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ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
- Utah Shakespeare Festival has named John DiAntonio as artistic director and Michael Bahr as executive managing director. DiAntonio is the producing artistic director at Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, Colorado. He has seven years of executive leadership experience with a rotating repertory company in a rural destination setting. Bahr has been serving as USF’s interim managing director since November 2022 and previously served as USF’s education director for over 20 years. Derek Charles Livingston, currently serving as the festival’s interim artistic director, will continue as artistic associate and director of new play development.
- Angel Studios, a Provo-based film distributor, has announced a debut anime-influenced series titled “Gabriel and the Guardians.” It is a fantasy series that tells the journey of Gabriel, a celestial being from an unseen realm, as he inspires his friends through adventures of truth and self-discovery. Qayinara Animation Inc. will create the series.
CONTESTS
- The Small Business Administration Utah District Office is accepting nominations through Dec. 7 for the National Small Business Week 2024 Small Business Awards. The week takes place in May. The award categories are Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, 8(a) Graduate of the Year, Woman-Owned Business of the Year, Minority-Owned Business of the Year, Veteran-Owned Business of the Year and Rural Business of the Year. A webinar titled “How to Submit an Award-Winning Nomination” takes place at 11 a.m. Oct. 4. Registration can be completed at Eventbrite.com. Details are at www.sba.gov/nsbw.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
- Utah State University, Adobe, Costco Wholesale, University of Utah Health Care and Fidelity Investments are the top five “best employers” in Utah, according to rankings compiled by Forbes and market research firm Statista. It surveyed 70,000 workers at companies (minimum of 500 employees) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A total of 1,392 organizations made at least one state list, with 269 ranking in multiple states. Details are at https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-by-state/?sh=60c3dbfa1983.
- West Valley City is ranked No. 18 and Salt Lake City is No. 65 on a list of “Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs,” compiled by personal-finance website WalletHub. It compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 24 key metrics, including the Hispanic entrepreneurship rate, Hispanic income growth and the share of Hispanic-owned businesses. The top-ranked city is Orlando, Florida. The No. 182 city is Cleveland. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-hispanic-entrepreneurs/6491/.
- Canyonlands, the site of filming of the movie “Thelma and Louise,” has been ranked the No. 8 on a list of the “most stunning film locations in the world,” compiled by StressFreeCarRental.com. The top spot is the United Kingdom because of the success of the “Harry Potter” film series.
- Attending a Utah Jazz game is ranked No. 26 and watching a Utah Utes football game is No. 178 on a list of “once in a lifetime experiences among sports fans,” compiled by CheapoTicketing.com. It surveyed 3,000 die-hard sports fans to ask them which U.S. sports team they would most like to watch live at least once in their lifetimes. The top-ranked experience is watching the Boston Red Sox. The No. 180 experience is at the University of Louisville. Details are at https://www.cheapoticketing.com/lifetime-sports-experience-bucket-list.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
- Utah State University is expanding its training program for aircraft maintenance professionals to USU Eastern in a partnership with Carbon County. Eastern is part of a $1.4 million grant program awarded to Carbon County by the Economic Development Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. The funding will support the development of an aircraft maintenance technician training facility and hangar at the Carbon County Airport. The new facilities will make it possible for a new aviation maintenance program to be offered at USU Eastern in Price. The program will provide stackable credentials, beginning with industry certificates of completion in airframes or powerplants. Those certificates can stack into an associate of applied science degree in aircraft maintenance and then into a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology. The project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities Initiative, through which the EDA awards funds to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal.
EXPANSIONS
- LivAway Suites, a Salt Lake-based economy extended-stay hotel brand, has broken ground on two more properties, in Richland, Washington; and Missoula, Montana. Both locations are expected to open in 2024. Keystone National Group, based in Salt Lake City, provided the construction financing for both the Washington and Montana locations and plans to continue providing a financing platform for LivAway Suites hotels nationally.
GOVERNMENT
- Salt Lake City is accepting applications through Sept. 30 for fiscal year 2024-25 funding from the Capital Improvement Program. The program is for residents, neighborhood groups, community organizations and business districts to enhance roads, parks and neighborhoods citywide. Requests are for $50,000 to $500,000 for projects with a useful life of five or more years. The capital project must be a Salt Lake City-owned asset, and community outreach is required. Details are at https://www.slc.gov/Finance/home/capital-improvement-program-cip/, by calling (385) 242-5604, or by emailing cipinfo@slcgov.com.
HEALTHCARE
- Renalytix, with main offices in London and Salt Lake City, has appointed Howard Doran as chief business officer. Doran’s primary responsibility will be leading the KidneyIntelX global sales effort. Doran has over 30 years of diversified general management, strategic planning and marketing/sales experience in the diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries in domestic and international markets. He served as president and CEO of LipoScience Inc., president and chief operating officer of Constitution Medical Inc., a member of the senior executive team of Hologic Inc. and president of Hologic’s Global Diagnostics business, and senior vice president and business unit director at Cytyc Corp. Rentalytix is commercializing artificial intelligence-enabled prognostic blood test for individuals with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
MANUFACTURING
- Powered by MRP, a Park City-based aesthetics device company, has hired Kate Heath as chief sales officer. Health has more than 16 years of experience in aesthetics, most recently serving as senior director at Candela Medical, where she oversaw clinical day to day operations, business development, inside sales, and practice management.
MEDIA/MARKETING
- Struck, a Salt Lake City-based marketing and experience design agency, has promoted Kevin Perry as chief operations officer. His experience includes serving as a designer, creative director and organizational leader.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
- The first phase of trails in the new Solitude Bike Park at Solitude Mountain Resort have been unveiled. Four trails ranging from green circle (easier) to black diamond (most difficult) will be open Friday-Sunday through Oct. 8, conditions permitting. They were designed by Gravity Logic. Six miles of new downhill trails will consist of two freeride trails, Mother Lode and Cobalt Cruise, and two technical trails, Mine Shaft and Holy Schist. All four of the new trails will be accessed via Moonbeam Express.
PHILANTHROPY
- The Miller Family Foundation has contributed $5 million toward renovations at two softball complexes: the Valley Regional Park in Taylorsville and the Big Cottonwood Regional Park in Millcreek. The renovations have brought these facilities up to modern standards, offering state-of-the-art amenities and improved infrastructure. The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation and Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation marked a momentous occasion Aug. 4 as they celebrated the grand reopening of the Larry H. Miller Softball Complex at Gary C. Swensen Valley Regional Park. The event saw the presence of several cast members from the movie “The Sandlot” and attracted more than 300 people.
- The Sundt Foundation recently awarded $10,000 in grants to the Children’s Center Utah and For The Kids. The Children’s Center Utah received $5,000 for its mission to provide comprehensive mental healthcare to families. The nonprofit provides child and family therapy and offers a therapeutic preschool program. For The Kids received a $5,000 grant to support its mission to provide weekend bags of food for children. The organization delivers bulk bags of food to schools to ensure students have meals throughout the weekend. The Sundt Foundation awards quarterly grants to local Salt Lake City charities that support disadvantaged members of the community.
- Eclipse Glasses USA, a provider of solar eclipse viewing eyewear, has donated 500 pairs of glasses to the Walden School of Liberal Arts in Provo. The donation aims to provide students with a safe and memorable opportunity to witness the October annular eclipse, which will mark the final U.S. western eclipse until 2045.
REAL ESTATE
- Mountain West Commercial Real Estate, a Salt Lake City-based commercial real estate firm, has added Kris Mortensen to lead its multi-family division. Mortensen specializes in multifamily and student housing properties throughout Utah and has represented owners nationwide. Mortensen has experience in acquisitions, development and management. He earned an MBA in business administration with a B.S. in accounting from the University of Utah. His vision for the division includes expanding its reach and capabilities, identifying investment opportunities, and providing strong advisory and brokerage services.
- Construction has begun on Ameyalli, a well-being resort in Midway. The developer is Charles Heath. The multi-phased community has unveiled its first phase of 22 shared ownership residences. Six co-ownership shares remining in the phase, which is slated for completion at the end of 2023. Future phases of Ameyalli are to include a boutique hotel, restaurant, the Ameyalli Wellbeing Center of Excellence and more.
- The Outpost at Conestoga Ranch, a community overlooking Bear Lake, has launched the initial phase of sales. It features fully furnished cabins with oversized driveways with motor coach hookups and outdoor space for entertaining. The Outpost at Conestoga Ranch will include a clubhouse, fitness center, owners’ lounge, and boat parking for use by owners and renters. The first phase is scheduled for completion during summer 2024.
RECOGNITIONS
- The U.S. Small Business Administration Utah District Office has announced that Tuacan Center for the Arts in Ivins is Utah’s Legacy Business. Legacy businesses were named by the SBA’s 68 district offices and include recipients that started small and leveraged SBA resources on their journey to becoming household names.
- The Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit awards were recently presented at the summit, which took place at Weber State University. The summit was organized by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and Utah Business. The Economic Impact Award was presented to Utah High School Cycling League. Other finalists were Old Spanish Trail Association and Eyes to the Sky Balloon Festival. The Every Kid Outdoors Award was won by Common Ground, with other finalists being Girl & Her Backpack and YMCA of Northern Utah. The Social Investment Award was won by Pride in the Bureau of Land Management Employee Resource Group. Finalists were Chairbound Sportsman and Ogden Valley Adaptive. The Stewardship Award was won by Lake Mountain Trails Association, with finalists being Fish for Garbage and Tree Utah (Schoolyard Tree Program). The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Project of the Year was won by Jacob’s Ladder Trail Reroute to Lone Peak Cirque. Other finalists were Millcreek City Center Ice Ribbon, Ephraim Canyon Trails Project and Juniper Canyon Recreation Area Phase I.
- The Lodge at Blue Sky, Wanship, has won the Lavazza One To Watch Award in advance of the World’s 50 Best Hotels awards 2023. This title is granted to a hotel that currently sits outside the list but which the 50 Best team believes has the potential to break into the ranking in future editions. The Lodge at Blue Sky launched in 2019.
RESTAURANTS
- Shake Shack has opened its first drive-through location in Utah in the Mountain View Village shopping mall, at 4415 W. Tree Sparrow Drive, Riverton. It is the fourth Shake Shack in the state. The Riverton location will offer both in-store and drive-through options. Shake Shack has more than 470 locations, including more than 305 in 32 U.S. States and the District of Columbia. It donated $1 for every sandwich sold at the Mountain View Village Shack on Sept. 12 to Utahns Against Hunger, a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit organization committed to increasing access to food through advocacy, outreach and education.
- Swig, a Lehi-based soda company, has signed 250 franchise units in six months. It includes seven new markets: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Idaho. Stores in Arkansas, Idaho and Missouri stores will open this year. Swig’s goal is committing 500 franchise units by year-end, in addition to 70 corporate-owned locations. It currently has 54 stores in five states.
RETAIL
- Utah City, a mixed-use development in Utah County spanning over 700 acres along Utah Lake’s eastern shore, has announced a new grocery store will be coming to the project. Bella’s Market is slated to be a 40,000-square-foot, custom concept in partnership with Lee’s MarketPlace. Bella’s Market will offer local products and staples, set within a store that is designed for gathering. Architecture and design are underway, and construction on the new grocery store is anticipated to begin in 2024.
- 2nd & Charles has opened in the Family Center shopping mall in Orem. Pop culture enthusiasts can trade their used books, music, games and pop culture collectibles for cash or store credit. The company has more than 40 stores in 18 states.
TECHNOLOGY
- JobNimbus, a Lehi-based company offering a CRM platform for roofing professionals, has appointed Mark Novakovich as chief financial officer. Novakovich has a background in global finance and accounting leadership, with a career spanning SaaS and technology companies across various growth stages. Prior to joining JobNimbus, he held CFO roles at Protegrity, Xant and Control4. Novakovich is a graduate of Brigham Young University’s accounting program and served for several years on the Treasury and CFO advisory boards at Silicon Valley Bank.