There are 16 municipalities in Salt Lake County, and the county hopes to work closely with each of them, Carpenter said. The Up Grade program was not designed to compete with them or poach from them.

"We don't see ourselves as competing at all," he said. "Rather, we're there as an additional resource to help any business in Salt Lake County."

Corroon knows first-hand that starting a small business is no easy task. Sveral years ago, before he was mayor, he started a real-estate company, Redgate Properties. He said finding information then about opening a new businesses was confusing because government resources for small-business owners were scattered.

"There was no central place to look," he said.

While Corroon emphasized the importance of small local businesses, he also emphasized that the new county program is not about favoring one type of business over another.

"The key is to have a level playing field for all businesses," he said. "What we give to national businesses, we need to give to local businesses, as well."

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Contributing: Dustin Gardiner.

E-mail: jnii@desnews.com