weekend host at KUER. Means has worked at public radio stations around the Wasatch Front. In addition to her role at KPCW, she served as a producer and host at KCPW and as an associate producer on the KRCL program “RadioActive.” Bobeda has been named the station’s director of audience development and will oversee digital and audience engagement strategy while serving as project manager of special initiatives. She joined the station in 2019 to launch and produce the podcast “Preach.” Prior to KUER, Bobeda worked at WBEZ in Chicago as senior editor of multiplatform news and led the station’s daily news operation across broadcast and digital platforms. She was also co-creator and co-host of the podcast “Nerdette.” Prior to that, she was a reporter and producer for the Lansing State Journal.
PHILANTHROPY
• The DoTerra Healing Hands Foundation has announced two donations totaling $450,000 to aid in global COVID-19 relief efforts. A $200,000 donation to Intermountain Healthcare in Utah will help with the purchase of critical personal protective equipment for local first responders and medical providers. A $250,000 donation to Days for Girls International will help the organization with its Masks4Millions campaign to provide millions of homemade fabric masks to hospitals, clinics and healthcare professionals around the world. Also, DoTerra has announced a matching campaign in support of healthcare workers, first responders and organizations on the front lines of the coronavirus. Three-times sales proceeds from Rose Lotion and Shea Butter Collection, up to $750,000, to be used for frontline workers’ support kits and response organizations. The kits will consist of surgical masks, gloves, sanitizer and other items for nurses, doctors and first responders. Over 15,000 kits will be sent to frontline workers in the United States and Canada. The frontline support kits will be assembled by DoTerra Healing Hands Foundation volunteers and distributed upon need and request.
• U.S. Bank has provided a $25,000 grant to The Road Home, which provides assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake City and along the Wasatch Front. The funds come from U.S. Bank’s Market Impact Fund program to help respond to pressing community needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is part of the bank’s expedited annual $1 million Market Impact Fund grant program for 30 local nonprofits across the country.
• Bank of Utah, Ogden, has launched a “Chow Down Challenge” to give potentially $8,000 in tips to a select list of restaurants in bank communities throughout the state. The bank will give participating restaurants $20 for every takeout or delivery order photo that customers post through May 6 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, along with the local restaurant’s name, location and the tags #BoUChowDown and @BankofUtah. Participating restaurants that can potentially receive up to $200 each. Details are at https://www.bankofutah.com/events/bank-of-utah-chow-down-challenge
• Employees of Mercato Partners, Salt Lake City, have announced plans to donate part of their salaries to fund Relief Pack meals for first responders, healthcare workers and others hit hard by COVID-19. The initiative is in partnership with the Community Foundation of Utah. The donations range from 10 percent to 25 percent. The donations are in addition to $1 million fund created by the Mercato Savory Fund founders and restaurant founders of Mo’Bettahs Hawaiian Style, Swig, R&R BBQ to retain 1,600 restaurant employees throughout Utah, Arizona and Idaho. Mercato Savory Fund created the Food Relief Packs program to offer low-cost, tax-deductible meals at a highly discounted price that can be purchased by employers, institutions or organizations for their teams.
• RevRoad, Provo, and its portfolio companies have launched the At-Home Learning initiative, providing students around the country with digital learning tools by offering their products to schools and districts for free during this time. Educators are quickly shifting teaching and learning to digital platforms to meet the needs of each student with equitable access, standards and engagement. RevRoad's portfolio has a unique compilation of edtech companies with the ability to assist in smoothing over the rapid transitions currently happening within education. Participating companies include Literal, SkillStruck, Education Lifeskills and Hallo. Details are at revroad.com/athomelearning.
• Ski Utah is collaborating with U.S. Ski & Snowboard in the “Goggles for Docs” campaign, with skiers and riders providing healthcare workers with goggles as a form of eye protection while fighting COVID-19. Utah does not have a need for goggles, so Ski Utah and U.S. Ski & Snowboard will send them across the country to those in need. Both new and used goggles are accepted if in good shape and sanitized. All should be wiped down and placed in a sealed bag prior to placing in a drop-off receptacle. Donations will be accepted weekdays at Ski Utah headquarters, 2749 E. Parleys Way, Salt Lake City; and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Center of Excellence, 1 Victory Lane, Park City.
• AAA Utah has announced an initiative offering free AAA Roadside Assistance service to first responders and healthcare workers. All first responders and healthcare workers, including those who may not be AAA members, can call if they need roadside assistance. The offer is valid through the end of May.
RECOGNITIONS
• Podium, a Lehi-based messaging tools platform company, is among the 2020 winners of the annual Best Software Awards released by software marketplace and review platform G2. The awards rank the world's best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from users. Podium was named on five lists: Top SMB Products, Highest Satisfaction Products, Top Marketing Products, Fastest Growing Solutions and Best Solutions for Small Business.
• O.C. Tanner, a Salt Lake City-based employee recognition and workplace culture company, has been recognized as a "Leader" in the Everest Group PEAK Matrix Rewards & Recognition Solutions Assessment with Service Provider Landscape 2020. It is O.C. Tanner's second consecutive "Leader" honor from Everest Group. The corresponding report evaluated the capabilities of 19 rewards and recognition solutions providers and mapped them on the Everest Group PEAK Matrix. Companies that were positioned as Leaders, including O.C. Tanner, were recognized for their superior impact on the market and extensive vision and capability.
SERVICES
• Ancestry, a Lehi-based family history and consumer genomics company, has hired Dr. Ronald Park as executive vice president of health and DNA. Park will lead AncestryHealth, which launched last year with a focus on advancing personalized health screenings with actionable insights. Park most recently spent 16 years at Roche Pharmaceuticals, including international leadership roles in Roche and U.S. roles in Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. Most recently, he was the co-leader of Roche Pharmaceutical's personalized healthcare center of excellence. Park began his career as a physician at UCLA and later at Kaiser Permanente. He has also worked in McKinsey and Co.’s healthcare practice in Silicon Valley and served on the board of directors for Lif, the pharmaceutical association in Denmark, and the American Chamber of Commerce, Denmark, of which he served as chairperson.
TECHNOLOGY/LIFE SCIENCES
• Domo, an American Fork-based business cloud company, has announced that Joy Driscoll Durling has joined its board of directors. Durling has served as chief information and digital enablement officer at Vivint Smart Home Inc. since February 2017. Prior to Vivint, she held various leadership positions during her 12-year tenure at Adobe Systems Inc., including vice president and chief of staff to the chief information officer. Prior to Adobe, she served various roles at Macromedia and Andersen Business Consulting. On the Domo board, she succeeds longtime board member Fraser Bullock.
• SimpleNexus, a Lehi-based digital mortgage platform company, has appointed Cathleen Schreiner Gates to its board of directors. Schreiner Gates been involved in early-stage and global software-as-a-service (SaaS) organizations for 35 years. From 2015-19, she served as executive vice president of sales and marketing at cloud-based mortgage finance technology provider Ellie Mae. Schreiner Gates is CEO of independent consulting firm Trifecta, which she founded in 2009.