Information provided in these news updates is from professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Region

• Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. All told, there were 1,843 unique job postings in northern Idaho in February 2023, according to data from The Conference Board, with 1,547 posted in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupation by far was registered nurses, followed by a variety of high-turnover and common service sector positions.

Top 10 occupations by job postings in northern Idaho, February 2023

Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast (formerly EMSI-Burning Glass)

Bonner County

• Bonner General Hospital will end its labor and delivery services in the coming months, citing physician turnover and staffing shortages as reason. In 2022, 265 babies were delivered at Bonner General. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Kootenai County

• The Coeur d’Alene City Council is annexing a 440-acre parcel of county land, which will be zoned residential and commercial and developed as Coeur Terre. The development, which will be built out over multiple decades, is expected to eventually include 2,800 housing units, retail and restaurant areas, 18 acres of parks, and land for two public schools. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
• Several new health care facilities are under construction in Hayden. A two-story building for the future Hayden Surgery Center is now in progress, and Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine is building a new location in Hayden as well. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings

• Medical Massage, Coeur d’Alene
• Fit Body Boot Camp, Coeur d’Alene
• Northwest Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine, Athol
• Quality Stoves and Spas, Post Falls
• Toys R Us, Coeur d’Alene

Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 457-8789 ext. 4451

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO – Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties

Region

• The Nez Perce tribe was one of four Idaho recipients of the FY 2023 HUD Indian Housing Block Grant. The award was for $1.56 million and can be used to support affordable housing activities in tribal communities. This includes housing development, operation, modernization and housing services to eligible households. Source: HUD
• All north central school levies passed in the March ballot. This includes Lewiston, Genesee, Potlatch, Kendrick and Highland school districts. Source: The Lewiston Tribune

Nez Perce

• HME Construction completed sediment dredging at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers at the end of February to restore the navigation channel to a minimum depth of 14 feet. Dredging has historically been completed every seven to nine years (1999, 2006, 2015, 2023). Source: The Lewiston Tribune, Port of Lewiston
• Lewiston Center Mall will be auctioned April 17-19. It has been for sale since 2020. The 203,000-square-foot complex was built in1965, remodeled in 2018 and is currently at 46% occupancy. Source: The Lewiston Tribune
• Knife River’s $24.8 million bid was selected to build an interchange and overpass at the east entrance of the Clearwater River Casino. Construction could begin soon and is expected to be completed by 2025. Source: The Lewiston Tribune

Idaho County

• The Moose Creek Ranger District has approved the Green Horse Project outside of Elk City to proceed as an effort to reduce fire hazard and improve forest health. This section of forest is suffering from damage caused by the western hemlock looper and is at risk of high-intensity forest fire. The project will begin this summer . It will include 12 years of logging dead or dying trees, replanting with local native species that are less susceptible to disease infection, and landscape/maintenance burning. Approximately 23 million board feet of timber are expected to be produced as a result and will sustain 510 regional jobs. Source: The Lewiston Tribune, U.S. Forest Service
• Prairie Mountain Nutrition in Cottonwood and Craig Mountain Senior Citizens in Winchester were each awarded $10,000 in Leading Idaho grant funds to upgrade meal sites and equipment. Source: Idaho County Free Press
• Kenaston Corporation will be the construction manager for the new sheriff’s office and jail designed by CRA Architects. Kenaston is currently overseeing the upcoming construction of the new Nez Perce County Courthouse and new Asotin County Jail. Source: Idaho County Free Press, The Lewiston Tribune

Latah County

• Schweitzer Engineering Labs has started production of its new printed circuit board manufacturing facility in Moscow. The manufacturing process is highly automated, and the facility will employ around 60 people including engineers, equipment operators and maintenance workers. Source: Schweitzer Engineering Lab
• Palouse Animal Wellness and Surgery Center in Moscow was recently named the Idaho Small Business of the Month by Sen. Jim Risch. Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News
• The University of Idaho was awarded an Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, or IGEM grant, for $348,000 to develop a database with Aigen Inc. that will synchronize with a solar powered autonomous vehicle. The project will benefit Idaho’s sugar beet industry and other agricultural crops. Source: The Lewiston Tribune
• Deary experienced a main transmission water line break March 15, and a boil water order was issued. Source: Latah County Sheriff’s Office
• The Oxford House in Moscow, a men’s sober living home, suffered significant fire damage on March 19. The home originally opened in July 2022 with capacity for seven residents. Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Clearwater County

• Timberline Elementary completed construction of four new classrooms and began using them in early March. Source: Timberline Schools

Openings

• The Storm Cellar, a gently used clothing store, opened in Lewiston. Source: The Lewiston Tribune
• Retro on Main, a vintage fashion store, opened in Lewiston. Source: Retro on Main
• Happy Tails Resort is now offering dog and cat boarding in Grangeville. Source: Idaho County Free Press
• Walls Plumbing opened in Kamiah. Source: Idaho County Free Press
• Prairie Rental in Grangeville is reopening in early April following a remodel and is under new ownership. Source: Idaho County Free Press
• Canyon Country Line Dancing has opened in Riggins. Source: Idaho County Free Press
• Main Street Auto Body has opened outside Grangeville and is currently constructing a new shop in Fenn. Source: Idaho County Free Press

Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 457-8789 ext. 4451

SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO – Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley & Washington counties

Regional

• Southwestern Idaho’s online job postings for February 2023 have declined by 39% compared with February 2022, while the month-over-month decline was 1.7%. This aligns with the state for year-over-year declines, yet the monthly decline statewide dropped by almost 14%. There is substantial volatility in job postings in the surrounding cities, particularly those tied to the agricultural economy.

Monthly 2022 job postings by southwestern Idaho city

Ada County

• Kuna School District’s bond request of $111 million failed to get the super majority vote from its patrons — garnering 58.5% support. The school board wants to evaluate why the bond failed before presenting another request for funding. Source: Idaho Education News
• Truckstop, a digital company that matches truck drivers up with loads, announced it is revamping its organizational structure. Based on its website, the company employed 550 workers in 2020, and had its headquarters in Boise. The company started in New Plymouth, Idaho, in 1995. It is unclear whether there will be layoffs in the Treasure Valley. Source: Idaho Statesman
• St. Alphonsus Hospital opened its first neuro, surgical, trauma intensive care unit. The unit added 35 beds to its ICU, expanding its total to 77 beds. The new ICU will be open 24/7 with a surgeon in house, and the hospital plans to attract new doctors with substantial experience. The new rooms will allow for diagnostic tools to save time and streamline the process of diagnosing an extremely sick patient. Source: Idaho Press
• The College of Western Idaho is on board to build a campus near downtown Boise even though its $180 million bond issue failed in 2016. CWI owns the former site of Bob Rice Ford auto dealership, which was purchased in 2015 for $8.8 million. CWI plans to consolidate its five leased sites across the Treasure Valley, with the cost of the new buildings financed through investor-supported certificates of participation. The Boise campus will focus on business, IT and cyber security while the Nampa campus will support health care, horticulture and agriculture. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2023 starting with design, permits and bids. Classes are scheduled for the new campus in fall 2025. Source: Idaho Statesman

Canyon County

• The Nampa School District bond request of $210.2 million failed with only 40% of its patrons voting in favor. The bond would have financed replacing a high school, an elementary school and add a career technical center, along with other upgrades and athletic facility needs. Source: Idaho Education News
• Nampa Gateway Center is undergoing much of the structural change that malls are experiencing across the nation. It has 65 acres and lost its original national retailers such as Macy’s, an anchor tenant, whose space went to House of Design Robotics, an engineering and design firm that creates robotics for the construction industry. Gardner Company of Salt Lake City purchased the mall and plans to create more small retail and housing, including 77 townhouses and 168 apartments. Chipotle Mexican Grill signed a lease to build on a pad. Source: Idaho Statesman
• The city of Nampa purchased Centennial and Ridgecrest golf courses after 40 years of leasing the ground. The city explored the possibility of owning the courses outright 17 years ago. The funding for the $5.7 million purchase will come from the golf fund and the general fund, both held in reserve. Source: Idaho Statesman
• The Caldwell Airport experienced 147,000 takeoffs and landings in 2022 — growth that has been termed explosive. Such growth necessitates adding a control tower, extending runways, and designating space towards more hangars while adding a wash rack. The Federal Aviation Administration will cover the runway expansion and other airport improvements. However, the control tower construction is the responsibility of the city, which is seeking grant money. Source: KTVB News
• The Idaho Department of Transportation said contractors will start resurfacing an I-84 bridge that runs over the Boise River and its two Caldwell ramps. The work area will have nighttime lane restrictions, speed reductions, a nightly detour and tight maneuvering through the work zone. It will extend the life of the bridge surface and is expected to be finished by early summer. Source: Idaho Business Review

Gem County

• Emmett patrons voted down a two-year $3 million supplemental levy with record-low voter participation. The levy needed 50% voter approval but yielded only 43% approval. This will be the first time since 2009 the school district will not have any financial support from a local tax district. The money would have paid to re-roof two schools and to fund personnel who had been previously funded by a levy passed in 2021 that expires this June. Source: Idaho Press
• Idaho Power is replacing a 75-year-old transmission line with a modernized version that reduces risk of wildfires by using steel structures rather than wood and adding shield wires to protect the line from lightening. Growth in both northern Ada County and Gem County — along with the age of the line — led to the decision. The cost is estimated at $17 million, and the line will stretch 35 miles from north of the Boise River to Emmett’s downtown. Construction will begin in the fall of 2023 with completion estimated by the end of 2025. Source: Idaho Statesman

Valley County

• High-speed fiber lines are planned to link Valley County and Meadows Valley with internet infrastructure in the Treasure Valley. Funding for the $80 million project that will link 198 miles is from two sources — $20 million from Idaho Broadband Fund and $60 million in private investment from Idaho Regional Optical Network and the Intermountain Infrastructure Group. The contracts have not yet been approved and are pending for residents in the cities of McCall, Cascade, Donnelly and New Meadows to take speed tests. The speed tests will validate the requirement of underserved areas. Source: McCall Star-News

Ground Breakings

• The city of Eagle and its Chamber of Commerce hosted a groundbreaking for Coa Del Mar, a fine-dining restaurant that will employ about 250 staff when it opens in December. This will be the owner’s third restaurant in the area. Others include Barbacoa and Coa De Jima, both in Boise. Source: Idaho Statesman

Openings

• Primary Health Medical Group held a ribbon cutting at its newly constructed clinic in Eagle. The building has 11 exam rooms, an X-ray suite, a trauma room, and a lab and procedure room. The services include walk-in urgent care and work injury care. By appointment, sports medicine and family medicine services are accessible. Source: Idaho Statesman
• BoDo Cinema opened above The Warehouse in the BoDo district of downtown Boise. It is operated by Cinema West, which also owns the Cinema at the Village in Meridian. The new venue has nine screens, some with Dolby sound. All screens have laser projection, electric recliners and offer beer, wine and food during designated showtimes. Source: Idaho Statesman 
• Eyemart Express opened its first retail store in Meridian, employing a dozen staff. The company has five other stores throughout Idaho. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Treasure Valley Dermatology opened a new clinic in Meridian, joining three other locations in the Treasure Valley. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Arizona Tile completed construction of its 45,000-square-foot showroom, customer service and warehouse facility within Meridian’s Adler Industrial Park. The business plans to hire 15 staff initially. Source: Idaho Business Review

New restaurants

• Stardust opened in the former Asiago’s in downtown Boise. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Alchemist Plant Pub opened in downtown Boise, offering vegan or plant-based food options. It will evolve daily from a coffee shop in the morning to lunch to a full dinner menu in the evenings. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Frondescence, offering vegan options, is open for lunch and dinner serving food until 3 a.m. on weekends in downtown Boise. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Nara Ramen opened its second Boise location at Bown Crossing in the former Locovore space. It offers sushi and more appetizers than its original venue in northwest Boise. Source: Idaho Statesman

Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 735-2500 ext. 3639

SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO – Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka & Twin Falls counties

Blaine County

• St. Luke’s Health System has awarded $10,000 to Men’s Second Chance Living to support its efforts to provide affordable sober housing and support services for men recovering from addiction. The grant funds will help support services like access to medical/dental/vision care, financial education classes, and funding for higher education and vocational training. Source: Idaho Mountain Express

Cassia County

• Cassia County invested $7 million to purchase the local Masonic Lodge in Burley as a site for an additional county building. Source: MV Times
• ProStar Robotics is in the process of building a new facility behind its existing dairy. When it’s finished, the facility will be able to house several hundred cows in a climate-controlled environment year-round. Source: KMVT
• Suntado LLC, a manufacturer of alternative beverages and shelf-stable milk products, is constructing a 190,000-square-foot plant in Burley, and is expected to open in the spring of 2024. During the plant’s first phase, it will hire 95-100 employees and be able to process 800,000 to 1 million pounds of local milk per day. At full production, the plant expects to process 2 million pounds of milk per day. Source: KMVT

Jerome County

• A new bowling alley and family fun center, Tiger Zone, is under construction and expected to be opened by April. Source: Times-News

Twin Falls County

• The Twin Falls Animal Shelter is currently working on a proposed 1,800-square-foot expansion. With the aid of a $300,000 donation in addition to other donations, the shelter is hoping to provide a surgery area in addition to more space between the cat and dog areas. Source: Times-News
• Pet Wants, a specialized pet food company, has opened a mobile location in Twin Falls, with hopes to open a brick and mortar location in the fall. Pet Wants also has a “Give Back to the Pack” program that donates food and supplies to the community. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Construction on a new urgent care facility in Twin Falls will soon be completed with an opening scheduled for May 1. This will be the second urgent care facility in the city, allowing for faster appointments, while taking some pressure off the hospital’s emergency department. Source: KMVT
• Two months after Mountain Rides of Hailey suspended its Twin Falls route, the transportation authority voted to reinstate service. The service provides a nonemergency medical transportation route as well as routes to medical centers. However, there have been some changes. Passengers need to schedule their ride 72 hours in advance including destination. Source: Idaho Mountain Express

Openings

• Kiwi Loco, offering frozen yogurt, Twin Falls

Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 735-2500 ext. 3062

SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO – Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida & Power counties

Region 

• The Idaho Department of Labor is conducting its annual benchmarking of the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program for 2022, and so no local labor force data for southeastern Idaho is available this month.
• There were an estimated 691 job postings in southeastern region in February 2023 according to data from the Conference Board, down from 818 the previous month and down slightly from 702 in February 2022. The top 10 most common occupations by job posting included health care practitioners and support, transportation and material moving, construction and extraction, computer and mathematical, as well as food service.

• Health care and social assistance remained at the top of industries by largest share of job postings. Services continue to be the overall driver of job postings with health care and social assistance; public administration; educational services; and retail trade among others representing most open positions in the region. Manufacturing, though, came in at fourth and construction at seventh.

• Lightcast’s data from the Conference Board indicates that the hardest-to-fill jobs remain concentrated in education, training and library occupations. Among the other occupations represented in the list are those in protective services; life, physical and social sciences; computer and mathematical; and management.

• Most of southeastern Idaho remains in some form of drought according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, though the wet fall helped ease drought conditions and above-average snowpack is helping to assuage water concerns for the year ahead. Drought conditions vary from moderate (D1) to severe (D2), with only western Oneida County being in a severe drought. Snowpack in the Willow, Blackfoot, Portneuf and Bear River basins is over 150% of normal for this time of year. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, Idaho NRCS Snow Survey
• Multiple school districts in the region have had to cancel classes in the past month due to adverse weather conditions. This is already after multiple closures this winter. Multiple businesses were also forced to temporarily close due to poor road conditions as well as ruptured water pipes. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The Shoshone-Bannock Vocational Rehabilitation Program invites locals for its 7th Annual Job Fair and Hiring Event taking place on March 28 at the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel. The event will feature a variety of employers  looking to for workers. Booths can still be reserved. Source: Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
• School bonds and levies were recently approved in several area school districts including Oneida County, Pocatello-Chubbuck, American Falls, Blackfoot, Snake River, Bear Lake County, Soda Springs, Rockland and West Side. Source: Idaho Education News
• With snowpacks elevated and the warmer spring months approaching, officials in several southeastern Idaho communities are planning for anticipated flooding events along the Snake, Portneuf and Bear rivers as well as smaller waterways. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The 22nd Annual Tech Expo was held at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena, with over 2,200 middle and high school students from across the state in attendance as well as 30 businesses and 40 academic programs. Source: KIFI Local News 8

Bannock County

• The Pocatello-Chubbuck School District #25 has acquired the former Downard Funeral Home adjacent to Pocatello High School and plans to demolish the building in favor of additional parking. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Renovations of the former Pocatello Naval Ordinance Plant (now called the Titan Center) are nearing completion. When finished, the 1.4 million-square-foot facility will provide warehouse, industrial and office space for business tenants. Source: Idaho State journal
• The roof of Lava Hot Springs’ Blue Moon Bar & Grill collapsed under the weight of heavy snow and will remain closed while repairs are made to the structure. One person sustained non-life threatening injuries as a result of the collapse. Source: Idaho State Journal, KIFI Local News 8
• The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality sought public comments on a draft Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the city of Lava Hot Springs’ treatment works. The permit would authorize the discharge of treated municipal wastewater to the Portneuf River from October through March for five years. Source: Caribou County Sun
• Locally owned and operated foot truck Angel’s Tacos is moving into the former Grecian Key restaurant in Historic Downtown Pocatello. Anticipated opening date for the new Angel’s Mexican Grill is early April. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The city of Pocatello has begun dismantling the former Ross Park water slide and will replace it with a new one sometime within the next 18 months. Source: Idaho State Journal, KIFI Local News 8
• Due to declining enrollment and growing costs, the Marsh Valley School District #21 Board of Trustees is considering closing Lava Elementary in Lava Hot Springs. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The 12th Annual Gate City Brewfest took place over St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Pocatello. Attendance numbers have not been published, but turnout appears to have been strong. Source: Idaho State Journal, KIFI Local News 8
• Bannock County has purchased the former Robert Allen car dealership in downtown Pocatello and plans to convert it into the 6th Judicial District’s Safe Teen Assessment Center. The center will offer a single point of contact to help screen and assess the needs of youth and connect them and their families with community resources to address those needs. Source: Idaho State Journal

Bingham County

• Locally owned food truck El Taco Loco has moved into a brick-and-mortar location on West Bridge Street in Blackfoot and has a goal to open a food truck in the Boise area. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The Idaho Department of Agriculture detected the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in a flock of domestic chickens in Bingham County, the first confirmed case this season. The highly contagious virus can cause high death of all domestic and wild birds. Department officials strongly recommend poultry owners reinforce biosecurity measures for their flocks and prevent wild waterfowl from interacting with domestic birds. Source: Idaho State Journal

Franklin County

• West Side School District #202’s school board has extended its candidate search for the soon-to-be-departing superintendent. The board had decided not to award the position to the final two candidates, instead closing the job listing and opening a new one. Source: The Preston Citizen

Matthew.Paskash@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 236-6710 ext. 4249

EASTERN IDAHO – Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison & Teton counties

Region

• There were an estimated 966 job postings in the eastern Idaho region for February 2023, according to the Conference Board’s Help Wanted Online data indicator. This is a decrease in postings from 1,191 (-19%) the prior month and 1,219 (-21%) the prior year. Registered nurses are still in the lead of the top of occupations in the region with active job postings. Laborers/freight/stock/hand material movers emerged in the top half of occupations in February.
• The high demand for retail salespersons and customer service representatives carried over from January. Postsecondary teachers and janitors/cleaners are no longer on the list. The laborer/freight/stock/hand material mover, combined food prep/serving worker, and electrical engineer occupations broke through as new in-demand industries on the current list. Occupational job demand declined in February job postings for farmwork/crop laborers (-21%), registered nurses (-30%), customer service reps (-34%) and heavy tractor trailer truck drivers (-53%). Retail salespersons and managers saw negligible change in job posting demand, month-over-month. There were no occupations reporting increased demand in terms of February job postings. There was a four-way tie for 10^th place with 13 job postings each — electrical engineer, light truck delivery driver, sales representative and software/applications developer lines of work.

• Health care/social assistance continued in the top spot of industries in the eastern Idaho region with active job postings. Retail trade, professional/scientific/technical services, and public administration remained unchanged in the top five rankings of active industry job postings and each with more postings than the month prior, except retail trade. Other industry job postings on the list decreased in demand or remained relatively unchanged in February. The only exception was an increase in job postings for professional, scientific and  technical services (9%). The real estate and rental leasing industry emerged as a new in-demand job posting industry in February, replacing transportation and warehousing.

• February data indicates a dynamic combination of hardest-to-fill jobs in eastern Idaho in terms of both days to fill and number of corresponding job postings. Every hard-to-fill job posting on the list had multiple job postings except construction trade helpers, database administrators and public relations specialists. Additionally, every hard-to-fill job emerged as new on the list in February and was not on the list in January, except tire repairers/changers. The biggest February job demand challenges by occupational family were filling computer/mathematical and architecture/engineering vacancies.

• The White House’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation team selected Idaho National Laboratory to help make electric vehicle charging more accessible. Vehicle charging has been identified as one of the biggest challenges to meet growing transportation electrification demand. INL participates on the team as experts in charging cybersecurity and charger siting. Over the past 20 years, the lab has collected extensive data on how to make EV chargers more reliable. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Visitation to Yellowstone National Park dropped 32% in 2022 from its record-busiest year in 2021, attributed to historic floods in June that washed away road segments and limited entry to the park throughout the summer. The park hosted approximately 3.29 million visits last year, down almost a third from 4.86 million visits in 2021 and a 14% drop from 3.81 million visits in 2020. Source: Bozeman Chronicle
• To fund a variety of interior, agricultural, water, energy and infrastructure projects in Idaho, Congress passed the FY23 Omnibus package. The projects specific to the eastern region include the following:
  • City of Roberts: $2 million construction of an improved sewer collection system.
  • Custer County: $600,000 for a new court annex building.
  • City of Ammon: $5.8 million for the reconstruction of First Street.
    Source: Idaho Business Review

Bonneville County

• Amazon has completed construction on a delivery station in Idaho Falls that will open soon, according to a company spokesperson. The company will be posting jobs soon and hiring. A delivery station is where packages go after they are processed at a customer fulfillment center. Source: East Idaho News
• Idaho Falls beef processor Riverbend Meats LLC will use a $25 million grant to offset the cost of a new environmentally friendly processing facility. It will double daily processing capacity from 300 to 600 cattle. The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program. The program encourages competition in domestic meat and poultry supply chains, awarding close to $59 million in federal grants to independent processors nationwide. Source: Idaho Business Review
• The Idaho Public Charter School Commission board approved the application of Gem Prep: Ammon to open in the fall of 2025. Gem Prep is a group of free public charter schools focusing on college preparation and success, offering an alternative option to public and charter schools. The school will begin offering in-person teaching to students in grades K-5 in August 2025, adding one or two grades per year. The school will eventually serve area students in grades K-12. Source: Post Register
• Elevate Academy Idaho Falls, the fourth of the Elevate public charter school locations in the state, is preparing to break ground. It is receiving more than $600,000 in grant funds, part of a larger grant award from the U.S. Department of Education Charter Schools Program to Idaho’s Communities of Excellence consortium. School officials originally planned to open in August but due to supply chain issues and other complications they were forced to move the opening date out to August 2024. In its first year the full capacity will be 332 students, increasing to 488 students by its third year. Source: Post Register
• The Idaho Falls Community Food Basket has moved to a bigger distribution space, a building donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 17,389-square-foot former church in Idaho Falls will be used for food distribution, self-reliance education and other charitable purposes. The new space will give those in need a place to wait inside while they pick up food rather than waiting outside. The former location of CFB was the First Presbyterian Church in Idaho Falls. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• The Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation will use $54,000 of a $110,000 grant for the Idaho Falls Police Department to train officers in self-defense solutions. The remaining funds include $30,000 for the department’s K-9 program, $18,800 to make several patrol cars compatible with K-9 officers and $7,200 for mental health programs for officers and dispatchers. Source: Post Register
• For February, the Bonneville County median home listing price saw an increase to $437,475 (4%), but a decrease from February 2022 prices (-15%). The county also reported a decrease in month-over-month active home listings (-8%). Median days on the market decreased to 63 days (-16%), while new listings are down from the month prior (-21%). There were 88 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com

 Fremont County

• The Fremont County School Board approved a four-day school week for Joint School District 215 starting the 2023-2024 school year. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal

 Jefferson County

• Brad Little visited with students at Rigby High School in February for the Idaho Launch Program campaign. The Idaho Launch bill — recently passed by the House of Representatives and currently awaiting action in the senate — aims to make $8,500 available to Idaho high school graduates attending accredited institutions in the state starting in 2024. This would help make enrollment for training in professions such as nursing, information technology, welding and mechanics more attainable for Idaho students. Funding would be available for students attending four-year, two-year and career technical programs in Idaho. Source: The Jefferson Star
• Northern States Development’s plans to develop land in downtown Rigby are getting closer to approval. The Rigby Urban Renewal Agency authorized the preparation of a final draft for a Disposition and Development Agreement, which will complete title transfer of the property. The plan is to build a two- or three-story building that would include space for retailers, a restaurant and four to 10 residential units. Source: The Jefferson Star
• Scotty’s True Value in Rigby has been sold to Broulim’s after over 50 years in business and will now be known as Rigby Ace Hardware. Source: The Jefferson Star
• Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District presented $31,750 to the Mud Lake Fair and Rodeo Board to aid in constructing a new animal show barn. Source: Jefferson Star News
• For February, the Jefferson County median home listing price saw a decrease to $516,200 (-4%) from last month, but a negligible change from February 2022. The county also reported a decrease in month-over-month active home listings (8%), while median days on the market decreased to 46 days (-29%). New listings decreased from the month prior (-28%). There were 18 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com

Lemhi County

• Two central Idaho organizations received wilderness education grants from the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation in February. The Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association in Stanley received a grant to fund the 2023 Sawtooth wilderness trailhead portals project. The Salmon Valley Stewardship in Salmon was awarded a grant to pay for a one-day wilderness experience where local historians, wildlife biologists, ecologists, tribal leaders and environmental advocates will lead field trips into the Salmon-Challis Forest. Source: Challis Messenger

Madison County

• For February, the Madison County median home listing price saw an increase to $427,475 (7%), but a decrease from February 2022 prices (-1%). The county also reported a decrease in month-over-month active home listings (-5%). Median days on the market decreased to 78 days (-33%). New listings increased from the prior month (30%). There were 12 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com

Teton County 

• The Driggs City Council approved a housing proposal and zone change for the Idaho Department of Transportation. The measure authorizes housing for two ITD employees and an Idaho State Police trooper that all serve Teton County. ISP has already purchased and moved its housing unit onto the parcel and will be able to install two more housing units. Source: Teton Valley News
• For February, the Teton County median home listing price saw negligible change from January at $881,500, but a steep decrease from February 2022 (-37%). The county also reported a decrease in month-over-month active home listings (-4%). Median days on the market have increased substantially to 142 days (23%). New listings have decreased (20%) from the month prior. Six homes in inventory reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com

Openings

• A new mortgage brokerage firm, Good Company Brokerage Club, launched in Idaho Falls. Source: Post Register
• The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting ceremonies for new establishments: A Cut Above the Falls and Idaho Innovation Center Industrial Kitchen. These establishments met one of the following criteria: either opened their doors within the past six months; moved to a new location due to expansion; or remodeled/expanded their current location. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
• After five years Pitmaster BarBQue in Idaho Falls is closing its doors. A new tenant to replace them, Lil’ Mike’s Bar-B-Que, officially signed a lease as its second location. Source: East Idaho News
• The Black Brick Company opened in Idaho Falls. It is a home décor business that sells furniture, art, pillows, rugs and other accessories. Source: East Idaho News
• Spitfire Pickleball opened Idaho Falls’ first dedicated indoor pickleball facility. Source: Post Register

Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 557-2500 ext. 3628

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This Idaho Department of Labor project is 100% funded by USDOL as part of $695,785 in Workforce Information Grant funds from the Employment and Training Administration.