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ECONOMIC INDICATORS
• The No. 1 occupation type for new college graduates in the Salt Lake City metro area is management, which pays an average salary of $99,500, according to a study by RentHop. The study considered the top 50 metro areas in the U.S. and the 12 major occupation fields most likely requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher and the annual income by occupation field at the metro level. Details are at https://www.renthop.com/studies/national/new-graduates-heres-where-to-move-to-make-the-most-money.
• St. George is No. 6 and Provo-Orem is No. 12 in a list of “Most Dynamic Metropolitans,” compiled by the Walton Family Foundation and Heartland Forward. St. George is No. 5 among metro areas with a population of 499,999 or fewer. Provo-Orem is No. 1 among metros with a population between 500,000 and 999,999. The top-ranked metro area is Midland, Texas.
• Utah is ranked No. 44 for the most expensive nursing homes in the U.S., according to a study by SeniorLiving.org that used the most recent data from a 2018 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. The average monthly cost of a semi-private room inUtah is $6,083. Nationally, the average annual cost of a semi-private room was $89,297 in 2018 and is projected to rise to $120,008 by 2028. Between 2016 and 2018, the Utah price grew by 8 percent.
GOVERNMENT
• The Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate is warning the public about a rapidly growing email scam that targets property transactions to coerce respondents into wiring down payments and other high-dollar real estate proceeds to con artists’ accounts. Division investigators report the email scam targets real estate agents, title companies and their email accounts to gain access to message traffic that tips off fraudsters when transactions are scheduled to fund consumer loans. Typically, within 24 hours of a transaction closing, scammers will use the email account to send new wiring instructions to the buyer, seller, title or escrow agent, lender, real estate agent or broker.
• The Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection has received a report that phony texts pretending to be from Wells Fargo Bank are being sent to consumer phones. The alert text asks the recipient to call a phone number that leads to a recorded message claiming that the person’s Wells Fargo bank account was compromised and that bank needs to confirm important personal information. According to Wells Fargo Bank, the texting scam has been reported in neighboring western states but had not been reported previously in Utah. The scheme is an example of what is commonly known as an “imposter scam,” where someone pretends to represent a real entity such as Wells Fargo Bank to dupe the consumer into revealing personal account and identity information to the fraudster. The division is encouraging potential victims to never provide personal information or bank account details to anyone over the phone; to avoid wiring money, pay with a gift card or send cash; and call the established contact numbers published for the real company or government agency to find out more information.
• Twenty-nine local governments in Utah will receive a total of $40.9 million under the federal 2019 Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which compensates communities for supporting public lands and waters and invests in firefighters, police, schools and road construction. PILT are made to local governments to help offset their inability to tax federal property. The total 2019 distribution is $514 million to more than 1,900 counties. In Utah, the highest amount is more than $3.7 million going to Tooele County. A full list of funding by state and county is available at www.doi.gov/pilt.
INVESTMENTS
• Vivint Solar Inc., a Lehi-based solar products provider, has received commitments for an additional $100 million on tax equity financing, which the company said will enable it to design and build low-cost, clean energy systems for over 8,000 new residential customers. The syndicated tax equity commitment comes from RBC Capital Markets and co-investors arranged by RBC’s Tax Credit Equity Group. Vivint Solar operates in 22 states.
LAW
• Cordell & Cordell has hired associate attorney Tyson C. Stokes for its Clearfield office. Stokes previously served as judicial law clerk for both the San Francisco Superior Court and the Utah First District Court. After his clerkships, he practiced in a variety of legal areas, including family law, criminal law, estate planning and other general civil matters. His education includes a bachelor of science degree from Utah State University.
MEDIA/MARKETING
• KUER, Salt Lake City, has named Elaine Clark as managing editor of KUER news. She will work with news director Andrew Becker to oversee the newsroom's 14-member staff, including reporters based at KUER’s studios in Salt Lake City and two new bureaus opening in southern Utah. Clark has been a producer on the KUER talk show “RadioWest” for nearly 15 years. Her education includes a master’s degree in Middle East studies from the University of Utah.
PHILANTHROPY
• Employees of Larry H. Miller Dealerships, Salt Lake City, along with along with 85 vendors and business partners, raised a record amount at this year’s Larry H. Miller Dealerships Golf Classic. The dealership group presented a $450,000 check to Larry H. Miller Charities, the charitable arm of Larry H. Dealerships. Funds raised at the golf event will be distributed to charities in the seven states where Larry H. Miller Dealerships does business and will focus on programs that serve women and children with an emphasis on health and education. Since the inception of the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Golf Classic in 2012, more than $1.9 million has been raised for Larry H. Miller Charities, with funds then distributed to qualified nonprofit organizations in the communities where the dealership group has locations.
REAL ESTATE
• Urban Utah Homes and Estates has added new affiliated agents to the brokerage: Charee Godfrey, Catherine “Katie” O’Neil, Chad Nestman and Cortney Anderson. The boutique-style brokerage has 30 agents and brokers specializing in small commercial and residential home sales along the tri-city areas of Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties.
RECOGNITIONS
• The University of Utah led a list of 33 organizations ranked by Forbes magazine as “Best Employers in Utah for 2019.” Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to survey more than 80,000 Americans working for companies with at least 500 employees. The UofU was followed, in order, by Delta Air Lines, Utah State University, University of Utah Health Care, the U.S. Department of Defense, America First Credit Union, Discover Financial Services, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Valley University, Wayfair, Associated Food Stores, Jordan School District, Marriott International, Harmons, Northrop Grumman, ARAP Laboratories, Becton Dickinson, Salt Lake County, Brigham Young University, Nebo School District, Intermountain Healthcare, Kroger, 1-800 CONTACTS, Edwards Lifescience, American Express, BAE Systems, Weber State University, Autoliv, Alpine School District, Nu Skin Enterprises, Micro Focus, Academy Mortgage and Davis School District. Details are at https://www.forbes.com/best-employers-by-state/#df1d250487a6.
• The Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection has been awarded the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection Partner Award for its dedication and achievements in fighting consumer fraud. The commission recognized the division for consumer outreach through two consumer education “Common Ground” conferences, the Division’s investigative contributions to national fraud cases, and their partnership in ongoing outreach efforts.
• Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski recently announced the winners of the 2019 Mayor’s Artists Awards, which recognizes individuals and organizations “who have made an important and positive contribution to the creative arts and the wider Salt Lake City community.” For 2019, the awards categories shifted to highlight artists who have engaged in processes that amplify the city’s priorities, including equality, affordable housing, sustainability and more. The award recipients are DesignBuildBLUFF, a graduate architecture program at the University of Utah that immerses students in hands-on, cross-cultural experiences through partnerships with the rural and native communities in the Four Corners region of San Juan County; Margaret Willis, an artist, teacher, outdoor enthusiast, yogi and gardener; Utah Museum of Fine Arts, ACME Initiative, designed to expand and rethink the role that museums play in public life; Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls, which seeks to empower girls, transgender and gender non-conforming youths through music education, collaboration and performance; and Ed Napia, whose unique and original style of handmade pottery and clay sculpture represent the various stages of his life, from his New Zealand childhood to his time in Hawaii and his move to Utah.
• The Utah Restaurant Association recently honored Utah ProStart Awards 2019 State winners in Management and Culinary categories. Management state champion is Provo High School, which also earned third place in the National ProStart Invitational. Second place went to Maple Mountain High School. Third place was Granite Technical Institute. State champion in the Culinary category went to Alta High School, which finished in 12th place in the National ProStart Invitational. Second went to Provo High School and third to West High School. The Utah ProStart Northern Regional winners (culinary) are first, West High School; second, Northridge High School; third, Tooele Career Learning Center; and fourth, Granite Technical Institute. The Utah ProStart Central Regional winners (culinary) are first, Alta High School; second, Westlake High School; third, Provo High School; and fourth, Carbon High School. The Utah ProStart Student of the Year and Sysco Intermountain Scholarship recipient is Kaitlin Pace, Provo High School. The Utah ProStart Educator of the Year is Diane Cluff, Provo High School.
RETAIL
• Larry H. Miller Dealerships, Salt Lake City, has appointed Michael L. Van Orden as chief information officer. He will lead the information technology and computer systems teams within the dealership group, including providing strategic IT guidance and direction of the company while maintaining a stable and secure infrastructure, and providing accurate timely information. Van Orden has more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry. Most recently, he served as chief technology officer at Sportsman’s Warehouse for 18 years. He also held IT positions with Wells Fargo and Litton Guidance & Control Systems. His education includes a bachelor of science in management degree from the University of Utah.
• Columbia Sportswear Co. has opened its first brand store in the Salt Lake City metro area at the Shops at Station Park, Farmington. The store offers sportswear, outerwear, footwear and accessories.
SERVICES
• EdgeFive Group, a Salt Lake City-based event production company, has hired Mallory Sass as head of marketing. The company said the addition will allow it to further expand its product and service offerings into new markets. Sass most recently moved from the San Francisco Bay area, where she spent the last 10 years helping companies cultivate marketing teams to scale, build brand credibility and drive pipeline. Sass has experience in mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings.
SPORTS
• Alpine Country Club, Highland, recently completed golf course enhancement and renovation projects, which include the renovation and modernization of golf course bunkers, new cart paths, and enlarging and improving the existing practice range and putting green. John Fought Design oversaw the project while Duininck Golf was the contractor responsible for construction. Alpine Country Club is managed by Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon.