Utah Health Exchange from Salt Lake Chamber on Vimeo.

The Salt Lake Chamber, one of Utah’s most prominent health reform champions, will be among hundreds of businesses enrolling in the enhanced Utah Health Exchange. Business leaders support the Utah Health Exchange because of its cost-reducing features.

“We were the first organization to sign up last year and we continue to support the Utah Health Exchange,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “The Exchange allows businesses to control costs while increasing the level of choice for employees.”

One year after its initial launch, the Exchange has been streamlined to require less information from enrolling organizations, provide a higher level of customer service and has controls to ensure competitive rates.

“The State of Utah has made great strides in improving the overall experience for companies wanting to use the exchange to build choice and flexibility into the health benefits they offer their employees,” stated Steve Neeleman, M.D. and CEO of HealthEquity, Inc. “An important step in improving the experience was to add a call center solution staffed with our own knowledgeable HealthEquity Specialists based right here in Utah to help producers, employers and employees understand the exchange process and navigate the complexities of the health insurance purchasing decision.”

The Exchange will put money into the hands of health consumers, encouraging them to make smart choices about how to spend their health care dollars. Consumers will benefit from a clear web interface that will offer side-by-side comparisons of cost and quality data. Insurance providers will also be able to create plans that better fit consumers’ needs.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all states to establish a health exchange by 2014 or they will be required to join a regional or national exchange. Thanks to the leadership and dedication of House Speaker David Clark and other elected officials, Utah is poised to benefit from lower health care costs and increased choice.

The Exchange is open to all businesses with 2-50 employees. The employer registration period that opens today runs through September 15 for benefits effective January 1, 2011. Registration is available online at exchange.utah.gov. Enrollment continues beyond the initial deadline for benefits effective in subsequent months.

We’re constantly trying to enhance the content, adding video and more photos whenever possible. As you’ll hear in the podcast, we’re also set to launch a new and improved website in the next month or so.

We’d love to hear more from you, our loyal readers. So don’t hesitate to comment on a post–particularly if you like it.

If you want to listen to today’s Online PR Podcast, you can CLICK HERE. It’s also available on iTunes if you search “Online PR Podcast.” It’s a great resource for businesses of all sizes looking to enhance their social media presence.

The certification is significant, because it means 222 Main is not just aesthetically pleasing and a great addition to the downtown skyline, but also sets the standard of environmental awareness and efficiency for many other buildings being completed in the Downtown Rising project!

From the windows to the electrical system to the high-efficiency HVAC system and water system. Simply put 222 Main is a model of efficiency.

The LEED Gold Certification recognizes Hamilton’s commitment to doing things the right way from the inside out.  222 should make us all a little prouder to be associated with Downtown Salt Lake City.

Congratulations to Hamilton Partners for setting the LEED standard for Downtown Salt Lake City!

Be Ready Utah is the State of Utah’s emergency preparedness campaign managed by the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Homeland Security. The campaign is designed as a bottom-up approach with the focus on an individual’s responsibility to prepare for various kinds of emergencies and disasters.

• Make a Plan
• Get a Kit
• Be Informed
• Get Involved

For help preparing for emergencies and disasters, CLICK HERE.

Senator Hatch addresses Capitol Club from Salt Lake Chamber on Vimeo.

During the Salt Lake Chamber Capitol Club meeting this morning, special guest U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch announced that legislation he is sponsoring has added four influential endorsements. The American Job Protection Act, a proposed repeal of the employer mandate portions of the recently-passed $2.6 trillion health law is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the National Association of Wholesalers (NAW), and the National Retail Federation (NRF).

“Our economy remains fragile and our job creators won’t start hiring, because of the Obama Administration’s costly, job-killing agenda,” said Hatch. “Business owners in Utah and across the country have told me that the $2.6 trillion health law and its punitive employer mandate is a significant reason they aren’t putting more Americans back to work. That’s exactly why the employer mandate needs to be repealed. I’m glad these groups are joining me in this fight.”

Sen. Hatch discussed the legislation and took questions from members of the Capitol Club. Following the meeting he sat down to discuss a number of topics including immigration, exports and predictions for the upcoming midterm elections.

If you’re in the mood for the perfect tortilla chip dunked in organic salsa that causes a flavor explosion in your mouth, look no further. Laurie’s Buffalo Gourmet is that perfect complement to a chilly margarita or a late night savory snack on the couch.

Owned and operated by the Seron family, Laurie’s Buffalo Gourmet began as a Utah-based small business over a decade ago. Now this family treat has gone far from its roots and serves many retailers across the U.S., China, and Canada.

Getting into the chip business…

With its humble beginnings as a snack that the Serons made up for social gatherings the tortilla chips slowly transformed into a business idea.
“My husband suggested we start making and selling our chips so that a larger audience could enjoy this family favorite,” Laurie says.

The Seron family moved from California more than 16 years ago and settled down in Utah. Laurie Seron, after whom the chips are named, was passionate about philanthropy and began as a volunteer for causes like homelessness and women’s empowerment. A bridge in Africa and a few other key projects later, Laurie decided she would use her business prowess to fulfill her charitable objectives.

“My ultimate dream and ambition was to launch a business and build it to a point when we can provide microfinance for projects that change the lives of women,” Laurie says.

Making and delivering chips…

Owing to health department regulations, the Seron family started preparing their chips by renting fryers at a local hamburger joint. For close to two years, each night from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., the family fried, seasoned, bagged and stocked tortilla chips. In the wee hours of the morning, the family loaded the chips into their vans and Laurie went around town delivering her freshly produced gourmet chips to specialty food stores around Salt Lake City.

The first store to start stocking Laurie’s Buffalo Gourmet was ‘The Store’ which was one of the frontrunners in the specialty food segment. The idea to have the word ‘Buffalo’ in the name came from a chance family chat when one of Laurie’s children casually threw the idea out. The idea made everyone chuckle but it ultimately caught on as something symbolic of the Wild West.

A feature on the then popular Gabby Gourmet show coupled with the buzz created by the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, Laurie’s chips escalated in popularity. But the manual kneading, frying, seasoning, and packaging couldn’t keep up with the soaring demand for the gourmet chips.

Around that time, the Seron family took the hardest decision in the history of their small business. They decided to completely automate the processes and outsource the operations to a local restaurateur. In retrospect Laurie said it may have been the hardest business decision but was definitely a wise one considering the growing popularity of the product.

The Buffalo Gourmet difference…

Over only a few years, Laurie’s Buffalo Gourmet has grown to great new heights. They now have a presence in some big name grocery stores like Harmon’s but have also been solicited constantly by giant retailers like Walmart. The Seron family has had to deal with difficult strategic decisions on how to expand. Being a specialty gourmet product the family is cautious about not diluting the brand image and spreading themselves too thin.

“Our efforts to provide the highest quality home-made product to the vast health needs of a growing natural marketplace will remain our top priority as long as there are those who demand distinguished flavor and only all natural ingredients in a healthy snack food,” says Laurie.

Laurie’s Buffalo Gourmet consists of gourmet tortilla chips in a variety of flavors including – premium white corn, roasted sesame, sundried tomato and basil, chipotle, black bean and garlic. Their salsas are available in tantalizing flavors like fire roasted pueblo chile, tomatillo and fire roasted salsa, fire hot salsa with habanero peppers, and black bean and corn salsa.

The Buffalo gourmet difference is that all their chips and salsas are made with real, whole and natural ingredients. The company has developed an innovative process called Flavor Fusion. Fresh ingredients like herbs, spices, and corn are combined to create wholesome gourmet tortilla chips, making the product healthier and containing no artificial flavors and colors.

Looking ahead…

The company is staying with the times and expanding their product line into varieties like multigrain, quinoa etc. There are also ideas of introducing all natural snack mixes and beverages under the Buffalo Gourmet umbrella. The focus at the moment is to strengthen the brand name and grow strategically.

Laurie is the brand’s strongest ambassador and actively recruits retail opportunities and is present at food shows across the country.

“The best thing about owning your own business, despite the crazy hours, is the vision,” says Laurie.

Laurie is always cognizant about the motives that led her to start her own business. She dedicates every opportunity she gets to get involved in community activities and philanthropy.

Her advice for up and coming businesses is, “to make sure that you have a solid foundation built at the beginning. Don’t be in a rush. Utilize the resources in the community that are there for you to use.”

For more information, visit:
Laurie’s Buffalo Gourmet
www.lauriesbuffalogourmet.com

The Downtown Farmers Market has received another national accolade and is recognized in the September 2010 issue of bon appetit magazine. Perennial favorites Grandaddy Dean’s BBQ pulled pork, Mama Linda’s chile verde, and wheatgrass from Sunbridge Growers were featured as top ten lunches at Farmers Markets around the nation.

“Congratulations to our prepared food vendors for being praised for their delicious and eclectic fare,” said Kim Angeli-Selin, market manager. “Our market ranks side-by-side with markets in famous foodie cities like San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, Miami and more. Bon appetit!”

During the harvest season the Farmers Market will be abundant with berries, cucumbers, eggplant, peaches, heirloom tomatoes, melons, peppers, sweet corn, squash, pumpkin, cabbage, onions, green beans, potatoes and much more.

The Downtown Farmers Market is open Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 12-Oct. 18 and Tuesday evenings Aug. 3-Oct. 14. The market offers a unique variety of fresh, local flavors.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E. visits Chamber from Salt Lake Chamber on Vimeo.

The Salt Lake Chamber hosted the U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Richard Olson. He sat down with Lew Cramer to discuss the export opportunities between the U.A.E. and Utah businesses.

Ambassador Olson has been awarded the State Department’s Superior Honor Award three times and the Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Civilian Service Award for his service in Iraq. He is married to Foreign Service Officer Deborah Jones, currently the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, who is a graduate of Brigham Young University.

The relationships our business leaders develop with Utah’s federal delegation are just as important as those they build with members of the State Legislature. Next month, the Chamber will visit Washington, D.C. to meet with members of our senators and congressman to give their input on issues relevant to Utah’s economy.

But his visit is more than just a meet-and-greet. We’ve organized four policy tracks to help Chamber members do a “deep-dive” on issues including health reform, energy, international business and downtown development.

The trip is scheduled for September 12-15. We know that time is very valuable so we’ve built in time during the schedule foryou to take care of matters with the home office and to see the sites in the Nation’s Capital if you so desire.

This is a great opportunity for you to get to know our federal delegation, or to get to know them better and—perhaps more importantly—to help them understand the issues affecting your business.

Whether this is your first trip with the Chamber to Washignton, D.C. or if you’ve been several times before, I invite you to join us. For pricing information or to register for the trip, CLICK HERE.

Closer Look: Public Safety Building and Emergency Operation Center from Salt Lake Chamber on Vimeo.

Last November, voters approved a $125 million general obligation bond to finance both the Public Safety Building and an Emergency Operation Center in Salt Lake City.

Recently, the public got its first look at a proposed concept for the facility and David Hart, vice president and regional manager of MOCA Systems is the project manager sat down to give us a closer look at the site selection, the conceptual design and the balance between functionality and feng shui.

To comment on the conceptual design CLICK HERE.