This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

As a long-time journalist and political consultant, LaVarr Webb is a big believer in keeping abreast of current events. For the last four years, he has published a political e-newsletter and Web site called utahpolicy.com that has become popular voice in the political community. It is a one-stop source for all political news and information of the day.

As a result of the success utahpolicy.com has experienced, many business leaders began encouraging LaVarr to publish a similar newsletter and Web site for the business community that would become a Utah business portal on the Internet. With the help of two friends and in partnership with Zion Bank, LaVarr launched UtahPulse.com.

UtahPulse.com publishes a newsletter called the Daily Pulse that collects all the business news and information of the day from newspapers, magazines, Web sites, blogs, chambers of commerce, business associations and government agencies dealing with business. It also provides resource material for small business development, entrepreneurship, financing, marketing, human resources and customer service, among other topics.

The Web site officially launched the first week in June. LaVarr tells me news and information as well as daily newsletters are some of the most read items. However, the Utah Business Dashboard, with key indicators and economic and business data, is also receives a high volume of traffic.

LaVarr is in the process of adding a Business Marketplace, which would allow businesses to register their products and services online and request quotes from multiple service providers. He hopes the site will be a destination for finding all the resources someone needs to build their business from Web development to legal and accounting services.

What distinguishes UtahPulse.com is that instead of simply providing news, information and business services, the site welcomes all businesses and organizations as partners.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

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