The 23rd Annual Summer Social hosted by the Women's Business Center of Utah (WBCUtah) was a night to remember! The night came to life in a vintage Hollywood-themed celebration filled with delectable hors d'oeuvres, silent auction, and an inspirational honor for Becca Hofmann, Northern Entrepreneur of the Year. It was also a night to celebrate the ongoing success of the Women's Business Center of Utah and all of the amazing work they do for women entrepreneurs throughout the state. 

Stepping into the event was like stepping back in time to the golden age of Hollywood. Our venue for the evening was the beautiful historic Monson Center. The event was held in the Ivory Ballroom, creating an elegant atmosphere that set the stage for an evening of glamour and celebration.

WBCUtah provides individualized business counseling and coaching, extensive training and workshops, guidance in accessing capital, opportunities for networking and community building, an arsenal of business resources, and specialized programs designed to address unique entrepreneurial challenges. Additionally, the center advocates for policies supporting women-owned businesses, fosters mentoring relationships, and offers online resources for accessibility.

WBCUtah is dedicated to fostering the success and growth of women-owned enterprises in Utah through its multifaceted and evolving support ecosystem.​ If you haven't visited utahwomenowned.com or listed your own women-owned business on there, we know what you're doing today!

The highlight of the night was the recognition of Becca Hofmann as the Northern Entrepreneur of the Year. Becca's journey showcased the potential of entrepreneurship and the impact of organizations like WBCUtah.

The event also offered a valuable networking opportunity, bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals to share ideas and strengthen the community of female entrepreneurs in Utah.

The night celebrated entrepreneurship, success, and the remarkable achievements of women in Utah. It was a shining example of how a supportive community, mentorship, and perseverance can pave the way for women to excel in the business world. Can't wait for next year!

To learn more about how the Women's Business Center of Utah can help your business, visit https://wbcutah.org/ to learn more!

We're excited to feature Wandering Jade Mobile Bar as our September Business of the Month. Owner Amberdee Miller can bring the party to you, no matter the occasion. Keep reading to learn more about her journey in opening Wander Jade and why you need to book them for your next shindig!

UMLF: Hi Amberdee, we’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month! Tell us about yourself.
Amberdee: "About me, I'm a single mother of 3 amazing humans. My oldest is 23 and she is also an entrepreneur, she has an Etsy shop that sells handmade products. My son followed in my footsteps and is a Law Enforcement Officer, and I have a 13-year-old at home still. She is the spicy one. She is involved in cheer at her school and keeps me on my toes.

I have been a Law Enforcement Officer for 13+ years. I have worked as a Task Force Officer with the FBI, completed SWAT school, and trained as a CVSA examiner (Computer Voice Stress Analyzer, used for truth detection). I enjoy camping, fishing, and hunting. I spent a lot of time with my Dad and Grandpa in the shop building projects and learning how to use all the tools. I do a lot of DIY projects at home. I fail a lot and sometimes I get it right. Now I am the proud new owner of Wandering Jade!"
 
UMLF: Your trailer is so cute! Tell us about how you got the idea of Wandering Jade and what your services are.
Amberdee: "I found this quote on Tiktok and it explains me pretty accurately "If I'm being completely honest, I don't think that there's anything I couldn't do at least half decently, I was born with the "how hard could it be gene" which is incredibly helpful and very delusional." I love to build and create. I can retire in a few years and wanted to have something I could do after I retire.

I was a bartender before I worked in Law Enforcement. I loved it. So I bought a horse trailer and decided to see if I could build a mobile bar. I learned how to weld, how to use auto paint, I learned all about working with metal and wood, and so much more. I had a lot of support from friends and family. I completed Jade in July after working on it every day for 5 months. It was a lot of failure and trial and error. I'm so proud of the finished product.

​We have a mobile bartender service with licensed and insured bartenders, we have 2 pop-up bars that can be used in almost any setting, and we have Jade. She is a 1985 Horse trailer converted into a mobile bar. We offer cocktail planning, tasting, custom menu signs, and everything you need for a bar except the liquid. We also offer rental of the trailer for the customer to serve whatever they choose. We do an Italian Soda Bar at the farmers market and have rented to a local bakery to use for an expo show. We believe our clients deserve hand-crafted cocktails made by licensed bartenders, rather than coolers and a creepy uncle bartending." 

UMLF: Does this work for non-drinkers as well?
Amberdee: "Yes! We have done several events with non-alcoholic options. Soda Bar, Italian Soda, Hot Coco as well as a snack bar or just a photo shoot. We can also do soda bars for corporate events, or construction sites." 

UMLF: Do you have any favorite memories so far of events you’ve been at?
Amberdee: "We served at a wedding in Bear Lake this summer and it was an amazing experience. The couple were from the East Coast and planned a destination wedding. They were so kind and the crowd was really fun. We learned a lot!"

UMLF: Entrepreneurship most definitely has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it?
Amberdee: "The biggest challenge so far has been the balance of work and home life. Adding another "job" to an already full plate has made me be more creative and get my humans involved to help me. Including web design, graphic design, and teaching my older daughter to bartend. We have sacrificed our usual summer camping trips, for late nights working on completing the trailer. I feel this has been an example for my girls of following a dream with hard work and dedication."
 
UMLF: How do you feel like the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business? 
Amberdee: "Utah Microloan Fund has helped me so much. Learning about resources, and funding, and having other entrepreneurs to bounce ideas off. Utah Microloan Fund also set me up with the Small Business Development Center, and they have been a great resource and helped me think bigger."

UMLF: Lastly, how can people book with you?
Our website is www.wanderingjademobilebar.com. Clients can fill out a quick survey, followed by a conversation about what they have envisioned, a small deposit and they are on the books. 

Awesome thanks Amberdee!

To stay in touch follow Wandering Jade on:
Facebook: Wandering Jade Mobile Bar
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wandering.jade.bar​

Are you a small business owner in the beautiful state of Utah looking for opportunities to grow and expand your company? If so, registering as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) might be a strategic move that can benefit your business in several ways. In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of becoming a DBE through UTA and who is eligible for this program so keep on reading!

What is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)?

Before delving into the reasons to register as a DBE with UTA, let's understand what a DBE is. A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise is a designation given to small businesses that are owned and operated by individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged. These businesses often face unique challenges in competing for government contracts and opportunities. To level the playing field, government agencies like UTA have established DBE programs to promote diversity and provide equal access to government contracting opportunities.

Advantages of Registering as a DBE with UTA:

1. Access to Government Contracts: UTA, like many other government agencies, sets aside a percentage of its contracts specifically for DBEs. By registering as a DBE, your business gains access to a pool of contracting opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

2. Competitive Edge: Being a DBE can set your business apart from competitors when bidding on government contracts. Agencies often prioritize DBEs and consider them favorably during the selection process.

3. Networking Opportunities: UTA frequently hosts outreach events and networking opportunities for registered DBEs. These events can help you connect with key decision-makers and potential partners in the industry.

4. Training and Support: Many DBE programs, including UTA's, offer training and technical assistance to help businesses grow and thrive. You can access resources and guidance that can be invaluable for your business's development.

5. Subcontracting Opportunities: If your business does not yet have the capacity to take on larger contracts, becoming a DBE can still be beneficial. You can participate in projects as a subcontractor under larger DBE-certified firms, gaining valuable experience and building your reputation.

Salon Pèttine is open and ready for business! This women-owned boutique hair salon specializes in one thing - serious style. Keep reading to learn more about our July Business of the Month and why 1126 East 3300 South is going to be your new favorite spot in town. 

​UMLF: Hi ladies, we’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month! Tell us about yourselves. 
"We met at our previous salon and clicked instantly and became fast best friends. 

When Liz left, she had to convince Kenzie to make the leap with her. Clearly it didn’t take much! We are the ultimate definition of “yin-yang”. We are the exact same but couldn’t be more different. Liz specializes in low maintenance blondes & Kenzie specializes in high maintence vibrant color. We’ve been in the industry for a collective of just over 10 a decade. 
We couldn’t ask for a better partnership!" 

UMLF:  You guys worked at other salons and now are striking out and starting your own. What prompted your leap of faith?
Liz: "I was feeling extremely burnt out and didn’t see the opportunity for progression and didn’t feel like I could be the stylist I wanted to be. Starting my own salon suite just came at the perfect time & the growth followed soon after. It’s been crazy, but so fun."

Kenz: 'We've created a community of friends who just so happened to be stylists. Liz & I created a safe space for people in our salon suite, so we felt we could broaden that into our own salon. Liz had the idea and I basically forced her to have me as a partner. It didn't take much convincing for her though."

UMLF: What are some of the services provided?
Liz: "I specialize in low maintenance lived-in color & also hair extensions. We have 10 other amazing stylists who do a variety of services from precision barbering, cutting, color and facials."

Kenz: "We even have a girl who does nails. Liz is our low maintenance queen and I'm the high maintenance fashion color gal."

UMLF: What advice do you have for emerging hair stylists?
Liz: "Find your brand and lean into it, you don’t need to work for or around anyone who makes you feel less than and you don’t have to do “all the hair”. Only do services you love."

Kenz: "Be your authentic self. I can't stress this enough. Clients do love a hairstylist that knows what they are doing for sure but ultimately it comes down to your personality and how well you get along with the client."

UMLF: Entrepreneurship definitely has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced as small business owners and how you overcame it?
Kenz: "Oh man, yes it's been a wild ride for us. We went the route of UMLF because a dear stylist friend of ours worked with them. We originally had an angel investor that kind of turned into a nightmare. Lack of communication with them is what drove us to applying for the UMLF loan and we are so grateful we did! Finances are hard in any situation but when you have other stylists counting on you to be open and ready as a business, that's a whole other kind of stress. Now we are open and only have our normal financial burdens to think about."

UMLF: How do you feel like the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business? 
Liz: "UMLF quite literally gave us the resources to create our dream hair salon. We can’t thank them enough."

Kenz: "Yes, again we are so grateful for UMLF. We wouldn't be a sustainable business without them."

UMLF: And for funsies, what is one hair trend you both are loving and one that you want to see go?
Liz: "Loving-effortless color and big voluminous blowouts. Would love to say bye to- probably teenage boys with mullets!"

Kenz: "I disagree with Liz, I like the modern mullet. Not that 80's/90's trash mullet. The tasteful kind with texture and movement. & personally I love the split hair color trend. I have it on myself and change it often. It's fun & you get the best of both worlds. One that I want to see go though would have to be bleaching your own hair at home. Tik Tok and the pandemic made people believe they could do their own dye job at home & I can't tell you how many I've had to fix from this trend!"

Website: www.salonpettine.com
Insta: www.instagram.com/salonpettine  ​

Now in its tenth year, OFN's Small Business Finance Forum returned in person to downtown Chicago’s magnificent mile for the first time in four years and we got to attend! Over 500 mission-driven small business lenders,  funders, investors, and other partners from around the country got together to learn, connect, and be inspired. 

And inspiring it was! It was amazing to chat with other CDFI colleagues and to learn from some of the best and brightest leaders on new innovations, ideas, and strategies to continue serving our country's underserved communities. 

But to back up a little, what is a CDFI you might ask? Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are lenders with a mission to provide fair, responsible financing to rural, urban, Native, and other communities that mainstream finance doesn’t traditionally reach. Where others see risk, we see opportunity. 
​
Entrepreneurship surged during the pandemic, increasing demand for small business financing that continues today. At the same time, troubling signs in the economy, from inflation to rising interest rates to bank failures,  are constricting access to finance, putting small businesses — and the American economy — at risk. The focus of this conference was how our organizations can get creative and lean in more. 

Sara Day, our Program Manager of Training and Outreach attending on the UMLF's behalf and her notebook is FULL of new ideas to implement in Utah. There were many great plenaries as well as breakout sessions. Sometimes it was hard to choose which one to attend because the options were all captivating topics. 

Some standout favorites were: 

• An Ecosystems Approach to Supporting Rural Entrepreneurs 
  • ​Three organizations shared what they are doing to help revitalize rural downtowns in Appalachia, and how we can implement those strategies in our hometowns, even sharing an awesome tool, their Downtown Revitalization Playbook. 

• Leveraging Small Business Credit Initiatives for Inclusive Entrepreneurship
  • ​Utah's Small Business Credit Initiative is launching now and there were great takeaways from lenders who are farther into the process and have experience on how to best unlock these opportunities for all communities. 

• Unlocking Growth Capital for Latino Immigrant-Owned Businesses 
  • This session shared how CDFI’s can best connect immigrants to lending programs that offer innovative approaches and practices to help them succeed including identifying the unique barriers they face to entrepreneurship.

• Hearing from SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman on what the Small Business Administration's plans for the future. 

• Attending the CDFI Women's Network get together and mingling with all of the ladies attending on the top floor of the US Bank Building. Incredible views!

• Continuing discussions on how the pandemic, racial inequity, and the economy have impacted our clients and what we can do to help them further. 

We're so grateful for the opportunity to attend and can't wait for the next one! To learn more about Opportunity Finance Network visit www.ofn.org. 
​

UMLF: Hey guys! We’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month. Can you tell our readers about yourselves?
LBT: Our names are Rosanna and Michael and we are the co-founders of Link Boba Tea. We moved to Utah back in 2021 originally for work and absolutely fell in love with everything this state had to offer from food to the various outdoors activities and decided to stay permanently! One of our favorite things to do together is discover new restaurants and explore the national parks and local hiking trails. We also have two cats, Abraham and Lincoln, with Lincoln being the inspiration for our name and logo (we named the company before adopting Abraham - we would never play favorites!).

UMLF:  For those who need the 411, what is Link Boba and where are you located?  
LBT: Link Boba operates through our Boba Box product which is an automated bubble tea kiosk that creates a drink for the customer on demand. We offer 3 flavors at a time and are open to feedback to what customers would like to see (QR survey) and can make those changes accordingly. We are currently located at Ogden Weber Technical College (OTECH) at 200 N Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84404. The Boba Box is located in the Student Union building right next to the cafeteria. We are hoping to expand over the next couple of years to some other locations in the Weber/Davis county area as well. 
 
UMLF: What inspired you guys to bring Boba to the Ogden area?
LBT: When we first moved to Utah and was exploring the food scene, one of the things we noticed in northern Utah was the lack of bubble tea shops. Coming from Michigan where there were plenty of options, we were shocked at what we had in the area. One night on our way home from SLC after getting some boba, we were thinking of how cool it would be if there could be bubble tea machines. In diving into this a bit more we discovered this was actually a possibility and decided to take a leap of faith!

UMLF: What are some of your favorite flavors you offer?
LBT: Currently we offer Mango, Strawberry, and Thai Tea flavors with our personal favorite being Thai Tea. 
  
UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced as an entrepreneur and how you overcame it?
LBT: An ongoing challenge that we have faced are the mechanical flaws that come with the Boba Box. Michael, being our resident mechanical engineer, has been constantly making improvements such as with the water heater, ice machine, cup dispenser, etc. so that the process of creating a drink flows better and has less errors. To overcome this in the future, we have put together a list of requirements on what we will need to be built out in the next iteration of the Boba Box and have been in contact with the manufacturer to see what changes can be made moving forward. 
 
UMLF: How do you feel like the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business? 
LBT: The Utah Microloan Fund has been a huge help financially and also has provided lots of opportunities for us to learn about entrepreneurship from pricing to marketing strategies. We love that there is a community at UMLF that will always be there to help answer our questions and guide us in the right direction when needed. 

To stay in touch with Rosanna & Michael visit: 
​
Website: www.linkbobatea.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/linkbobatea
Instagram: www.instagram.com/linkbobatea​

Next we ventured over to Pacific Seas, an authentic Polynesian restaurant that has been family-owned and operated for over 25 years. We kicked off our meal with Mango Otai, a deliciously sweet drink that we wanted seconds of. For food we tried Lu, (Taro leaves cooked in coconut milk), Sipi (lamb ribs), Umala, and some delicious sides. The Lavulo Family told us about each of the dishes and their stories about how they all come together to run the business together. City Councilman Alejandro Puy E also stopped by to join in the meal. 

Pacific Seas is also located at 1151 S Redwood Rd, Suite 107 and they are open every day except Sunday from 11am - 6pm. ​

Ummm we have big news! Today we were recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Utah District Office as the SBA’s Microlender of the Year. Can we get a yee-haw?! 🤠

“The SBA understands that sometimes all an entrepreneur needs are a few thousand dollars to get their business up and running,” said Marla Trollan, Utah SBA District Director.  “SBA Microloans were created to help small businesses and start-ups navigate the complex world of gaining capital. Without great credit, collateral, or so many years in business it can be almost impossible for entrepreneurs to get a traditional business loan.  We are proud that the Utah Microloan Fund has been an amazing non-profit lending partner throughout the state of Utah."

The National Small Business Week Awards Luncheon was held at Mountain America Credit Union in West Jordan. The event recognized the FY22 top performing SBA Lenders that administer the different loan programs the SBA has to offer. Delicious food, great company, and rousing speeches made the award ceremony a very special day. 

We're proud of our continued commitment to providing microloans and business advising to Utah's underserved communities and filling the financial gap for first-time business owners. Because of the support of the SBA, we are able to helps Utahns far and wide. 

Congrats to the other winners: 

• Utah Top 7(a) Lender, Top 7(a) Rural Lender: Mountain America Credit Union
  
  
• Utah Top Export Lender: Zions Bank​

 

• Utah Top 504 Third Party Lender: Hillcrest Bank

​

• Utah Top 504 Lender, Top Women-Owned, Minority-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Rural Lender: Mountain West Small Business Finance​

We can't wait to see what this year brings! ❤️ 

​Hosted by the Business Technical Assitance Center. 

So you're a small business owner who is in need of funding. Maybe you've bootstrapped it so far, borrowed from friends and family or even put together a Kickstarter. Whatever the case may be, if you are an entrepreneur who is now looking for a loan to help get you to the next step of growth, have no fear! Keep reading to learn some helpful tips that if followed could help you get the stamp of approval!

As a brief intro, we are the Utah Microloan Fund, a non-profit organization that since 1991 has provided microloans from $5k - $50k to small business owners throughout the state of Utah. As a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) our mission is to help fill the gap of funding for first time entrepreneurs as well as underserved communities including minorities, women, Veterans, LGBTQ+, and rural.

Over 30+ years of lending has led us to be pretty dang good at identifying what makes some applications meh vs outstanding so here's our list!

Be proactive. 🏃‍♀️

• The fact that you are reading this blog is a great sign! Many people apply for a loan completely unprepared or they are applying because they needed money, like, yesterday. Being proactive about being prepared for the application process and planning ahead on when you will need funds makes the process much smoother for us and y'all!
• For the Utah Microloan Fund specifically you are also required to attend our virtual loan orientation held every Tuesday at 9am. Sign up here. 

​
Create a strong business plan & cashflow projection. ✏️

• A well-written business plan demonstrates that you have a clear understanding of your business goals, target market, competition, and financial projections. Your plan should also outline how the loan funds will be used and how you plan to repay the loan. Preparing a 12 month cashflow projection also shows that your pricing and costs make sense, you have thought of all in and outflows, and know your numbers.
  •  Not sure if yours is looking good? Check out our virtual Building Your Business Series here. 

​
Request a reasonable loan amount. 💰

• The loan amount you request should be reasonable and in line with your business needs. You will really want to think about what are your true business needs vs wants. What makes sense for your business when you factor in your costs and revenue.  If you're trying to do things like using your loan to pay yourself a sky-high owner's wage, think again! 

Have a clear Use of Funds. 📄

• You want to be super clear with your lender on what exactly you are requesting the money for. Loan funds can be used for things like working capital, marketing, purchasing equipment, supplies, inventory, hiring, etc. The more specific you are, the more we can see that you've really thought out your purchases. 

Don't even think about lying! 👀

• Trust us, we lenders have seen it all. Have previous issues with debt? Credit not so great? Be honest about it! The almighty credit report almost never lies so it's always prudent to be upfront with your lender about your history. Honestly also goes along with how you are spending your loan funds, criminal history, financials, etc. 

Know your credit. 💵

• Speaking of credit, at least for us, you don't have to have the most stellar score in the world but what we do want to see is that you are making payments on time if debt exists, don't have a current bankruptcy (paid off is okay for us), and that you have a plan for unpaid debt. If we see you are not paying other people back, we'll think you won't pay us back and then we can't make it rain!

Think of collateral or cosigner options. 🚚

• Depending on the size of the loan, your credit history, and time in business we may require collateral or a cosigner to secure your loan. Collateral can include assets such as equipment, inventory, a vehicle or real estate, while a co-signor is vouching that they will make sure you or they pay the loan back.  If you're brand new in business and want $50k this might be a path you have to take for your first loan.

Show off! ✨

• Demonstrating your experience and qualifications in your industry can help to instill confidence that you are capable of running a successful business. This can include relevant education, certifications, or previous work experience.

Ask for help. 🙋🏽‍♂️

• When it comes to entrepreneurship, it takes a village! There are tons of free resources including business advisors, classes, and meetups for small business owners like you so don't be afraid to ask questions and get involved. 
• We have a great relationship with Small Business Development Centers across the state and they offer FREE one-on-one business advising and can help work in tandem with you to apply for a loan. Find a location near you at https://utahsbdc.org/locations

By keeping these factors in mind and presenting a well-organized and thought-out loan application, you can increase your chances of getting approved for a loan. Good luck with your application and we look forward to working with you! Learn more at www.umlf.org. 

Hey everyone, Sara here! You've probably seen me around at events, social media posts, or out and about but let me introduce myself. My name is Sara Day and I am the Program Manager of Training and Outreach for the Utah Microloan Fund. Which really is just a fancy way to say that my job is getting the word out about the UMLF and helping entrepreneurs across the state. Both of which I LOVE to do! If you follow us on social then you know that I have been traveling a bunch all over the state so I decided that I should start a travel blog on each of the unique areas I visit so keep reading if you want to tag along!

I have always loved exploring all the little corners of Utah both big and small and learning about the history, vibes, and what's next for each area. My husband and I and our two dogs will pick a different place on the map and hit the road with our Utah Roadside History book & trusty trip journal and set out to fully immerse ourselves in that area. So you can imagine this is the perfect job for me because I get to do outreach across the state. 

Utah has an incredibly rich and diverse history. From our Indigenous tribes, pioneer history, mining, railroads, national parks, oil, tourism, skiing, the list goes on. As such, each of our 29 counties all face unique challenges, varied population density,  booms and busts, different sources of income, etc. No two counties are the same and one solution does not fit all.

​But no matter where you go, there is always a chamber of commerce ready and willing to not only fight for the needs of their business community, but also bringing people together to support and nurture entrepreneurship. Many of these are run by volunteers! So you can imagine how happy I was to discover that a group of Utahns had put together the Rural Utah Coalition of Chambers (RUCC) whose purpose is to bring a united voice on the important causes that affect rural Utah businesses, share ideas and resources, and create dialogue with government officials and legislators. 

April 6th and 7th marked the 1st annual conference for RUCC and it was held at the beautiful Uintah Conference Center in Vernal, the Northeast corner of the state. Co-hosted by the Vernal Chamber, the conference was a big hit! Chambers from all over the state were in attendance to mix, mingle, and learn along with resource providers, government entities, economic development, local businesses and more. 

We heard from some amazing speakers on relevant topics to our state's rural areas - the economy, resources the chambers can bring back to their members, government programs available, grant writing and much more. There were also tours to local places of interest, my favorites being the the Hotel Vernal Haunt (scary even in the day time!) and the Innovation Hub for small business owners. We heard from City Manager Quinn Bennion about all of the huge changes the city of Vernal is implementing to revitalize their downtown and beyond. 

​You can really see the love and passion behind all of these projects and how much people deeply care about their community. The organizing team behind RUCC did such an amazing job at providing a great conference for the over 200 attendees. We will definitely be back next year! 

Lastly, Vernal is Dinoland and there is so much to do throughout the Uinta Basin. I am going to be ending my blogs with some of my recommendations for planning your visit to whatever area I journey to, so don't miss out! Here's what I have for the area:

Don't skip the history. There is so much to see and learn. Definitely carve out a significant part of your trip for this! 

• Dinosaur National Monument - Jensen 
• Ute Indian Veterans Park - Fort Duschene
• McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs - Vernal
• Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum
• John Jarvie Ranch - Dutch John

​
Get outside. Hiking, biking, boating, swimming, ATV trails, you name it, await. 

• Red Fleet & Steinaker State Parks
• Flaming Gorge 
•  McCoy Flats 

Look for treasures at the vintage/thrift stores. 

• Junk in the Trunk in Ballard
• Just a Wee Bit Used in Roosevelt
• JP's Odds and Treasures in Vernal 

Eat, Drink and be merry. 

• Antica Forma for pizza and pasta
• Swain's for some good ol' steak dinners
• Vernal Brewing for local beer 
• Little B's for hanging with locals

Watch the calendar.
Vernal has a TON of cool events so keep an eye on their event calendar for all of the happenings. 

• Phenomecon Paranormal Conference
• Dinosaur Days
• Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo to name a few!

Until next time!
- Sara

Nestled in the heart of American Fork, Màstra Italian Bakery and Bistro has been a beloved destination for foodies, focaccia enthusiasts, and Italian cuisine aficionados alike. From its authentic, artisanal bread to its mouthwatering bistro fare, our April Business of the Month has captured the hearts and taste buds of locals and visitors alike. To learn more about the story behind this celebrated bakery and bistro, we e-sat down with its owner, Jonathan Cagnucci. In our conversation, he shared insights on the passion and craftsmanship that goes into every Màstra creation, his philosophy on cooking, and what's next for the bakery and bistro.

UMLF: Hi Jonathan! We’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month. Tell us about yourself.
Jonathan: “My name is Jonathan I'm the founder and owner of Màstra Italian Bakery Bistro. I'm married to Stefania, and we have together two daughters, Nicole, and Elena.
 
I grew up in Genova Italy, developing a spontaneous interest for food, history and serving others. In 2001 at the age of 17 I started working at Panificio Mario, a historical bakery in downtown Genova, where I found my own dimension between traditional food and timeless baking techniques. In 2015 after I graduated in Italy as a Master Baker Instructor, I decided to start my own restaurant in Utah, to achieve my dream to serve the community by sharing quality Italian food and the beauty of Italian tradition.”
 
UMLF: For those who haven’t dined at Màstra yet, what can they expect from their experience? 
Jonathan: “Màstra Italian bakery bistro comes from the idea of offering to the community real great food made from scratch and an amazing value for the money Italian experience.
 
 At Màstra there is a family atmosphere and the food in our menu is not sophisticated but it's made to taste just authentic and amazing. The interiors are not luxurious, they look clean and bright and celebrate the art of artisan food making. At Màstra you won't find fancy servers but our welcoming staff making sure that you have a great experience. Everything at Màstra is designed so you can be nourished by the flavors, the warmth and atmosphere of Italy spending an unbeatable money for value price.”
 
UMLF: One of the menu options that immediately jumps out as a fan favorite in your reviews is your focaccia! What goes into making this must-try bread?
Jonathan: “Focaccia Genovese means a lot to me. It's an important piece of my life and heritage. The Focaccia itself (fugassa in Genovese) derives from the Latin word focus, which means baked in a fireplace. The Focaccia Genovese was born in the harbor city of Genova in the Middle Ages, and it remains remarkably popular today. Bakeries across the city still bake focaccia all night through the morning, and almost everyone buys a slice daily. In Genova, focaccia is not just food, it’s a secular ritual.

At the end of ‘500 in Genova, focaccia was so popular it was enjoyed with wine and other treats as part of wedding celebrations. Legend has it that since these celebrations occurred in church, focaccia eventually became a popular appetizer during funerals too. This tradition was quickly put to an end by the local Bishop Matteo Gambaro. He threatened to “excommunicate anyone, aristocrats or plebeians” as fugassa was deemed too joyous for such somber occasions.
 
This portable, delicious flatbread is the beloved food of travelers, workers, and students even today in our times. For Màstra It's a true privilege to exclusively offer this delightful bread and charming tradition to the community here in Utah.”
 
UMLF:  The quality of your ingredients seems incredibly important to you, what is your process for sourcing the items that go into your dishes?
Jonathan: “Since 2015, when I moved here, I began selecting as many local affordable quality raw materials as I could, to cook my family recipe for my relatives and friends. Still today I keep asking my friends who are part of the Italian community, if by chance they found any quality ingredient I can use in my kitchen. At Màstra we currently use over 20 ingredients imported from Italy, sourced from 6 different stores. We also use local flours and about 600/month organic basil plants locally grown, to make our fresh Pesto Sauce.”
 
UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced as an entrepreneur and how you overcame it?
Jonathan: “We first opened the restaurant doors in February 2021. Things started going great for us from the very beginning. Locals were super excited to finally have an authentic Italian restaurant in Utah County and so, pretty soon we began to be pretty popular and appreciated.
 
A few months later in the October of the same year, my family and I had to go to Rome, for a two-week trip to get our US work Visas at the US Embassy. Well at that time this specific US Embassy was really overloaded with work, due to a shortage of employees from Covid 19, and the enormous amount of refugee Visas they had to issue for the Afghanistan crisis. So, our two weeks trip became a nightmare where my family and I got stuck in Italy, without the option to come back to the US, far away from my young business, our house, school, and lives. During this time, Màstra employees strived so much to keep the service consistent and make the customers happy. And so, after six weeks we all agreed that it would be just impossible to offer a sufficient service with such a reduced staff and lack of management. So, I had to close my young bistro, let go all of my employees, suppliers, connections, customers... everything. Even worse was the fact that I didn't really know if I would ever be able to open the restaurant again.
 
In February 2022, after 4 months stuck in Italy, without ever hearing once from the Embassy, we finally got contacted about our Visas, and we were able to come back to the US and Utah. As we returned it took me a while to come back to check the restaurant. I was afraid to go see what was left there. After four days I took courage to go check. At this point I found this dusty, empty, quiet dining room. No customers were there, nor employees. No delicious smell nor laughs and cheers. Just desolation and ashes. Restarting again from the ground has been one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. At that point, it was almost impossible to find employees and to reconnect to my original network. I'm a pretty optimistic guy and I rarely cry. Nevertheless, I remember one night, driving back home, after I spent the whole day trying to train these unskilled new guys, I found myself lost in tears. That night for a minute I really thought that I couldn't make it again.
 
It's been a year since that chapter of my life. Today Màstra is stronger than ever, and business is doing amazing. Looking back, I feel humble and truly grateful for the support that I received from my family, employees, friends, customers, and local food bloggers that helped me to put back together all the pieces, one brick on top of another.”
 
UMLF: How do you feel like the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business?
Jonathan: “Utah Microloan has been precious for the rebirth of my business. After 3 months since I reopened, I realized that I needed some new and better equipment to speed up my production and improve efficiency without having super skilled staff available. I needed some funds to fill that gap caused by losing my previous trained employees. UMLF has been a great tool that helped me to relaunch my business, in a short time. Still remember TJ has been so helpful and patient helping me to fill up and submit all the forms and information required for the loan. I also remember the day of my final interview with Brandon. He made me feel he was believing in me as an entrepreneur and in my project. That gave me that extra confidence that I needed in that controversial time of my venture. I'm still really grateful for UMLF for trusting me, believing in my project, and giving me the opportunity to boost my operation taking my kitchen to the next step.”

To plan your visit to Mastras check out: 
Address: 476 N 900 W American Fork, UT 84003
Web: www.mastraorders.com
Facebook: Mastra Italian Bakery Bistro

On March 21st, 2023 Square Financial Services announced the recipients of the 22 Squared Grant Initiative, a microgrant program launched in partnership with the Community Foundation of Utah. For the second year in a row, the program awarded microgrants to Utah-based nonprofits that focus on at least one of Square Financial Services’ community development pillars: small business development, affordable housing, reentry support and entrepreneurship, and financial capability and wellness.
 
In addition to providing 19 grants of $2,200 to nonprofits across the state, Square Financial Services awarded grants of $5,000 to three organizations for exceptional and innovative community development work: 
 
Utah Microloan Fund (UMLF): The Utah Microloan Fund empowers underserved communities throughout Utah by providing microloans up to $50,000, as well as business advice, classes, and management support to entrepreneurs. Over half of UMLF’s clients are recognized as being low-to-moderate income, and nearly one-third identify as women or minorities.
 
UAACC Charitable Foundation: The Utah African American Chamber of Commerce (UAACC) Charitable Foundation is dedicated to developing young Black professionals, providing resources to small business owners, and growing wealth in Utah’s Black community through its wide breadth of programming.  Working with various organizations across Utah, the UAACC offers mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities to high school students and young professionals of color with the goal of increasing the pipeline of Black talent from 8th grade to the C-Suite. 
 
Circles Salt Lake: Circles Salt Lake is focused on breaking cycles of poverty and addressing the systemic barriers people in low-income communities regularly face. As a community-led initiative, Circles staff and volunteers collaborate to offer financial literacy education, mentoring, peer-to-peer counseling, and connections to basic but vital resources like transportation, healthcare, and job opportunities.
 
“We recognize the growing need for both funding and education for business owners in Utah, especially in underbanked populations,” said Doug Keefe, Executive Director of the Utah Microloan Fund. “Self-employment and microenterprise development offer a significant opportunity to provide income, and with this grant, we’ll be able to expand our grassroots outreach and offer resources to traditionally underserved communities across the state.” 
 
“Nonprofits throughout Utah have had a transformational impact and can help revitalize local communities,” said Lew Goodwin, CEO of Square Financial Services. “Many of last year’s grant recipients have provided programming, financial resources, and education to small businesses and entrepreneurs in minority, refugee, and low-to-moderate income populations. In partnership with the Community Foundation of Utah, we’ve expanded grant funds by nearly 30% this year to help even more nonprofits make strides in the critical community development work that ultimately leads to economic empowerment.”
 For a full list of winners, please visit: https://utahcf.org/community-impact/initiatives/293#2023-awardees

 
About Square
Square helps sellers more easily run and grow their businesses with its integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions. Square offers purpose-built software to run complex restaurant, retail, and professional services operations, versatile e-commerce tools, embedded financial services and banking products, buy now, pay later functionality through Afterpay, staff management and payroll capabilities, and much more – all of which work together to save sellers time and effort. Millions of sellers across the globe trust Square to power their business and help them thrive in the economy. Square is part of Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ), a global technology company with a focus on financial services. For more information, visit www.squareup.com.

Worthfull Media is the Utah Microloan Fund's March Business of the Month, and we can't wait for you to learn more about them! We digitally sat down with owner Christine Baird to learn all about Worthfull and what makes them worth every penny!

UMLF: Hi Christine! We’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month. Tell us about yourself.
Christine: "Hi and thank you! I am a media producer who loves podcasts, hosting, and design. After years in corporate sales, I did a career 180 and have been working in podcast production and media strategy since 2014. I worked on Lewis Howes’ brand, The School of Greatness, for four years, where I grew his top-ranked podcast from less than 1 million downloads to over 80 million. In 2018, I stepped away from producing that brand, moved to Salt Lake City from LA, and started Worthfull Media. Since then it has grown to support dozens of small businesses, personal brands, and larger endeavors in launching and growing their shows and impact."

UMLF:  For those who need the 411, tell us about Worthfull Media and what you do?
Christine: "We are a boutique media production house that serves seasoned coaches, consultants, speakers, and authors who want to podcast and YouTube. Our core values are worth and well-being. We LOVE what’s possible when experts share their wisdom through podcasting and YouTube. We think it’s one of the very best ways to connect our human race and share the knowledge we are learning together. Our core values come from nearly a decade of working closely with recognizable personal brands and seeing the power — and pitfalls — of making media in the digital age. We make shows that share your most enticing ideas, thus attracting your ideal audience, without sacrificing your well-being or self-worth. We call it worthfull media."

UMLF: What are some of your favorite productions that have taken place at the studio since you opened?
Christine: "I have loved having my longtime friend and now client Magalie René in studio twice in the past few months to film two seasons of her new YouTube show, The C Word. She's a brilliant compassion and confidence expert who facilitates trainings in the corporate environment, plus she has great style and personality, so it's been really fun to bring her wisdom to a YouTube show and give her the full support of a studio and team. We also recorded Season 3 of our own podcast, Think Like a Producer, with my co-host Tiff Tyler, and we brought in guests to be our case studies as we showcased how to put together great video episodes in studio."

"For me, I just want my clients to feel like they are in a safe space. It's really about giving people time and the effort of allowing them to be seen." We love the philosophy of Josh Lucero, veteran hair guru and owner of the newly-opened Lucero Hair and Wellness salon. Located at 1095 S State Street in downtown Salt Lake City, we would like to introduce you to our February Business of the Month. Keep reading to learn more!

UMLF: Hi Josh! We’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month. Tell us about yourself and why you started doing hair?
Joshua: "I'm honored got be here and to have this platform to share my experience. I have lived in Utah for 16 years and have truly called it my home for the last 5. I grew up in phoenix and have slowly transitioned to the cold and the environment. I have had a traumatic childhood that has helped shaped me into the man I am today. With that being said, I had hit my rock bottom in life and hair saved me from myself. I have been doing hair for 10 years, and have finally been able to open my own hair studio, Lucero Hair and Wellness."

UMLF: Lucero Hair and Wellness is an inclusive hair salon. Can you tell our readers more about what that means and the importance behind the decision?
Joshua: "Of course! The past ways to book your services was as a “Men’s Haircut” or a “Women’s Layered Haircut” or any different variation of that. We have decided to do time-based services instead. This allows us to remove the gendered aspect of haircutting, and focus on the individual and their hair. We have clients who identify as a women, who have faced gendered haircuts, and vice versa for men. We also have people who identify as non-binary who have struggled to find somewhere to feel safe and seen, and we have decided to create that space for them. We aren’t the first to do it this way, but we are the first to push inclusion and acceptance."

UMLF: Hi Tania! We’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month. Tell us about yourself.
Tania: "I'm originally from Chihuahua Mexico, I shared the same dream as many as those who came to this Country, to build a better life for me and my family, I have lived in Ogden Utah for more than half of my life, my favorite part of Utah is the mountains and the people, Ogdentines accepted me and opened their arms to me until they made feel that I'm one of them, so this is my place to stay, Ogden is now what I can call home."

UMLF:  Tell us about Los Churros del Norte and why you decided to start your business?
Tania: "Los Churros del Norte started as a business idea that with a lot of sacrifices and work it's now a reality. I'm a big fan of small business ownership, I think it's the backbone of American innovation. But to be successful you first have to have the courage to go for it. I'm an immigrant and Ogden is now my home. 
​
From a very young age I discovered that my mission in this life is to serve others, at the age of 12 I began my volunteer service and I continue to do so. Now I have a family to support and I had to find a way to generate money to continue helping others, now I not only help through the American Red Cross but also do my bit through my small business that one day will make a difference in our community, none of this could be possible without the support of my husband, my family and my community."

UMLF: What are some of the different kinds of desserts you make and which is your favorite ?  
Tania: "We make 'Authentic Mexican Churros from scratch and by hand with dipping sauces like homemade dulce de leche, chocolate or vanilla. Coconut mango rice pudding and sopaipillas topped with strawberries and bananas, whipped cream and chocolate, dulce de leche sauce. My favorite is the churros because nobody makes them from scratch and in every bite the flavors take me to Mexico where I'm from."​

UMLF:  Where can people find your delicious goodies?
Tania: "People can find me in different events around Weber and Davis county, we often post where we will be on our Facebook and Instagram."

UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced as an entrepreneur and how you overcame it?
Tania: "The challenge that I faced as a small business owner was to start, it was hard to start and know that all can go wrong, but I consider myself a risk taker and I had to do it, I worked hard and I kept trying. It can be scary to start a business on your own, but I found great leadership and guidance from ULMF. I'm very grateful for them."  

To stay in touch with Los Churros follow them at: 

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Los-Churros-del-Norte
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/loschurrosdelnte
• TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@loschurrosdelnorte

​

Small business owners have a lot on their plate. Between managing employees, dealing with finances, and trying to grow their business, it can be tough to find the time or resources to pursue new opportunities. That's where microloans come in! Here are five reasons why small business owners should consider a microloan:

• Flexibility: Microloans are typically smaller than traditional business loans, which means that they can be used for a variety of purposes. Whether you need to purchase new equipment, hire additional employees, or just need some extra cash flow to get through a tough period, a microloan can provide the flexibility you need.

 

• Speed: Because microloans are smaller and less complex than traditional loans, they can often be approved and disbursed much more quickly. This can be especially helpful for small business owners who need funding fast to take advantage of a new opportunity or to address a pressing need. 

 

• Lower barriers to entry: Many traditional lenders have strict requirements for loan approval, including collateral and credit score minimums. Microlenders, on the other hand, are often more willing to take a chance on small business owners who might not qualify for a traditional loan. To date, we have funder hundreds of Utah entrepreneurs across the state. 

 

• Personalized support: Many microlenders offer additional support to their borrowers, including business counseling and training. This can be especially helpful for small business owners who are just starting out and may not have a lot of experience with business finances. The Utah Microloan Fund offers both one on one advising as well as free classes open to the community on how to build and sustain a successful business. 

 

• Community impact: By choosing a microlender, small business owners can have a direct impact on their local community. Microlenders often prioritize lending to businesses in underserved areas, and the funds they provide can help to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in these areas. Our organization strives to fund those who have been overlooked by traditional funders.

Overall, microloans can be a great option for small business owners looking for flexibility, speed, and personalized support. If you're a small business owner considering your financing options, it's worth considering a microloan as a way to get the support you need to grow your business. If you are interested in pursuing a microloan please call (801) 746-1180 or visit our website at www.umlf.org. 

The Utah Microloan Fund's Building Your Business series is a valuable resource for both brand new startups and business owners looking to grow their companies. The series, which is held virtually on a rotating schedule, consists of four classes: Proof of Concept, Pricing Strategy, Mastering Your Cashflow Projections, and Writing an Effective Business Plan. These classes are free and all are welcome to attend. 

• The Proof of Concept class is especially useful for brand new startups, as it helps entrepreneurs determine if their business idea is viable. This class covers market research and analysis, as well as how to test and validate a business concept.
  
  
• The Pricing Strategy class is crucial for business owners of all levels, as it teaches attendees how to set prices that are both competitive and profitable. This class covers pricing models, cost analysis, and pricing strategies.

• The Writing an Effective Business Plan class is essential for anyone looking to start a new business or make sure theirs is on track, as it teaches attendees how to create a comprehensive and convincing plan for their company. This class covers topics such as market analysis, financial projections, and marketing strategies.

• Finally, Mastering Your Cashflow Projections is an important class for business owners looking to grow their companies, as it teaches attendees how to forecast and manage their financial resources. This class covers how to create accurate cashflow projections, as well as how to use those projections to make informed business decisions.

Overall, the Building Your Business series is a valuable resource for business owners of all levels. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your existing business, these classes provide the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the competitive world of entrepreneurship. Also by attending and learning about topics such as market research, pricing strategy, and financial projections, business owners can demonstrate to potential lenders that they have a strong understanding of their industry and the financial management skills needed to successfully grow their business. If you are considering applying for a microloan, this is a great place to start!

About the UMLF: 
The Utah Microloan Fund has helped make business owners' dreams a reality since 1991 by providing business training, mentoring, and microloans up to $50k to Utah small business owners. We help people who:

• Are just starting out and don’t have an operating history
• Don’t have enough collateral or cash flow for a traditional bank loan 
• Have had life events that have had a negative impact on their credit history
• Have ITIN status and need access to funding
• Need access to economical business training and mentoring

To learn more visit: www.umlf.org or give us a call at 801-746-1180

Is there any better feeling on Earth than warming up your cold hands? Our December Business of the Month doesn't think so! Keep reading to learn more about Toasty Touch and why they should be #1 on your gift lift this year. 🎄

UMLF: Hey guys! We’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month. Can you introduce yourselves to our readers? 
“We're Nico and Natalie Dicou, co-founders of Toasty Touch and inventors of the world's thinnest heated gloves. We're a married queer couple. We work best when we're together, so you'll always find us strategizing and putting our brains together to solve a business dilemma. It's fun being in business with your best friend.”
 
UMLF: Tell us about Toasty Touch and why you decided to start this business? 
“We started Toasty Touch because we saw that this product was not on the market and we decided that we could bring it to life. In Fall 2020, Natalie got diagnosed with Raynaud's, a circulation condition where your hands become icy cold and white in mildly cold temperatures. She tried every heated glove on the market, but they were all too bulky or too thick. You couldn't do the things you wanted to while wearing them. The bulky heated gloves made your hands warm, but you couldn't even pick up a phone call while wearing them. Natalie became obsessed with the idea of making battery powered heated gloves that were thin enough to let you type with or make a phone call while wearing them. Here's a blog she wrote about it: https://toastytouch.com/blogs/coldhandsblog/imafrostyblog​

UMLF: We’re sure there was a lot of trial and error with bringing your gloves to life. Can you tell us about your creation process? 
“Creating these gloves took patience and effort, for sure. We had so many prototypes and designs and feedback sessions with our manufacturing team. We really wanted the fabric on the gloves to feel luxurious and comfortable, not too tight or rigid. We added touch screen pads to the fingers so you could use them with your phone or typing, and also made it so they are comfortable enough to wear for an extended period of time. They have three heat settings, and the rechargeable batteries fit into a small zipper pouch under the wrist. Right now we carry the gloves in the color black, but gray and navy blue will be hitting our store in a few weeks!”

UMLF:  Your gloves can obviously benefit so many people for different reasons! Have there been any surprising ways people have utilized your gloves that you didn’t expect?
“We love hearing from customers on how they're using our gloves. While these were developed primarily for indoor use because of their lightweight nature, people from all walks of life have been using them. We've learned that crossing guards, photographers and mail carriers are big fans of Toasty Touch heated gloves. Anyone with cold hands can benefit from warm, soothing heat applied consistently all the way to your fingertips. Our reviews (https://toastytouch.com/pages/reviews) describe our product as "game-changing" and "life-altering". Our customers' reviews literally bring tears to our eyes when we read them because we know how much they are helping people. It's really wonderful to be a part of.” 
  
UMLF: Entrepreneurship has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it? 
“We started this business almost a year ago in February. We picked a date to launch and announced it on our social media platforms. The day came, and we had tons of interest on our site and traffic coming from all over. We set the stock levels and launched the store. No sales. But there were tons of people on the site! What could be going on? Nico realized that on our product page, during a website theme update, the "add to cart" button had been accidently deleted and was not displaying. So there was no way for customers to check out! It was beyond frustrating to realize!

After designing and implementing our whole store and launching the site, Nico had forgotten to double check the add to cart button was live! In that moment, Natalie gave a good pep talk to Nico, she refocused and added it back to the store with a little on the fly coding. We were able to get back on our feet and have an exciting first sales day of our ultra-thin heated gloves. It totally was unexpected and just something we had to work through together
It just goes to show that even when you plan for everything, things you already thought were covered pop up and say "Pay attention to me!" As an entrepreneur it's up to you. You have to  handle these moments with grace and patience, and it will most likely make you laugh looking back at it!”

UMLF: How has the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business? 
“The UMLF helped our company Toasty Touch immensely by providing a loan to our business when we were needing to ramp up our Google ad spend and order more inventory.  It could not have come at a better time because it set us up for success and our biggest sales months ever. Thank you to the UMLF team for believing in us and helping us get our ultra-thin heated gloves out into the world!”

To stay in touch with Toast Touch visit: 
www.facebook.com/toasty.touch 
www.instagram.com/toasty.touch 
https://toastytouch.com ​

UMLF: Hey Will! We're excited to interview you as our Business of the Month for Xtreme Foamworx. Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
"I am Will Laird; I grew up on a large cattle ranch outside Evanston, Wyoming, where I acquired many skills I use in my business today. Grit, hard work, and determination that I can do anything are some of those skills I use. I have lived in the St George area for five years. My wife and I have come to enjoy the St George area and the people we know in this area. I am the father to 2 amazing boys who are in sports and school. I volunteer as a football coach on my son's team and enjoy fishing and hunting when I get the time to do so."
 
UMLF: Tell us about Xtreme Foamworks and why you decided to start it. 
Will: "Xtreme Foamworx is a custom foam fabrication business. We take large billets of foam and make almost anything a person can think of out of that foam to serve its purpose. I have been in this industry for 10+ years now and have made a point to be the one to make the "impossible" possible. We started the business because we desired to take more control of our financial future and to serve the area with a local shop to handle the needs of our growing city. When I moved down to St George, I left a similar business up in Utah county and had many business friends who wanted us to start a foam company. So we started up Xtreme Foamworx LLC. We started with a 5000 sq ft shop in Evanston, Wyoming and a portion of the shop in St George. We made many weekly trips up and back to the Wasatch Front to get materials and deliver goods. After a year and a half, we could start completing truckload orders and making fewer trips with more work. In 2019 we hired our first employees in the St George area, and things took off."
 
UMLF: For someone who isn't familiar with foam fabrication, what are some of the things people can order from you?
Will: "At Xtreme Foamworx, we make custom stuff. We have helped make prototypes to large runs of architectural shapes for the stucco to packaging components for all types of products. We have become known for our large sculptures. We serve anyone from a single person to large-scale businesses."
 
UMLF: You get to work on so many cool things. Do you have a favorite project you can tell us about?
Will: "Some of my favorite projects we have worked on have been the big ones! The 1st large project we took on was the Evermore Park pumpkins. This project tested our new business in 2018 to produce 26 pumpkins that would range in height from 6ft tall to 24' tall. We had five weeks to create these and made it on schedule. Another project was a much more recent one, and that was working with Tuacahn Theatre on their sets for the 2022 summer shows. We made large props and set pieces that they designed. We made the parts with different foam densities and hard coats, and then they did the magic of scenic painting for a fantastic set. One last one was from 2021. Paparazzi reached out to us,and we had to excellent opportunity to make some amazing sculptures for their event in Las Vegas. We made ten balloon animal sculptures that were 6 ft tall to 10 ft tall and some signs and large letters. Lots of creativity, time, and hard work went into each project. I don't always know the exact method. I will build some of the projects that come, but we always find a way. What makes these projects my favorite is the creative aspects we had to approach these with to make them."
 
UMLF: What would your dream project be? 
Will: When we get creative projects, we always enjoy them and their challenges. The dream project is creative, complex, and fully funded. I would love to make the dream set sculpture or feature for someone with the budget to do it and the timeframe to make it fit their dreams. 
  
UMLF: Entrepreneurship has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced a small business owner and how you overcame it? 
Will: "One of our toughest challenges was getting our funding into place once we established business. We were initially funded by a family friend who gave us a three-year loan to build machines and get up and going. Once we had the machines built and business was moving forward, we realized we needed to grow to be more successful. In the last two years, we have struggled with establishing credit limits with our vendors as we didn't have a company credit card until last year. We had to pay for all materials upfront, and most customers would pay COD or net 15. As we have grown our customer base to larger companies, they will extend us to a net 30-45. I had to be the squeaky wheel and push to meet with the right people to get our credit line with our leading supplier. This was a six-month struggle, with me persisting with my sales rep, his supervisor, and the company's vice president to arrange a meeting to get set up. Once I accomplished the line of credit has helped us grow and maintain a much better cash flow."
 
UMLF: How has the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business?
Will: "Utah Microloan Fund was vital in helping us gain the working capital we needed to grow our workforce to handle our increased workload. The process with UMLF was straightforward. We had a guiding hand through the process; if any questions arose, we had someone to reach out to and help. We have been highly grateful for the willingness of UMLF to help small businesses that banks want to turn away before they know the business. I have recommended the UMLF to many entrepreneur friends in the state to get their businesses to the next step."

To check out more from Xtreme Foamworx visit: 
Website: www.xtfoam.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Xtfoam
Instagram: www.instagram.com/xtreme_foamworx

UMLF: Hey guys! We’re excited to interview you as our Business of the Month. Can you introduce yourselves to our readers?

• Wild Mesa: Hi there! Our names are Kelsey and Marley. We own and operate Wild Mesa, a mountain biking guiding company in the Zion area.

UMLF: Tell us about Wild Mesa and why you decided to start your own biking venture?  

• Wild Mesa: Both of us have experienced a much deeper connection with ourselves and our environment through mountain biking. It completely transforms how you interact with the outdoors, it takes you to magically beautiful places, and it shows you how strong you are. We wanted to share this, and encourage more people to go outside, get on a bike, and connect with the natural land, and what better place to do that than Zion?

UMLF: For someone who hasn’t been to the Zion area, what can they expect? Are there better times of year to go?

• Wild Mesa: The greater Zion area is truly a special place, and not just for the world-class mountain biking! The landscape is so unique and offers a variety of fun activities. If you have never been, it should absolutely be on your list of places to visit. Mountain biking is a popular year-round activity here, with Fall, Winter and Spring offering the best conditions for riding. Even during the hot summer months, we can escape to higher elevation and bike on trails with much cooler temperatures and shade from trees. Since Zion is one of the busiest National Parks, and quickly gaining popularity, we recommend visiting the area in the Fall and Winter when there are fewer crowds.

 
UMLF: Are these tours better for beginners or all skill levels? 

• Wild Mesa: Our guided tours and courses accommodate all experience levels, from beginners to experienced riders. There is no shortage of mountain bike trails in the greater Zion area, the variety of terrain allows us to customize each tour to fit the skill and experience level of every rider. We also offer a few different courses, all of which are tailored to the client. Our courses are aimed at helping brand new riders build confidence on the bike, shaping fundamental skills, and learning to ride and navigate more technical terrain like slickrock. 

 
UMLF:  In an outdoor state such as ours there are lots of different companies to choose from when booking a tour. Why is Wild Mesa a cut above the rest?

• Wild Mesa: We are lucky to be surrounded by a community of guides and other guiding companies who we have learned from and worked with. The guiding community in the Zion area has such a strong, positive presence, which does mean more competition. Wild Mesa stands out as a one of few female-owned and operated guiding services in the state of Utah, and we are proud to provide a service that is inclusive and accessible to all abilities and experience levels. We offer an experience that is customized to each individual or group, and is more affordable than our competitors. The cost of a guided tour with Wild Mesa includes all equipment, day-of transportation, and an expert guide at a lower cost than what our competitors charge.

 
UMLF: Entrepreneurship has its highs and lows. Can you tell us about a challenge you faced a small business owner and how you overcame it?

• Wild Mesa: One of the challenges we faced was with our booking tool. As a guiding company, we have unique scheduling needs that most booking systems are unable to fully support. We chose a system that ended up causing pain points on the front and back end when booking. The client experience when booking was poor, which we feared would drive customers away. We implemented a temporary solution by advertising a discount to clients who called to book so we could make their reservation manually. After further research and more careful consideration of our tools needs, we found a booking service that delivers on our needs as a guiding company. We were able to customize, test, and practice using the booking system before integrating it onto our website , which we had not done before. This experience taught us how to more effectively communicate our unique business needs, and how important it is to have a back-up plan you can easily execute so you can continue doing business even if one of your major systems or processes fails.

 
UMLF: How has the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business? 

• Wild Mesa: As cheesy as it may sound, the Utah Microloan Fund transformed our dream into a reality. From our very first interaction upon reaching out to UMLF, we have received enthusiastic support from everyone we have worked with. The support provided throughout the application process helped us gain a deeper and necessary understanding of our business plan and objectives, projected financials, and ultimately prepared us for a successful launch of our business. The Utah Microloan Fund recognized our potential, and in doing so gave us the ability to purchase the equipment necessary to starting and operating our business. We started Wild Mesa with the goal of sharing our passion for mountain biking and outdoor enrichment with others, and UMLF made that possible. The ongoing support and education provided by UMLF has also been hugely helpful as we learn and adapt as a new business!

UMLF: Aw thanks guys! To stay in touch with Wild Mesa or to book a tour please visit: 

• Website
• Tiktok
• Instagram