Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
CONSTRUCTION
• Big-D Cos., a Salt Lake City-based group of contractors, has announced that Rob Moore, executive chairman, has reached the 50-year mark at the company. Moore joined Big-D in 1976, during which Big-D has grown to 18 offices across nine states. His leadership tenure includes serving as CEO from 2018 to 2021, as well as previously holding the roles of president and chief operations officer. His oversight has contributed to more than 400 project awards. Moore has also served in key community and industry roles for decades. His service includes leadership positions with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Water Committee, Economic Development Corporation of Utah and the Associated General Contractors of America at both state and national levels. In 2010, he was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Utah region and later served as a national judge for the program.
CORPORATE
• Varex Imaging Corp., based in Salt Lake City, has entered into a credit and guaranty agreement that includes a secured term loan facility in aggregate principal amount of $350 million, a secured revolving credit facility in aggregate principal amount of $100 million, and a secured delayed draw term loan facility in aggregate principal amount of $40 million, providing for aggregate commitments of $490 million and maturing in March 2031. Zions Bancorporation NA acted as lead arranger and bookrunner for the new credit facility and will act as the administrative agent and collateral agent. The refinancing is expected to reduce annualized cash interest expense by more than $7 million, reflecting lower interest rates and an $18 million reduction in outstanding debt. Varex designs and manufactures X-ray imaging components, which include X-ray tubes, digital detectors and other image processing solutions that are components of X-ray imaging systems, as well as X-ray imaging systems for industrial applications. The company employs approximately 2,400 people in North America, Europe and Asia.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
• Four Utah locations are on a list of “most envied shopping districts” in the U.S., compiled by financial media company MarketBeat and based on a survey. They are 9th & 9th District in Salt Lake City (ranked No. 51 nationally), No. 135 Main Street in Park City, No. 164 Downtown Moab and No. 165 Sugar House in Salt Lake City. The most envied shopping district in the country is The Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Details are at www.marketbeat.com/originals/americas-most-envied-shopping-districts/.
• Three Utah locations are on a list of stores with the “friendliest staff,” compiled by direct business loan lender Advance Funds Network and based on a survey and Google review scores. They are Harmony in Provo (ranked No. 94 nationally), No. 128 Burns Cowboy Shop in Park City, and No. 136 Deseret Book flagship store in Salt Lake City. The top location nationally is Matchbox Candle Co. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Details are at https://advancefundsnetwork.com/survey-reveals-the-top-150-friendliest-small-businesses-in-the-us-2026/.
• Utah residents were affected by 556 food recalls from 2021 to 2025, according to TradeOne, which specializes in regulatory compliance and PLM solutions for the food and beverage industry. It used FDA and USDA recall records in the study. Utah’s rate of 21.1 percent of all U.S. food recalls places Utah No. 30 among states. Nationally, the food recall total jumped 1.4 percent during that time, driven largely by a 36.4 percent spike in the most dangerous Class I recalls. Utah’s recalls included 223 Class I recalls. Thirty-one of Utah’s food recalls originating from producers in the state. Details are at www.traceone.com/resources/plm-compliance-blog/states-most-impacted-by-food-recalls-in-recent-years.
• Vacationing in Salt Lake City costs 23.8 percent more than it did in 2019, according to online booking platform Luxury Link. It calculated what it costs to take a four-night domestic trip for a family of four in 100 major U.S. cities. It analyzed airfare, lodging, meals and rental car costs from 2025. Researchers also compared the figures to 2019 (before COVID) to see where travel inflation has hit the hardest. The total cost for a Salt Lake City vacation is $4,865. Salt Lake City saw the fourth-largest percentage increase in family vacation costs of the cities analyzed. The largest contributor to rising costs in Salt Lake City was meals, which increased by 42.9 percent. Nationally, vacation prices are up 14.5 percent since 2019, reaching $4,668 in 2025. Details are at www.luxurylink.com/blog/family-vacation-costs-risen-most/.
• Three Utah locations are on a list of “most beautiful towns to visit when spring arrives,” compiled by Portland Real Estate and based on a survey of real estate agents. They are Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City (No. 68 nationally), No. 89 The Avenues in Salt Lake City, and No. 109 Kayenta in St. George. The top location nationally is Central Park West in New York City. Details are at https://www.portlandrealestate.com/blog/most-beautiful-neighborhoods-survey/.
• Interstate 15 from Point of the Mountain to downtown Salt Lake City is the “angriest” commute in Utah, according to a survey by personal injury law firm Munley Law. The survey asked commuters which roads they associate most with stress, frustration and aggressive driving. I-15 is followed by No. 2 Legacy Parkway in Farmington and No. 3 I-15 at I-215 in Sandy. The most toxic traffic nationally is on the Baltimore–Washington Parkway in Maryland. Details are at https://munley.com/toxic-traffic-survey/.
• Utah has the No. 7 fastest-rising senior care costs in America, tied with Oregon, according to a study by CareScout. Since 2022, a private nursing home room in the state surged to $127,750 per year, up 5.3 percent. In Utah, semi-private nursing home rooms rose during this period by 14 percent to $104,025; assisted living by 33.5 percent to $62,790; and adult day health care by 254.4 percent to $36,400. Nationally, costs have increased in every state since 2022, although costs stabilized last year, up just 1.8 percent compared to 9.2 percent in 2024. The annual median cost of a private room in a nursing home now exceeds $129,000 per year, while a semi-private room tops $114,000. Assisted living costs have also climbed to around $74,400, and adult day health care costs are approaching $25,000. The largest increases were in Hawaii. The most-stable state is Idaho. Details are at https://www.carescout.com/resources/where-senior-care-costs-are-rising.
EDUCATION
• Utah Treasurer Marlo M. Oaks, the Utah Jump$tart Coalition and the Utah State Board of Education are accepting nominations through May 8 for the Utah Financial Education Hall of Fame. Honorees will include four educators, one administrator and one community partner, who will be recognized at a Utah Jump$tart Coalition induction ceremony June 22. The recognition honors educators, administrators and community partners who have made outstanding contributions to financial education in Utah, helping prepare students to manage money responsibly, instill strong financial habits, and build long-term financial stability. The Financial Education Hall of Fame grew out of a 2018 statewide review of financial education and recognizes the educators and partners strengthening the efforts. Details and nomination forms are at treasurer.utah.gov/halloffame/.
• The Utah State Board of Education has selected YouScience, based in American Fork, to deliver the First Credential Career Mapping Tool, a statewide college and career readiness system designed to power implementation of HB260 and strengthen education-to-workforce alignment across Utah. HB260 requires Utah students to graduate with a meaningful “first credential” that is stackable, connected to postsecondary credit, and aligned to workforce demand. The legislation moves beyond career exposure to verified readiness, creating clearer pathways for direct enrollment into Utah’s public colleges, technical institutions, and high-wage career opportunities. YouScience, an education technology company transforming college and career readiness through its platform, YouScience, has been selected to deliver that infrastructure statewide. The expanded platform will connect middle school, high school, postsecondary and workforce systems into a single longitudinal planning engine designed to reduce administrative burden while increasing student ownership and transparency. Phased delivery of the tool began immediately, with full operational readiness expected during the 2026-27 school year.
• Brigham Young University produces 316 small-business owners per 10,000 graduates, according to an analysis by OnDeck. That ranks BYU No. 1 in Utah and No. 6 nationally among private universities. OnDeck analyzed 436 U.S. colleges using LinkedIn data to find which schools produce the highest number of graduates who go on to start their own businesses. The University of the Pacific led the rankings, with 331 per 10,000 graduates. Details are at www.ondeck.com/resources/the-colleges-that-produce-the-most-small-business-owners.
EXPANSIONS
• Co-Diagnostics Inc., a Salt Lake City-based molecular diagnostics company, has signed an agreement for CoSara Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., the Indian joint venture between Co-Dx and Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Ltd., to significantly expand its commercial and distribution territory across South Asia to now include Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It said CoSara’s addressable market across South Asia is an estimated $13 billion, based on internal analyses and third-party market data. Co-Diagnostics’ technologies are used for tests that are designed using the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA).
GRANTS
• Applications are being accepting until 6 p.m. April 30 for the Wasatch County Small Business Microgrant program, recently launched by the Heber Valley Tourism and Economic Development office. The program is a $90,000 funding initiative designed to help local businesses expand, improve efficiency, and strengthen the county’s economy. The program is made possible through funding from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. The microgrant offers a 50/50 matching reimbursement of up to $5,000 for eligible projects that support business growth. Funding can be used for equipment purchases; facility improvements; technology upgrades; and other investments that increase capacity, productivity or services. Awards will be announced in late May. Local businesses interested in applying are encouraged to prepare project cost estimates in advance and review eligibility requirements before submitting. Details are at gohebervalley.com/microgrants.
MANUFACTURING
• The Utah Inland Port Authority board recently approved a post-performance incentive to support the LS Electric Co. Ltd. planned expansion of the MCM Engineering II advanced manufacturing campus within UIPA’s Iron Springs Project Area in Iron County. MCM’s 5-to-7-year, $168 million investment will add three manufacturing facilities by 2030, significantly expanding LS Electric’s U.S. production footprint in the West. MCM Engineering II was acquired by LS Electric in 2022. LS Electric is a global South Korean company specializing in smart energy, power transmission, automation and renewable energy systems and employs over 4,500 people. Since that acquisition, MCM has added 27,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 45 new jobs. The newly approved expansion will add approximately 294,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity and create more than 250 high-quality jobs in Iron County. Under the agreement, LS Electric-MCM Engineering is eligible to receive up to 30 percent of the qualified tax differential over a 25-year period. The tax differential applies only to new property tax value generated by development within the project area. Under UIPA’s structure, 75 percent of new property tax growth is administered by UIPA; the company may receive up to 30 percent of that portion as a post-performance rebate tied directly to verified capital investment and job creation milestones.
MILESTONES
• Image Studios, a Salt Lake City-based franchisor of turnkey salon suites for beauty and wellness professionals in the U.S., has reached 135 locations open across 29 states. It surpassed 100 open studios early in 2025. The brand is debuting in numerous new markets in 2026, including New York, Virginia and additional high-demand territories. Image Studios is ranked No. 265 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2026 Franchise 500 list, rising 79 spots from last year’s placement. The company again secured a spot on Franchise Business Review’s 2026 list of Top 200 Franchises, as well as a designation as a Top Franchise for Women. Partnered with MPK Equity Partners, Image Studios was founded in 2009 and franchised since 2015.
PARTNERSHIPS
• NetSTAR Global Inc., a Salt Lake City-based company focused on OEM web categorization, IP reputation and threat intelligence solutions, and Varist, an Iceland-based AI-scale malware detection company, have announced a strategic alliance designed to strengthen cybersecurity defenses in response to the rapid rise of generative AI-powered threats. The two companies will share intelligence data to enhance their respective platforms. NetSTAR provides visibility into Internet traffic from more than 1.8 billion endpoints and has categorized over 48 billion URLs, domains and IP addresses across more than 200 content and security categories. The Varist Hybrid Detection Engine protects more than 5 billion mailboxes worldwide with hyperscale malware detection.
• Advertiser Perceptions, a New York-based provider of strategic market intelligence for the advertising industry, and Data Quality Co-op, a Salt Lake City-based clearinghouse for data quality measurement, have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen transparency in B2B advertising research. The collaboration integrates DQC’s shared quality infrastructure into Advertiser Perceptions’ research operations, adding an independent layer of validation to the company’s data standards.
REAL ESTATE
• Promontory, a 7,200-acre recreational, private mountain community in Park City, has announced reimagined amenities, a new design center for personalized homebuilding and further expansion plans. Promontory has debuted a new Spa at Promontory. It features 10 treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge and a hydrotherapy circuit. At the end of 2025, the reimagined fitness center opened with new cardio and spin rooms, expanded weight room, refreshed locker room facilities and new offerings of healthy food and beverages at The Village Café. In January, Promontory unveiled a new design center for its members so they can create their custom or semi-custom dream home. In 2025, over $637 million in homes and homesites closed, marking a 21 percent increase over 2024. Promontory accounted for 34 percent of all home and homesite sales in Park City. Promontory includes 1,924 total homesites, with 1,422 homesites sold so far; 1,139 members; three 18-hole golf courses plus four simulator lounges; six restaurants; two slope-side, private ski lodges at Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain; and an equestrian center. Nine of Promontory’s 43 neighborhoods feature new home construction by Promontory Homes.
RECOGNITIONS
• Seven women were presented with ForgeHER awards at the recent “Lace Up & Lead” Women in Manufacturing Conference in Midvale, an annual Utah Manufacturers Association event. ForgeHER awards recognize outstanding contributions to the manufacturing industry in leadership, innovation, mentorship and technical expertise. Recipients were nominated by their peers and reviewed by a UMA panel and chosen by their merit. Recipients are Jenean Goodsell, chief people officer, Paramount Machine; Danielle Hadley, director of product development engineering, 3Form; Melissa Loader, executive director of sales operations and CX, Mitylite; Kari Kovar, president/CEO, Cottonwood Millwork+Cabinets; Leann Bice, finance-OPEX, Traeger Inc.; Kalecia Hulsey, human resources, Compass Minerals; and Marianne Greenland, material supply operator, Lakanto.
• Sunwest Bank, based in Sandy, received the Benefits Innovator Award at the Thrive Summit 2026, an annual health and well-being innovation event. Sunwest Bank was selected for its use of Personify Health solutions to reimagine employee benefits and enhance the overall employee experience. Founded in 1969, Sunwest Bank is a privately held commercial bank with more than $4 billion in assets.
RESTAURANTS
• The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has opened at 515 Ring Road, Layton. It is owned by Joseph Nichols, who is running the new eatery with his family. It is a Greek, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant. The new restaurant covers 1,512 square feet, seating 30 guests in its dining room and two outside. Pickup and delivery are available. It also will offer catering for large parties, events and meetings. The restaurant will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Davis Chamber of Commerce on April 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., during which the restaurant will also be encouraging donations to the Utah Youth Village, a nonprofit organization that operates a network of Treatment Foster Homes, home intervention, Alpine Academy and Smarter Parenting website for families with troubled teens. Nichols has two master’s degrees in business administration from Weber State University and biomedical engineering from The University of Utah. He also holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Brigham Young University.
RETAIL
• Harmons Neighborhood Grocer, based in West Valley City, has announced its 2026 Harmons Local Supplier Development Grants for Utah businesses that strengthen communities, create local jobs and deliver high-quality products for Harmons customers. Each will receive a $5,000 grant. Happy Trowels Farm is a flower farm that has partnered with Harmons Floral for 20 years, supplying thousands of tulips and peonies annually. The grant will help purchase industrial labeling equipment to improve crop tracking and highlight the farm’s local roots for customers. Heber Valley Cheese is a fourth-generation, family-owned dairy farm and cheesemaker that has partnered with Harmons for 11 years. The grant will support the installation of a live-feed camera from their dairy farm to Harmons stores, giving customers a direct connection to where their cheese is made. Salsa Del Diablo, selling at Harmons for seven years, creates 16 local jobs, sources ingredients from local farms, and donates more than 1,500 meals annually. The grant will fund a new commercial mixer to increase production efficiency and support continued growth. Sushi Max, a Harmons partner for four years, employs 25 associates and provides fresh sushi across Harmons stores. The grant will support charitable initiatives, including the Sushi Max Scholarship Fund, helping invest back into the local community it serves. Established in 1932, Harmons has 20 locations in Utah.
WHOLESALE
• ABC Supply Co. Inc., a Wisconsin-based wholesale distributor of roofing and other select exterior and interior building products, has opened a new location at 9255 S. 255 W., Sandy. The new location is managed by Nicolas Vazquez, who joined ABC Supply in May 2023 as a delivery services manager at the Twin Falls, Idaho, location. His experience includes supporting customers in both the branch and the field. He was promoted in January to lead the location in Sandy. Prior to joining ABC Supply, Vazquez served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a logistics specialist from 2017 to 2021, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. ABC Supply has more than 1,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
PHILANTHROPY
• Owlet Inc., a Lehi-based company focused on smart infant monitoring, recently donated $39,000 in products to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as part of Babylist’s 11th annual “Make March Matter” campaign benefiting pediatric care. The products will be used by CHLA’s Newborn Intensive Critical Care Unit. Make March Matter is CHLA’s annual fundraising campaign, mobilizing individuals, families and companies across the country to support the hospital’s life-saving work. Babylist, a baby registry and parenting resource, serves as a key campaign partner. Owlet’s advocacy arm, Owlet Cares, has donated over $2.5 million in product and charitable support since 2021 and works with more than 40 global nonprofit partners to improve the lives of babies and families.