AI · RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
The University of Utah will begin accepting Redtail AI Factory allocation requests on November 9 for the Winter 2027 quarter. Researchers can request GPU or CPU computing time through the Center for High Performance Computing; this is access to computing resources, not a cash grant. Applicants must be CHPC principal investigators, and requests are reviewed by project.
QUANTUM · RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
University of Utah researchers have developed five custom robotic systems to automate steps in two-dimensional materials research, including sample preparation and analysis. The work connects to AURORA, a $20 million, four-year National Science Foundation-supported programmable cloud laboratory that will let researchers run experiments remotely using Utah’s robotic equipment and research infrastructure.
CAPITAL · GROWTH
Salt Lake City-based Savory Fund closed its third fund at $201.5 million, above its $200 million target. The fund is already 35% deployed across South Block, Bonrue Bakery, Hawkers Asian Street Food and Zao Asian Grill, and Savory expects the portfolio to reach eight or nine brands.
NUCLEAR ENERGY · AI INFRASTRUCTURE
Valar Atomics has submitted a preliminary federal land application connected to Project Beehive, a proposed nuclear-powered computing and manufacturing campus near Price. The Bureau of Land Management confirmed that the initial application covers approximately 9,000 acres of public land, and Valar has secured approval to lease more than 640 acres of state trust land in Carbon County.
AI INFRASTRUCTURE · ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Meta announced another expansion of its Eagle Mountain data-center campus, bringing its total Utah investment above $3 billion. The company says the project will support more than 1,200 construction workers at peak and more than 300 data-center jobs once the expansion is complete.
CRITICAL MINERALS · RURAL ECONOMY
On September 9, USDA awarded a $25 million loan guarantee supporting Milford Mining’s copper mining and processing operation in Beaver County. USDA expects the investment to generate approximately 100 jobs. The financing comes through its Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program in partnership with Magnolia Bank.
WORKFORCE · HIGHER EDUCATION
On September 9, Utah’s eight technical colleges presented strategic reinvestment plans involving the reallocation of 5 percent of their budgets. USHE reports that approximately 90 percent of the reinvested resources will return to instruction and high-demand workforce programs, including AI-adapted technology programs, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, construction and rural emergency-response training.
CAPITAL · INFRASTRUCTURE
Salt Lake City-based Peterson Partners closed a $510 million capital raise for a continuation vehicle supporting Draper-based Kelso Industries. NorthSands Capital committed more than $450 million, while Peterson reinvested and added capital. Kelso employs more than 4,000 people across over 40 states and serves data centers, advanced manufacturers, hospitals and airports.
ENERGY · AI INFRASTRUCTURE
Fervo Energy signed a 396-megawatt power purchase agreement with Google for electricity from Cape Station in southwest Utah. Google also has an option to add approximately 600 megawatts, potentially bringing its total purchase to nearly one gigawatt by June 2030.
CRITICAL MINERALS · INFRASTRUCTURE
The Utah Inland Port Authority approved a business incentive of up to $193.996 million to support A1 Lithium’s planned Green River lithium project. The incentive is structured as a rebate of up to 50% of incremental property-tax revenue over 25 years after operations begin, not an upfront grant.
AI · TALENT
UK-based Searchable opened its first U.S. location in Salt Lake City with two former Scrunch AI employees. Sitecore acquired Scrunch in June in a deal Bloomberg reported at $225 million.
SPACE · INFRASTRUCTURE
At its August 21 meeting, Utah’s Spaceport Exploration Committee reviewed the new National Space Transportation Policy and a site-assessment and economic-impact study.
