OUR TH YEAR www.slenterprise.com July 5, 2021 Volume , Number 50 $1.50 5O Economic development commission launches Weber & Davis commission will be “solutions-oriented.” tablishing subcommittees that serve as con- CountiesReal Estate Brice Wallace “I’m excited to work with state elect- veners to facilitate policy development. The Enterprise ed leaders, cabinet members, local officials “We’re thrilled to announce the cre- PAGE F1 pages 15-1 and others as we collaborate and create new ation of the new Unified Economic Oppor- A new commission charged with de- pathways to economic success,” Cox said. tunity Commission,” said Dan Hemmert, Sponsored by: veloping, directing and coordinating a The commission will convene stake- executive director of the Governor’s Of- statewide economic development strategy holders to develop solutions to the most fice of Economic Opportunity, or GO Utah. has begun its work. critical topics facing Utah’s economy. It That is the new name for the agency former- The Unified Economic Opportunity will also review and create new economic ly known as the Governor’s Office of Eco- Commission, created by HB348, passed strategies and programs to deal with time- nomic Development, or GOED. pages F1-F8 during the 2021 legislative session, has ly topics. Other purposes of the commis- “This commission will help with the been appointed and was scheduled to have sion include aligning economic efforts and state’s growth, education and workforce its first meeting last week, after The Enter- incentive programs, helping support and prise’s press deadlines. align education and industry partnerships Sponsored by: see COMMISSION page 14 Gov. Spencer Cox emphasized that the to strengthen the state’s workforce, and es- Utah life science firms attend Arab health trade show Eight Utah life science companies traveled to Dubai recently as part of the Arab Health trade show. The delegation, which was exhibiting in a booth showcas- ing the companies and Utah’s life science industry, was the first of its kind from the state to travel abroad since February 2020, Passengers check in at a new Delta Air Lines ticketing center at Salt Lake City International Airport. Travelers in future years could see substantial changes to the airport as a master plan is due to the pandemic. The delegation was implemented to address long-term air transportation demand and improve efficiencies. focused on building Utah’s global brand, growing Utah businesses, and strengthen- ings Utah’ network of partners worldwide, a release from World Trade Center Utah Airport master plan looks at (WTC Utah) said. Utah has the fastest-growing life sci- ence community in the United States and demand way down the road is ranked sixth for medical devices, fifth tation of the master plan for the airport. The for diagnostics and is a rising force in bio- Brice Wallace plan has been three years in the making, and pharma. The exhibiting companies were The Enterprise finishing touches will complete the vision presenting some of Utah’s most innovative for the airport to meet future air transporta- healthcare products and biotechnologies, The second phase of the Salt Lake City tion demand in the long term. many of which were shared worldwide for International Airport’s $4.1 billion face- “This really is the only big internation- the first time. lift is still two to three years from comple- al airport that Utah is going to have, so it’s “Utah’s life science industry is grow- tion, but airport officials are looking further important that we find ways to get it right, ing rapidly, and we’re proud to have these ahead to envision what’s next for the facility. and that’s really what this master plan is all companies represent the state in this dy- As in, two to three decades. about,” Bill Wyatt, executive director of the namic and life-enhancing industry,” said The Salt Lake City Department of Air- ports (SLCDA), along with consulting firm see AIRPORT page 15 see DUBAI page 5 RS&H, recentlyAFCU-Business-Strip.pdf held a final public 3 presen5/7/19 - 5:02 PM C M Y CM 1-877-AFCUBIZ MY americafirst.com CY Federally insured by NCUA CMY K 2 • July 5-11, 2021 • The Enterprise - Utah's Business Journal COVID-19 AND UTAH - NEWS AFFECTING YOUR BUSINESS & YOUR EMPLOYEES Utah's airports set to receive over and highlights the states that need to prioritize reach- and businesses in rural communities have access to the ing the 70 percent vaccination threshold. It ranks Utah resources they need to be successful entrepreneurs.” $100 million in COVID rescue funds as the fourth-most positively impacted by reaching the The Council on Underserved Communities was es- Utah’s airports are getting another economic boost higher vaccination rate, following New York, Florida tablished to focus on communities and populations that from federal COVID relief funds to offset losses suffered and North Carolina. have traditionally faced barriers in accessing credit, cap- during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Aviation “Now is a vital time to reach immunity thresholds ital other resources necessary to start and grow business- Administration (FAA) has announced. Over $100 million that would allow life to safely return to normal in Utah,” es. The CUC’s mission is to collectively provide SBA in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 are said John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix. “There is a herd with input, advice and recommendations on strategies to headed to 33 airports in the state. Nationwide the current immunity gap in the state that will impede a safe return improve and strengthen equity among women-, veteran- round of airport grants totals nearly $8 billion. to. normalcy Our epidemiological simulations show that and minority-owned businesses and/or businesses from The money, according to the FAA, will go toward if Utah is able to reach 70 percent immunity, their to- low-to-moderate income or rural communities, the SBA keeping U.S. airport workers employed and ensure airport tal number of COVID-19 infections would decrease by said. construction projects continue following the pandemic’s 94.7 percent.” economic impact on the airline industry. The data takes into account variants of concern, “The Airport Rescue Grants keep workers employed population density and immunity waning over time. The Pandemic contributing to severe and help the aviation sector recover as more Americans mathematic model shows that at 50 percent immunity, blood shortage, Red Cross reports get vaccinated and begin traveling again,” said U.S. the state would average 572 cases a week. At 70 percent Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. immunity, the state would average 26 cases a week. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 “These grants are part of the administration’s commit- and people began to hunker down in their homes, they ment to build back a better and safer transportation sys- SBA renews council to address COVID also delayed needed medical treatment, fearing infection tem throughout our country.” in hospital and clinic settings. But now that the pandemic The majority of Utah’s money will go toward Salt relief inequities in underserved areas is winding down, those who delayed seeking treatment Lake City International Airport, which is slated to receive The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is have begun to seek that treatment. That, along with what close to $91.7 million alone from the Airport Rescue reconvening the Council on Underserved Communi- the Red Cross is calling a high number of trauma cas- Grants.AA F officials said about $80.7 million of that will ties (CUC) under the authority of the Federal Advisory es and trips to hospital emergency rooms, has the nation go toward airport operations support while $11 million Committee Act (FACA). The council will address the experiencing a severe blood shortage. will go toward concessionaires at the airport. Of that $11 inequality of implementation of COVID programs with- In many cases, delayed treatment has resulted in million for concessionaires, $8.8 million will go toward in underserved communities. Established in 2010, the more advanced disease progression, which leads to an small companies, the report said. council has been inactive since early 2020. increase in demand for transfusions. In a statement, the AA The F said Provo Municipal Airport is set to re- “The previous implementation of COVID programs Red Cross said that as compared to 2019, the demand ceive close to $2 million, which is the most among the has frequently left behind underserved communities,” for blood from trauma centers has risen by 10 percent in remaining other 32 Utah airports. St. George Regional the SBA said in a statement. “The success SBA and the 2021. Just since March, the Red Cross said it has used Airport ($1.9 million), Cedar City Regional Airport ($1.1 small-business community have seen from prioritizing nearly 75,000 more units of blood products than officials million) and Canyonlands Field ($1.1 million) round out equity in programs such as the Restaurant Revitaliza- expected to meet these needs. Therefore, some hospitals the top five. The majority of the Utah airports are slated to tion Fund and the third round of the Paycheck Protec- are putting off elective surgeries until the blood supply receive less than $100,000, including more than a dozen tion Program exemplify the need to continue this prog- stabilizes. receiving a minimum of $22,000. ress. The Shuttered Venues Operators Grant, the COVID “When seconds count in emergency trauma situa- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (including Targeted tions, it’s the blood already on the shelves that can make Advance grants), and Community Navigator programs the difference in lifesaving care,” said Heidi Ruster, CEO Report: Utah reaching 70% immunity push SBA even further in the right direction.