William Briggs, deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (left) and Chad Riches, president of Beacon Commercial Door and Lock (right) talk during a tour of Beacon’s factory in South Salt Lake on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)
Manufacturing in Utah is “really taking off,” according to the deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, who was in Salt Lake City this week meeting with stakeholders and small business owners to tout some of the impacts now being felt by the “big, beautiful bill.”
According to William Briggs, who was confirmed to be the second-in-command of the administration in July, the most common loan application coming from the Beehive State is for manufacturing — in most states or cities, the most popular loans are for hospitality or accommodations, helping restaurant or hotel businesses…