OUR TH YEAR www.slenterprise.com March 1, 2021 Volume , Number 32 $1.50 5O OF NOTE Five Utah cities named to 'Top Performing' list Five Utah cities have received recogni- tion as top economic performers in the 2021 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities In- dex, with Provo-Orem being named No. 1 No need for pants in the large-city category. Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfi eld also appeared in the Someone was bound to do it. Top 10 at No. 4 and No. 9, respectively. Lo- An adverting agency worker is gan at No. 2 and St. George at No. 4 made marketing a solution for those the list of best-performing small cities. Ida- who hate getting dressed up Utah’s legislative general session ends this week, and one bill would overhaul the state’s economic ho Falls, Idaho, topped the small-city list. for a Zoom meeting — a hybrid development system by creating a new commission charged with formulating a statewide strategy to The current edition of the Milken list- dress shirt/sweatsuit. It changes streamline economic development efforts in the state and boost individuals’ economic opportunities. ings, published annually since 1999, is the from dressy to casual about the fi rst to take a look at the economic condi- elbows — just out of camera tions during the current coronavirus pan- demic. range. The unisex outfit comes in Legislature seeking overhaul of Provo-Orem, which ranked second in white, blue, pink and polka-dot. 2020, has been a recipient of the tech sec- tor’s out-migration from the more expen- Innovate Utah economic development system sive coastal cities of California. A relative- page 7 stakeholder efforts so that they “pull togeth- ly new innovation center with signifi cantly Brice Wallace Industry News Briefs er.” lower costs than Silicon Valley or Silicon The Enterprise “Really what it does, this bill attempts Beach, Provo-Orem has attracted tech gi- pages 8-9 to defi ne a new mission and vision for the ants, including Qualtrics, Vivint and Smart- Business Calendar Utah’s economic development sys- state of Utah,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Citizen, among others. page 13 tem would be revamped under a legislative Timothy Hawkes, R-Centerville. “We’re incredibly heartened by the re- bill that seeks to change agencies’ mindset The bill spells out an approach es- silience and economic strength we’re see- about what economic development means. poused by new Gov. Spencer Cox, who ing in many Utah cities and towns as the HB348, which at press time had passed has said that he prefers “economic oppor- Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities In- through the House of Representatives on a tunity” over “economic development” and dex shows,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. “We’re 60-4 vote and moved to the Senate, would puts a focus on the individual success of all optimistic that this trend will continue and create an overarching Unifi ed Economic Utahns. expand to all areas of our state.” Opportunity Commission, shuffl e and/or change the names of several government agencies, and align economic development see OVERHAUL page 19 see PERFORMING page 14 Bill gives at-risk students shot at economic success who are at risk. It calls for a “weighted pu- That continues throughout their K-12 edu- Brice Wallace pil unit add-on” for at-risk students — es- cation. The Enterprise sentially providing more funding for stu- “These results can follow students dents who receive free or reduced-price through their lifetime and impact their fu- A bill being considered by the Leg- lunch or who are English language learners. ture economic success,” said Natalie Goch- islature aims to improve the chances that The bill was the topic of a recent News- nour, the institute’s director. at-risk school students become more ec- maker Breakfast at the University of Utah’s Backing up the concept are stats from onomically successful as adults. SB142 Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, whose re- 2019 that show the poverty rate being over would require the Public Education Ap- search reveals that one in three Utah stu- 15 percent for people who attained less than propriations Subcommittee to complete an dents, or more than 200,000 students, expe- a high school diploma but only 4 percent evaluation and make recommendations for rience economic hardship that causes them future legislation regarding public education to have worse education results as early as funding andAFCU-Business-Strip.pdf address funding for 2 students 5/7/19 5:02third PM grade, compared to other students. see STUDENTS page 19 C M Y CM 1-877-AFCUBIZ MY americafirst.com CY Federally insured by NCUA CMY K 2 • March 1-7, 2021 • The Enterprise - Utah's Business Journal COVID-19 AND UTAH - NEWS AFFECTING YOUR BUSINESS & YOUR EMPLOYEES checks that, once deposited, the scammers text you pre- Johnson-Cope, president and principal of Johnson Securi- SL County designates fi rst Monday tending to be the government asking for some of the money ty Bureau Inc. in New York, and chair of the 10KSBV Na- in March to honor COVID-19 victims back claiming too much was sent. tional Leadership Council. “Congress took an important Anyone encountering a coronavirus scam should con- step towards relief in December but must tackle the unfi n- The Salt Lake City Council has passed a resolution des- tact local law enforcement or fi le a claim with the FTC. ished business of supporting the entrepreneurs who drive ignating the fi rst Monday in March (March 1) as “COVID-19 our economy.” Victims and Survivors Memorial Day.” With the statewide The survey found that the vast majority of qualifi ed death toll from the disease approaching 2,000, Utah Depart- State prepares to offer vaccine to small businesses applied for round two of the Payroll Pro- ment of Health lists over 700 deaths in Salt Lake County and tection Program, a federal loan program to help business- nearly 150 in Salt Lake City. Coronavirus victims will be Utahns 18+ with medical conditions es keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 honored on the fi rst Monday in March in future years as well, As Utahns age 65 and older are lining up for the COV- crisis. At a national level, 66 percent of small business- the council decided. ID-19 vaccine, younger folks with certain medical conditions es qualify for a second PPP loan, and 83 percent of those Utah’s fi rst COVID-19 case was diagnosed on March are anxiously waiting for March 1. That’s when Utah residents who qualify have applied for a second PPP loan. In the 6 last year, just hours after then-Gov. Gary Herbert issued a 18 years of age and over who are affl icted with things like West, 64 percent of small businesses qualify for that sec- state of emergency. Days later, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gob- chronic heart disease and uncontrolled diabetes become eligi- ond PPP loan with 83 percent of the qualifi ed businesses ert tested positive for the coronavirus just before a game ble to get the shots. applying. in Oklahoma City. Within a week of the fi rst positive tests, Those 70 and older, along with healthcare workers, fi rst Despite help from the second round of PPP, small busi- many businesses across the state were closed and schools responders and elementary and high school teachers and the nesses still need long-term solutions to survive. Eighty- had shifted to virtual learning models. staff at schools have been eligible to receive the vaccine since eight percent of respondents and 95 percent of Western The Salt Lake City Council met to approve the resolu- Feb. 1. Offi cials report that requests from these groups for business owners say the second PPP loan is absolutely vi- tion via video conference because city meetings are still not vaccination appointments have slowed, indicating that most of tal or very important to help their business survive. held in person. The resolution recognizes the “catastrophic those who want the vaccine have received it. effects on human life, our community and our economy” of When younger people with the listed conditions become the disease. “COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact eligible, offi cials expect demand to rise considerably. Accord- Utah County turns portion of C-19 on low-income communities and communities of color, ex- ing to Aislynn Tolman-Hill, spokesperson at the Utah Coun- acerbating inequities already prevalent in our systems that ty Department of Health, vaccines will be administered to the vaccination program to Nomi Health we must address as a nation,” the resolution continues. newly eligible Utahns based on the honor system. Doctor’s The Smart City Policy Group suggested the resolution notes or medical records will not be required. Orem-based Nomi Health, a healthcare management to the council. There have been more than 60 cities in the A list of conditions accepted for eligibility for vaccination company that has recently contracted with the state of U.S. to adopt similar measures. can be found on the websites of most county health depart- Utah to help manage the rollout of the COVID-19 vac- ments. cination effort, has been selected by Utah County to han- dle a portion of its vaccination program. Nomi Health is With 1.2 million Utahns receiving initially operating three vaccination sites in Utah County as well as a mobile vaccine program to expand access to stimulus checks, scams abound Survey shows that PPP loans and critical populations. The Internal Revenue Service reports that 1.2 million long-term relief still needed in Utah “Community-wide vaccination deployment is 80 per- Utahns have received checks in the second round of pan- cent operational and 20 percent clinical in nature,” said demic relief stimulus payments totaling over $2.4 billion.