Monthly Archives: March 2017

The Salt Lake Chamber in collaboration with a working group of legislators and members of the business community, released the findings from a study conducted in response to the passage of H.B. 251, post-employment restrictions amendments, during the 2016 Utah General Legislative Session. The findings release key issues concerning non-compete agreements to better inform policymakers and business leaders. In stakeholder discussions and negotiations regarding H.B. 251, it became evident that better information was needed around this issue, and the concept for a balanced and fair research study became obvious. In order to conduct this research, the Salt Lake Chamber worked with [...]

The Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index remained roughly the same, declining a statistically marginal 2.9 points to 114.7 in February. The small decrease resulted from a slightly less positive outlook on the current economy and the economy over the next six months. The overall CAI currently sits 8.9 points higher than its level 12 months ago. In comparison, the national Consumer Confidence Index® increased 3.2 points from January to February and currently sits at 114.8. “Unemployment is at an 8-year low, and wages are continuing to rise in Utah,” said Scott Anderson, president and CEO of Zions Bank. “As [...]

Once referred to as a form of "alternative" energy, solar power has become a mainstream energy resource in Utah and a soaring economic driver for the state, thanks to falling prices and environmentally-conscious businesses and residents who are concerned about energy independence and improving the state's air quality. The Solar Energy Industry Association recently reported that Utah gained 1,729 solar industry jobs in 2016, representing a 65 percent increase in the state's solar workforce, based on data from the National Solar Jobs Census 2016. Utah now has a total of 4,408 solar workers, up from 2,679 in 2015. What's more, [...]

The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative will open the second round of their Technology Acceleration Program for applications on Monday, February 27, 2017. Letters of intent, which are not required, are due March 13, 2017, and submissions close March 29, 2017. TAP is a competitive research grant program, designed for start-ups and early stage companies. Mature companies can apply to TAP for development of a new technology or product. Applications must be submitted at http://www.TAPUtah.com. For information on rules and regulations, as well as forthcoming details, visit ustar.org/our-programs and select TAP. USTAR’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small [...]