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Provo is now one of the most connected cities, Google says

Google Fiber, the service-provider arm of the internet search company, says Provo is now one of the country's most connected cities.

Ninety percent of Provo households are connected to the internet. Since 2015, the "digital divide," or number of households without internet access, has been reduced by 50 percent, the company said Thursday in a "community impact report."

Google Fiber bought the Provo's high-speed fiber-optic network in 2013. At the time, it was only the third U.S. city where the internet giant built or bought a fiber system to deliver high-speed internet.

Now, Google Fiber is building a fiber network in Salt Lake City to provide web access and optional television and phone services. Part of the network is already operating in the city center.

The company also said it is providing free service to 25 public buildings, such as libraries and schools, plus 147 families in low-income housing. In addition, it is supporting digital literacy and science, technology and math education programs in schools.

Alliance: Utah could add jobs with Trump's pro-development policies

The Western Energy Alliance contends Utah could add 1,027 jobs to its economy if pro-development policies of the Trump Administration increase oil and gas production by 25 percent. That would boost oil-and-gas jobs to more than 13,600 and nearly 200,000 nationwide.

The alliance, a nonprofit trade association representing more than 300 companies involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production in the West, urged the U.S. Senate to repeal the Bureau of Land Management's rule on venting and flaring and said it is seeking "regulatory certainty that balances environmental protection."

Kris Rudarmel second runner-up in restoration industry contest

South Jordan businesswoman Kris Rudarmel, co-owner of a family business called Anchor Water Damage and Restoration, was second runner-up recently in a contest honoring women in the restoration industry.

She and her husband, Frank, run the business, which has received seven awards from Remediation and Restoration magazine in the last eight years.

"Women bring a new way of doing things to the table," Rudarmel said, "a sort of quiet strength and the ability to help build others up and bring out the best in everyone around them."

Emser Tile expands with new, larger branch in S. Salt Lake

Emser Tile, a Los Angeles-based designer, marketer and producer of tile, has expanded its operations in Utah with a new, larger branch at 3140 S. 300 West in South Salt Lake.

"Growth in the Salt Lake City areas has allowed Emser to expand with new tools for our customers and partners," said Barbara Haaksma, the company's vice president of marketing, referring to Emser's move into a 22,000-square-foot structure, nearly three times the size of its predecessor.

A 50-year-old company, Emser Tile also has three offices in Florida and one each in Ohio, New Jersey and Michigan.

Utah software company Complete XRM acquires Fanatic Software

Complete XRM, Inc., a Utah software company focused on helping people and businesses be better organized and more productive, has acquired Fanatic Software of Cedar Park, Texas.

Fanatic Software sells Pocket Informant, a calendar task app. Complete XRM offers PlanPlus Online for task and time management.

"We're excited to bring these two businesses with common purpose under one roof so that customers of both can benefit from the complementary capabilities that will be coming to each of their product brands," Keith Norris, CEO of Complete XRM, said in a news release.

Terms were not disclosed.

Utah business people on the move

NUVI, a social media and enterprise data analytics developer in Draper, has hired Derek Bryce as president of sales and marketing. He comes to the Lehi company from Adobe.