AGP Executive Report

Data Center Investment: South Korean manufacturer LS Electric landed a $138.5 million Bloom Energy contract for power equipment at a Pennsylvania tech data center, bringing its Bloom orders above $500 million; the company says its U.S. network includes a Utah facility. Local Pushback: Carbon County residents worry data center and nuclear projects could strain nearby communities, while Iron County commissioners weigh rules that balance oversight with jobs and tax revenue. Utah Business: A Utah-based American Express banking subsidiary faces a $350 million federal penalty over anti-money-laundering failures regulators say let about $13 billion in suspicious transactions go undetected. Emerging Technology: BETA Technologies tested electric aircraft on Utah routes linking Salt Lake City, Provo and Logan, carrying medical cargo as the state explores future air mobility. Consumer Trends: Utah’s dirty-soda influence is spreading, with PepsiCo planning new dirty-soda-inspired drinks for 2027.

Electric Aviation: BETA Technologies tested medical-cargo flights between Salt Lake City, Provo and Logan, demonstrating a potential new logistics link as Utah prepares for the 2034 Olympics. Energy Costs: Utah Sen. John Curtis joined a bipartisan group urging President Trump to scrap Russian diesel imports, arguing the move may violate federal law even as fuel prices pressure businesses and consumers. Data Center Rules: Logan officials proposed limiting centers to 100,000 square feet, 10 megawatts and 10 million gallons of annual water use, with a 1,000-foot buffer from homes. The rules still need city approval. Tourism Investment: Carbon County won a $143,300 state marketing grant, which the county will match for a $286,600 campaign promoting the Carbon Corridor in 2027. Housing: A Plain City builder is planning 275 starter homes priced below $450,000, targeting buyers seeking more affordable options. Retail: Utah-based Crumbl Cookies is contending with dozens of store closures as sales and customer traffic fall.

Workforce Pressure: Rural Utah farmers are struggling to hire and retain workers as rising input costs squeeze margins and other industries compete for labor. Data-Center Rules: Iron County’s planning panel advanced proposed rules for data centers and other large industrial projects despite calls for stronger water safeguards and more time; the County Commission’s hearing is set for Monday, with no action planned. Starter Homes: A Plain City development is betting buyers will accept smaller homes and garages for lower prices, with 275 homes planned below $450,000. Great Salt Lake Costs: More than 800 square miles of lakebed are exposed, and researchers warn dust hotspots could grow—leaving Utah to reckon with the cost of mitigation or inaction.

Fuel Costs: Utah Sen. John Curtis joined five senators urging the Trump administration to reverse its Russian diesel deal, saying it conflicts with sanctions law. The White House says the imports could help ease high fuel prices. Housing & Permitting: Rep. Celeste Maloy’s bipartisan Build America Caucus unveiled an agenda to expand where housing can be built, lower project costs and improve financing, regardless of which party controls Congress. AI Infrastructure: Amazon is dropping nondisclosure agreements for data-center talks as communities, including in Utah, push back over power, water and secrecy. Local Beef: Nephi rancher Korey Wright wants more Utah cattle processed and sold in-state, arguing reliance on a handful of major meatpackers leaves the food supply vulnerable to disruptions. Water Investment: A new opinion piece questions whether roughly $1.4 billion should go toward a Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola or efforts to protect the Great Salt Lake, whose decline threatens Utah’s economy and quality of life.

Energy and AI: A bipartisan permitting bill coauthored by Sen. Mike Lee would speed approvals for power lines, solar farms and pipelines as data-center demand strains the grid. The proposal has drawn support from fossil-fuel and renewable-energy groups, while environmental organizations are divided. Data Centers: Opposition to large facilities is becoming a cross-party issue, with residents warning of higher power costs and pressure on water supplies—concerns also surfacing in Utah communities. Consumer Protection: Utah’s attorney general joined the FTC and Nevada in suing Lens.com, alleging the online retailer adds mandatory fees that can double advertised prices and obscures subscription terms. Banking: American Express must pay a $350 million penalty over anti-money-laundering failures at its Utah-based bank subsidiary, regulators say. Sports Investment: Salt Lake City is among the cities under consideration as MLB explores expanding from 30 teams to 32, though the league’s next step depends on resolving its labor agreement.

Crumbl’s Reset: The Utah cookie chain’s store closures have reached 57 as sales and customer traffic slide; its CEO says the company must address the challenges. Data Center Development: Box Elder and Iron counties are busy as pauses on data center projects begin to ease, putting local growth and infrastructure back in focus. Housing: A rural Utah developer is building starter homes inspired by Salt Lake City’s Avenues and Sugar House neighborhoods, targeting demand for attainable ownership. Critical Minerals: Anson Resources raised the modeled value of its Green River project to US$1.05 billion, citing Utah incentives. Health Tech: Utah is testing AI-issued first-time prescriptions, a state-backed pilot that could open new opportunities for medical technology companies while drawing scrutiny over oversight. Tourism: Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway reopened ahead of fall travel, restoring the direct route between the park’s east and south entrances and easing disruption for nearby businesses.

Trade & Manufacturing: Sen. John Curtis said about 500,000 Utah jobs are tied to global economies and the state does roughly $27 billion in annual trade. Next week, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to tour Utah manufacturers, including Texas Instruments in Lehi and Varex Imaging. Crumbl’s Slowdown: The Utah-based cookie chain has closed dozens of stores amid falling sales. CEO Jason McGowan took responsibility for not responding sooner to tough conditions in fast-casual dining, while voicing confidence in the company’s future. AI & Health Tech: Utah is expanding its health care AI trials, including a pilot that lets a startup issue prescriptions for some acne treatments without direct physician oversight. Data Center Debate: Residents in Carbon County are raising concerns about proposed data centers and nuclear power plans, as Utah communities weigh the costs and benefits of energy-intensive development. Air Links: Delta and SkyWest are adding four routes from Salt Lake City, expanding travel options from the state’s main hub.

Utah Business: Utah-based Crumbl’s rough patch deepened, with closures reaching 57 stores nationwide as sales and traffic fell; its CEO took responsibility. AI & Health Care: Nolla Health has begun a Utah pilot for AI-written acne prescriptions. Doctors review every prescription in the first stage, with less oversight possible only after state approval. Energy & Data Centers: Oracle has used trucked natural gas at a site outside Salt Lake City while awaiting pipeline connections—a costly workaround that underscores the power hurdles facing data center growth. Utahns have also voiced opposition to more data centers. Investor Watch: Fervo Energy faced new scrutiny after a research firm alleged problems with its geothermal projects; shares closed about 46% below their IPO price. Local Expansion: A Utah franchisee with five Papa Murphy’s restaurants plans to add a co-branded Pinkberry location in West Haven next summer.

Data Center Power: Oracle has kept its Salt Lake City-area data center moving with trucked-in natural gas while pipeline infrastructure lags, highlighting the power bottlenecks facing Utah’s AI expansion. Statewide, most Utahns oppose building more data centers, and Iron County rules are headed to a public hearing as residents and tribal leaders seek a delay. Business Strains: Utah-based Crumbl’s CEO says the company’s downturn is his responsibility as 57 stores have closed this year and dozens more franchises are for sale. Real Estate Finance: eXp Realty and Newrez announced a mortgage joint venture at a Salt Lake City event, aiming to link lending services with eXp’s agent network. Industrial Growth: Ares Strategic Mining plans a ribbon-cutting for its new fluorspar processing plant in Delta, adding a domestic critical-minerals operation. Water Costs: A state study supporting a proposed $1.2 billion water fee did not account for existing revenue, raising questions about the basis for the proposed increases.

Advanced Manufacturing: Baxter Aerospace plans to invest $19.55 million and add 90 jobs at a new Washington County facility after receiving a state economic-development incentive. AI and Health Care: Utah is testing an AI system that can prescribe acne treatments, a regulatory first that could open new commercial pathways while raising questions about oversight. Data Center Debate: Residents are pushing back against proposed facilities in Iron and Carbon counties as Utah weighs rules and the power and infrastructure needed to support rapid growth. Household Costs: Utahns are growing more pessimistic about the economy as expenses rise, adding pressure on businesses and policymakers to address affordability.

Business Growth: Draper-based Swire Coca-Cola says its expanded Spokane warehouse is handling 1.5% more cases year over year, with capacity to process nearly 8 million annually as demand rises for sports drinks, milk products and energy drinks. Provo Development: The city is weighing a deal for a 137-room hotel, restaurant, gas station and retail space near the airport and Epic Sports Park. The developer estimates construction at $35 million; the proposal would provide tax incentives. Consumer Confidence: Utah sentiment fell 3.45% in September, reversing three months of gains as gas, grocery and housing costs strain household budgets. Critical Minerals: A University of Utah-led team won a $7.5 million federal award to assess critical-mineral potential in coal seams, mine waste and industrial wastewater across the Rocky Mountain region. Green River Project: Anson Resources raised its modeled project value to US$1.05 billion, citing Utah incentives.

Capital Markets: Salt Lake City-based FireFly Robotics filed for a Nasdaq direct listing, giving existing shareholders a route to sell shares without raising new capital. Revenue rose to $30.5 million in the first half of 2026, though its net loss widened to $9.1 million. Health Tech: Utah approved Nolla Health’s pilot to use AI to issue initial acne prescriptions, starting with 100 patients and expanding in stages with physician oversight. The company says the $4.99-a-month service could cut appointment delays and costs. Data Center Debate: Grand County residents and Carbon County officials are weighing the power and water demands of proposed data centers, as Utah faces broader questions about where the facilities fit. Tourism and Small Business: Park City is considering a funding pool to help local businesses prepare for the 2034 Winter Olympics. Delta and SkyWest are also adding four routes from Salt Lake City, expanding regional air links.

AI in healthcare: Utah has named six outside groups to evaluate AI tools for prescription refills, acne treatment and women’s health pilots, with the companies paying the evaluators—raising fresh questions about independence and oversight. State policy: Gov. Cox’s pro-human AI approach continues to expand Utah’s “sandbox,” including the path for AI to issue initial acne prescriptions. Local food economy: Utah schools are seeking Utah beef and fruit vendors to plug into school meal programs, building on prior contracts that drove about $1.9M in local purchases. Energy and environment: The Great Salt Lake Tracker is back as the lake drops below 30% of natural volume, with advocates pushing for the 2027 legislative session to prioritize water needs. Immigration detention: A shuttered Marana prison in Arizona is set to reopen as an ICE facility under a new contract. Business/industry: Becton Dickinson announced a $19B U.S. manufacturing investment tied to federal tariff relief milestones, including a major footprint in Sandy, Utah.

AI in Health Care: Utah has authorized Nolla Health’s acne pilot that lets an AI system generate initial prescriptions, with two Utah-licensed physicians reviewing before the pharmacy step—then regulators will decide whether it can move to more autonomous prescribing. Elections & Cost Pressures: A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute survey finds inflation and the U.S. economy top voters’ concerns heading into the midterms, with affordability driving decision-making. Downtown Tourism Prep: Salt Lake Temple opening crowds are expected to bring about 22,000 visitors daily, pushing downtown businesses to ramp up staffing and speed. Local Governance: Easton Town Council discussed potential bans on license plate readers, weighing privacy concerns against legal uncertainty. Aviation Competition: Delta and United are adding new nonstop routes tied to Salt Lake and Denver, intensifying service options for travelers. Business Spotlight: First Watch is expanding rapidly and says it’s protecting its culture as it scales. Sports Business: United Airlines will launch or resume 10 routes in October, including new service tied to winter schedule changes. Community & Culture: A Park City fundraiser “Stay Wild with Gracie” is backing wild horse rescue efforts.

AI Health Regulation: Utah is expanding its Pro-Human AI sandbox with new clinical pilots, including Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health, plus outside evaluators to test safety and usefulness. AI Prescriptions: Nolla Health’s Nolla Derm now lets eligible Utah patients get initial acne prescriptions via AI after a facial scan, with out-of-range cases routed to licensed clinicians. Cyber & Consumer Safety: Utah residents are being hit by increasingly convincing text-message scams (“smishing”), with warnings that links and personal-data prompts can drain accounts fast. Crypto Banking Fight: Rain has applied for a U.S. national trust bank charter to custody digital assets and issue dollar-backed stablecoins, escalating a legal dispute with community bankers and the OCC. Water Costs: A new analysis finds household drinking water bills rose faster than inflation and income from 2015 to 2025, squeezing budgets nationwide. Great Salt Lake: Utah lawmakers heard that invasive phragmites removal could boost water supplies, with “low-hanging fruit” reed-killing efforts underway. Food & Antitrust: Utah Food Bank received its first shipment of 1.5 million eggs tied to Utah’s price-fixing settlement against egg producers. Local Governance: Salt Lake City quietly dropped a promised pool from Glendale Park plans, drawing west-side criticism.

Ski Industry & Consumer Deals: Mountain Capital Partners says it will sell tens of thousands of $9 single-day lift tickets across all nine of its U.S. ski resorts, with select tickets including resort credit and kids 12 and under skiing free via its Power Kids Pass. Sports & Local Business Spotlight: Austin Smotherman won his first PGA Tour title at the Bank of Utah Championship in Ivins, earning a two-year exemption and a spot in major events—another reminder of how Utah tournaments keep drawing national attention. M&A & Environmental Services: Clean Harbors completed its $775 million acquisitions of EnviroServe and ES&H, expanding waste collection and emergency response operations, including Utah-based EnviroServe. Food Prices & Utah Impact: Utah’s egg settlement shipment—1.512 million eggs—arrived at the Utah Food Bank after the state’s price-fixing case against major egg producers. Privacy & Legal Risk: New research says U.S. companies are on pace to pay about $1.4 billion in privacy settlements this year, driven largely by older wiretapping-style laws. Tech & Marketing: Sagum launched sagum.ai, an AI marketing suite aimed at helping brands generate and test more ad and landing-page variations faster. Utah Fraud Watch: A new study ranks Utah among the states most likely to be scammed online, with high average losses per incident. Energy & Policy: A Senate permitting reform push would limit permit revocations, strengthen FERC’s transmission authority, and address how data centers pay for grid upgrades.