between SLC and Cancun

Delta Air Lines will begin nonstop service between Salt Lake City and Cancun on a daily basis beginning June 1.

The airline has had weekend flights between the two cities, but is now adding weekday service. Flights will depart Salt Lake City International Airport at 10 a.m., arriving in Cancun at 3:45 p.m. A 3:20 p.m. flight out of Cancun will arrive in Salt Lake City at 6:43 p.m.

Delta's Latin America director James Sarvis said the new schedule will accommodate heavy summer travel.

- Glen Warchol

Utah groups get fed funds

The U.S. Department of Commerce has invested $102,000 in Utah to boost economic development.

The agency's Economic Development Administration divided the money between the Six County Economic Development District of Richfield and the Five County Association of Governments in St. George. Each organization has been allotted $51,000 to aid their economic development planning programs.

"These EDA investments will help attract new business opportunities and create higher-skill, higher-wage jobs for local citizens," said Assistant Secretary for Economic Development David Sampson.

The EDA serves as a venture capital resource for financially distressed communities throughout the nation. For more information on EDA programs, visit http://www.eda.gov.

- Rosemary Winters

Earth Day award nominees

Four companies and one organization have been nominated for the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining's 2005 Earth Day awards.

ConocoPhillips has been nominated twice for work that goes beyond regulatory requirements to protect the environment while developing the state's natural resources. The other nominees are Bill Barrett Corp., Energy West Mining Co., Questar Exploration and Trout Unlimited.

All five will make presentations on their projects Wednesday to the division's policy-making board. Awards will be presented in April. Board chairman Jim Peacock said the finalists were chosen from among 15 nominated projects.

- Mike Gorrell