Around Idaho: Economic Activity, August 2023

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. There were 2,154 job postings in northern Idaho in August 2023, according to data from The Conference Board, of which 1,755 were posted in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupation was registered nurses, followed by retail salespersons.

Kootenai County

• Lakes Highway District is building a new five-building complex off Highway 95 north of Hayden. The facility will include an office and administrative building, and several maintenance and storage buildings. Lakes Highway District is currently responsible for the maintenance of approximately 580 miles of roadway in Kootenai County. Source: Journal of Business
• Several agencies in Kootenai County, the cities of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, North Idaho College, the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber among others, have agreed to become member agencies in a bi-state consortium to create the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center in partnership with agencies from eastern Washington. The AAMC will support workforce training, advanced manufacturing and research and development to support the aerospace manufacturing sector in the greater Spokane Kootenai region. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Openings – Coeur d’Alene

• Inland Kava Bar
• Children’s Warehouse
• Fresh Air E-Bikes
• Floral by Bri

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

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

Region

• The Idaho Water Resource Board granted 10 statewide flood management grants – each requiring a 50% match – with three grants allocated to the following north central entities.
  • • Orofino School District, $89,000, for reconstruction of a concrete channel near a bus parking lot that can overflow during high water.
    • Clearwater Soil and Water Conservation District, $81,000, to replace a culvert with a 60-foot steel bridge.
    • Idaho Soil and Water Conservation District, $54,000, to stabilize the levee between the South Fork of the Clearwater River and a local pond.
• The Idaho Travel Council awarded $422,000 through the Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant Program to three nonprofit local and regional tourism development organizations in north central Idaho. The grants awarded to the region were up 7.7% from 2022’s level of $391,000 and were awarded to:
  • • Visit Lewis Clark Valley, $175,000 (+6% more than $164,000 in 2022).
    • North Central Idaho Travel Association, $72,143 (+7% more than $67,000 in 2022).
    • Moscow Chamber of Commerce, $175,000 (+8% more than $160,000 in 2022).
• Rosauers Supermarkets in Moscow, Lewiston and other stores in Washington, Oregon and Montana, was ordered to pay $350,000 in back wages and assessed $72,000 in penalties for willful violations. Source: U.S. Department of Labor
• Action for Healthy Kids awarded funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to three north central school districts to support improving nutritional quality of school meals and modernizing operations. Fund recipients include:
  • • Nezperce School District, $71,159.
    • Kamiah Joint School District, $139,987.
    • Mountain View School District #244, $122,800.
• The Nez Perce Tribe was awarded $500,000 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) for the purchase of broadband equipment. Source: TBCP
• Perpetua Resources must pay a $5 million settlement to the Nez Perce Tribe for a 2019 lawsuit that claims the Stibnite Mining Site resulted in pollution discharged into the headwaters of the East Fork South Fork Salmon River. The funds will be used to support water quality improvement projects. Source: Big Country News

Nez Perce County

• American Cruise Lines is scheduled to dock at a soon-to-be constructed gangway at the Port of Lewiston starting in 2025. The river cruise ship operator currently docks across the river at the Port of Clarkston. Source: Lewiston Tribune
• Vista Outdoors, the parent company of ammunition company CCI/Speer, is preparing to split into two public entities by the end of 2023. CCI/Speer is part of the largest U.S. ammunition manufacturing group and will be renamed The Kinetic Group. CCI/Speer is one of three entities within north central Idaho with employment exceeding 1,000. Source: Lewiston Tribune
• Kash CA merged with Freedom Munitions and will now be called Freedom Munitions.
• Starting in October 2023, the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport will be adding 7 a.m. Delta flights to Seattle in addition to its current destinations of Salt Lake City (Delta) and Denver (United). Alaska Airlines previously offered flights to Seattle before pulling out of Lewiston in 2018. Source: Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, Lewiston Tribune

Latah County

• The city of Troy declared a critical water emergency due to malfunction of the Twin Creeks Well. Outdoor water usage is currently restricted until the well is repaired. Source: Lewiston Tribune, City of Troy
• Agwest Farm Credit awarded a $100,000 grant to Latah Fairgrounds to update concrete floors, fencing, arenas and holding pens. Source: Latah Fairground

Openings

• Dr. Jonny Fisher is opening a new dentist office in Lewiston in addition to current offices in Kendrick, Idaho (Kendrick Dental) and Pullman, Washington. Source: Johnny Fisher DDS
• A Touch of Glass in Lewiston is under new ownership.
• Kravings specialty gluten free/keto deli is relocating from Clarkston, Washington, to Lewiston, Idaho. Source: Kravings
• Varsity Diner in Moscow is under new ownership and is now called JackJack’s Diner. Source: Lewiston Tribune
• High Beast Vape Shop has opened in Lewiston.
• Old Navy opened its new store in Lewiston in mid-August. Source: Old Navy

Closings

• • Moscow RV Center closed at the end of July after 28 years in operation. Source: Clints and Lam Auctions

Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 799-5000, ext. 3849

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

Education

There are 11 new schools opening throughout the state this fall. Those in southwestern Idaho include:

1. 1. Dallas Harris Elementary will open in October to serve 330 students, kindergarten through fifth grades, on the east side of Boise.
   2. Horseshoe Bend Alternative School is open for students grades 6-12 and will serve 10 to 15 students ‘whose needs are not being met in the traditional school setting.’
   3. Nampa Academy will be home to 60 high schoolers, 10th through 12th grade. The curriculum provides smaller classes and more focus on fewer subjects at one time. The academy is housed within Nampa’s Columbia High School while a permanent site is sought for the next academic year, hoping to include freshmen students.
   4. Promise Academy in Caldwell serves eight students at the newly constructed Residential Center for Healing and Resilience on the campus of the Idaho Youth Ranch. The students will be part of the residential treatment facility providing care for students ages 11-17 with severe mental health and behavioral issues.

Source: Idaho Business News

Ada County

• Boise State University raised $58.5 million in contributions during fiscal year 2023, which exceeded the record set the fiscal year 2022 by $2 million. The university counted over 27,000 donors to the university in areas of endowed student scholarships, faculty, research and athletics. The largest gift of $8 million was anonymously donated. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Boise Mayor Lauren McLean appointed Meredith Stead to replace exiting city council member, Holli Woodings. The term lasts until January 2024. Source: Idaho Press
• Matrix Renewables, a global energy platform created and funded by global alternative asset manager TPG and TPG Rise, acquired a controlling interest in Pleasant Valley Solar Project from Plus Energies. Pleasant Valley Solar Project is dedicated to helping META achieve its sustainable energy goal with its data center in Kuna. Source: Idaho Business Review
• The former Idaho Transportation Department headquarters in Boise on State Street is the center of a bidding war as the state has received nine offers on the 44-acre site. The agency moved in 2022 to the former Hewlett Packard campus in west Boise. TOK Commercial carries the listing. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Corey Barton’s Cascade Springs Subdivision in Eagle was approved. There will be 400 new homes built on 139 acres of former farmland. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Fitted Inc., headquartered in Eagle, attracted $8.5 million in start-up funding. It is a financial software platform that allows more connectivity between a retailer and a brand. The funding will speed up development and provide value to the users. Source: Idaho Business Review

Canyon County

• The Stow Company is hiring over 200 workers as it ramps up staff at its newly constructed plant in Nampa. Its workforce needs include maintenance mechanics, quality technicians and order pickers to name a few. The plant is estimated to cost $143 million, providing 550,000 square feet for its production facility. This is the third plant nationally and will fulfill the western U.S. appetite for closets and organizational pieces of furniture. The company manufactures home organization products under several different brands. It is headquartered in Holland, Michigan. Source: www.thestowcompany.com
• Iowa Elementary School in Nampa is home to the school district’s first book vending machine. The student ambassadors raised money the previous year for the vending machine which offers picture books, graphic novels and chapter books for purchase. At the ribbon-cutting for the new machine, students and families were given a token to purchase a book. The desired outcome is to encourage a lifetime of reading. Source:  Idaho Press
• Boise Bicycle Project and the Ukrainian Welcome Center are collaborating to offer bike repair services and education on repairing and maintaining bikes at the center which opened last summer in Nampa. The Boise Bicycle Project is a nonprofit that assists those with transportation needs by ensuring access to a refurbished bike, along with instruction on how to repair and maintain it. Source: Idaho Capital Sun

Elmore County

• The city of Mountain Home hosted a ribbon cutting for the opening of its new trade school, designed to provide classes and apprenticeship programs in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, ironwork, welding and more. Gov. Brad Little was at the ceremony and shared how smoothly it could segue with his new Launch program, which provides qualifying high school students with $8,000 to pay for upskilling, training, certifications and educational credits. Classes start Sept. 11, and the school provides flexibility for students who are working or attending high school. The Mountain Home Adult Training Academy is a private entity. Source: Mountain Home News and KTVB News

Valley County

• The East Fire located 10 miles southeast of Cascade has grown to over 3,000 acres. It was 51% contained as of Aug. 28. The Chilcoot Fire is 36 miles southeast of McCall, encompasses 685 acres. As of Aug. 28, fire activity was minimal and estimated containment date is Sept. 20. Source: National Interagency Fire Center
• The city library in Cascade has received a grant from the Idaho Commission for Libraries to expand its facility by 1,000 square feet. Source: McCall-Star News
• The Nez Perce Tribe and Perpetua Resources Corporation have filed a Clean Water Act Settlement Agreement that requires Perpetua to pay $5 million over four years to a South Fork Salmon Water Quality Enhancement Fund. The Tribe will oversee water quality improvement projects coordinated by the U.S. Environmental Agency and the U.S. Forest Service. This resolves a lawsuit brought by the Tribe in 2019 over pollution discharge into the East Fork and South Fork of the Salmon River from mining activities within the Stibnite Mining site.  Source:  www.nezperce.org and The McCall-Star News
• The McCall-Donnelly School District has built a daycare and pre-school to help its community members with child care. The district utilized donations and workforce readiness grants realizing $500,000. The school is hiring paraprofessionals for the daycare, earning $17.32 per hour with benefits. The early childhood education program at the high school will also be a resource for students to earn credits and for the daycare and preschool to access staff. There are 80 children registered for the fall semester. Source: Idaho Education News

Openings

• The WaterWalk opened its Gen 2.0 upscale hotel in northwest Meridian. It is considered a conversion property with space for travelers and for those relocating from elsewhere. It offers 126 rooms with 76 fully furnished stay units and 50 ready-to-furnish live units that range from a studio to a two-bedroom space, some with balconies. This is the furthest west for this brand, but it has similar projects in construction stage across the nation. Source: Hotel Management
• The Terry Reilly Health Clinic in Homedale hosted a ribbon cutting at its newly constructed health center. The former clinic, in place for 31 years, was razed the following week and will be repurposed to clinic parking. Source: The Owyhee Avalanche
• Frontier Credit Union, recently rebranded from Eastern Idaho Credit Union, opened its first branch in Meridian. It has been in operation since 1935 when it was called Idaho Falls U.S. Employees Federal Credit Union. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Molenaar Park in southwest Boise is home to a new professionally designed skate park. Its timeline was moved up thanks to the $1 million donation from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation. Source: Idaho Statesman
• A LEGO store opened in Meridian at the Village. It is the first retail location in Idaho, although there are toy stores featuring LEGO products. Source: Idaho Business Review and Idaho Statesman
• Full Circle Health opened a new family medicine clinic in Caldwell across from West Valley Medical Center. Full Circle was formerly Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. Source: Idaho Statesman
• The PGA Tour Superstore opened in Meridian earlier this summer in the former space occupied by Rosauers Supermarket. The space is over 42,000 square feet catering to golfers and pickle ball players. Source: Shopping Center Business
• Candy’s Caffe opened in the former Eddie’s Restaurant at Lake Harbor in Boise. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Bad Boy Burgers changed its fast food restaurant’s name to Cowboy Burger but only for the Fairview location. There continues to be two other locations in Boise named Bad Boy Burgers. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Café Rio opened a fast-casual restaurant in Star, making it the seventh Treasure Valley location. It was founded in St. George, Utah, in 1997. Source: Idaho Statesman

Closures

• Alchemist Plant Pub offering vegan food and a bar closed in downtown Boise after opening just five months earlier. The owners cited rising food costs, labor expenses and other economic challenges as reasons for closing. It will reopen as Alchemist Coffee Café, one of several across the Treasure Valley, featuring java-based drinks, beer and wine. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Carl’s Jr. closed its Garden City restaurant that had been in operation for about 17 years. The stand-alone building is for sale. The franchise continues with three locations across the Treasure Valley. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Travelers Motel in Boise was closed due to the condition of the building. City building and fire inspectors ordered the closure due to substandard conditions leaving 30 tenants to find alternative housing. Source: Idaho Statesman

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

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

Blaine County

• The Wood River Community Housing Trust has started construction on a 27-unit rent-restricted housing project in Hailey. The project is targeted at “the missing middle”— those who work full time and make too much to qualify for federal housing programs but may struggle to afford housing (80-140% of Blaine County’s average median income). The project, Saddle Lofts Apartments, will consist of 19 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units, with average size of 700 square feet each. Rent will be restricted to a maximum 30% of a resident’s income. Source: KMVT

Cassia County

• FyberCom, an internet service provider, had a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early August in Burley. The company has expanded fiber-optic service outside of the Twin Falls metro area, increasing access to fast internet for more of the south central region. Source: KMVT

Twin Falls County

• The Proactive Behavioral Youth Center has opened in Twin Falls. The facility will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year as a resource for youth ages 12 to 17 to receive counseling, mental health assessments, substance abuse assessments and brief medical assessments. Source: KMVT
• The Magic Valley Regional Airport has announced a second daily flight that will start in early September. The new service will add a mid-day turn-around flight arriving in Twin Falls at 12:15 p.m. and returning to Salt Lake City at 1:15 p.m. Source: KMVT

Openings

• Moxie Java – Twin Falls

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

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

Region

Labor force estimates for July 2023 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics program showed employment decreased and unemployment increased in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, July’s preliminary estimates show labor force participants increased by 497 from June, with 942 additional unemployed and 445 fewer employed. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent, 1.2 percentage points higher than it was one year prior. Much of the recent unemployment appears concentrated in Bannock and Power counties and may be due to temporary furloughs for scheduled maintenance among local manufacturers and food processors.

In July 2023 there were 1,950 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area, down from 1,984 the prior month and down from 2,136 the previous July. The median posting duration stood at 32 days, down from 49 days in June and 36 days in July 2022.

The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho were transportation and material moving, sales and related, computer and mathematical, management, as well as health care and technical. Among specific occupations, registered nurses remain at the top of the list and are up over 100% compared to the same time last year, whereas retail salespersons and retail supervisors were also up year-over-year.

Health care and social assistance jumped back to the top of industries by unique online job postings in July 2023 with 328, up from 164 one year prior. Professional, scientific, and technical services; manufacturing; and retail trade came in next with 248, 234 and 222 postings that month, while construction was up 183% year-over year with 116 job postings. Most of the job postings remained in service-producing industries.

Lightcast’s data from the Conference Board indicates that the hardest-to-fill jobs were in the personal care and service occupational family with 60 days median posting duration, followed by arts, design, entertainment, sports and media (48 days); educational instruction and library (46 days); life, physical and social science (46 days); and protective services (46 days). The single occupations with the longest median posting duration were security guards; pharmacists; plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters; and animal caretakers at 60 days.

• The snow-filled winter and wet spring helped to pull southeastern Idaho out of a multi-year drought, and the three-month outlook is to remain drought-free; however, the arrival of El Niño has brought high summer temperatures. The recent cool, wet weather has additionally helped with the water outlook. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
• Grasshoppers and crickets have proven to be difficult for many farmers in southern Idaho, with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture reporting Owyhee, Oneida, Elmore and Washington counties as being hit especially hard. Populations reaching outbreak levels cause serious economic losses to rangeland forage and other agriculture-use lands. The insects cause direct damage to plants’ growth and seed production by consuming plant stems and leaves. Source: University of Idaho Extension, Idaho Department of Agriculture

Bannock County

• A proposed hot asphalt plant has been removed from an application to the county’s Planning and Zoning Board after strong opposition from area residents over air quality and other environmental concerns. However, the accompanying proposal for a gravel pit is still in the application. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• The 6^th Judicial District’s Safe Teen Assessment Center — also referred to as The Village: A Place for Youth and Families — held a ribbon-cutting last month and is now serving the public. The center, located in downtown Pocatello near the Idaho Department of Labor offices, provides early intervention services and support for families to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Patriot Square on East Chubbuck Road in Chubbuck has several new tenants opening stores or offices: Ferrell’s Clothing, an Idaho Falls-based men’s attire store; Lettie Boutique, a formerly online-only retailer; a new headquarters for LIV Software; a new location for Wright Physical Therapy; Factory Direct Flooring, a Treasure Valley-based flooring company; the family-owned Inclusive Care Clinic Pharmacy; and a new location for Idaho Orthodontics. Source: Idaho State Journal
• DW Investors has completed a set of major renovations at the Brickview Apartments (formerly the Bidwell Apartments) near the Idaho State University campus and are accepting applications from prospective tenants. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The Cherry Springs Nature Area and the Cherry Springs Amphitheatre south of Pocatello have been closed for renovations funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. The project is estimated to last six weeks. Source: Idaho Capital Sun
• The Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25 Board of Trustees voted to send a $42 million bond for voters’ approval in November to renovate Highland High School after a fire damaged it this past April. A motion failed on an alternative proposal for a $115 million bond to build a new high school, convert Highland High School into a middle school and add a larger gym to Century High School. Source: Idaho State Journal

Bingham County

• The Idaho Department of Fish and Game issued a salvage order for the pond at Jensen Grove Park in Blackfoot, effective July 24 through Oct. 30, 2023. This was in response to dropping water levels as water was diverted for irrigation purposes and after 4,500 rainbow trout were stocked in the pond. Source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game
• The Aberdeen City Council approved a modified plan for local developer Kylan Feld to proceed with a housing development on Boise Avenue. Feld plans to start with a few duplexes and continue building as demand grows for homes. Source: The Aberdeen Times

Openings, Relocations

• Kingpot, an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and hot pot restaurant, will be opening in early 2024 in Pocatello at the former Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Star Route Brewery temporarily closed to relocate next to the Pocatello Elks Lodge and expects to be operational in a few months. Source: Idaho State Journal

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

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

Region News

There were an estimated 2,809 job postings in eastern Idaho for July 2023, according to the Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) program. Please note that this is regional job postings data and not necessarily job openings data. There was a decrease in job postings from the revision of 3,085 (-9%) the prior month and a decrease from 3,509 (-20%) year-over-year. Retail salespersons have maintained the lead of top occupations in the region with active job postings since last month. The top five in-demand occupations in July did not change but have shuffled in ranking. Construction laborers replaced software developers on the top10 list since last month. All other occupations listed carried over from the top 10 of last month. Job demand, from a job postings perspective, increased since June for tractor trailer drivers (23%) and retail sales supervisors (14%). Conversely, there was a decrease in postings for registered nurses (-28%), retail salespersons (-15%), freight/stock/material laborers (-15%), wholesale/manufacturing sales representatives (-15%) and customer service representatives (11%).

The retail and trade industry assumed the lead over professional, scientific and technical services in the eastern Idaho region rankings of active job postings for July. The construction industry emerged as new in the top five of industry job postings. There was an increase in the retail and trade, health care and social assistance, construction, and manufacturing industry categories of job postings since June. Conversely, there was a reduction in job postings in professional/scientific/technical services, educational services, other services, and public administration industry categories. There were no new industries added to the top industries list since June.

July data from the Conference Board denotes the hardest-to-fill job postings by job title in eastern Idaho in terms of time to fill and multiple job postings. These included crusher operators, project managers, merchandisers, respiratory therapists and RNs. Top job demand challenges in July were health care practitioners, health care support, management as well as business and financial operations. New to the July list of hardest-to-fill postings were crusher operators, identity and access managers, project managers, respiratory therapists and various nursing jobs. Only merchandisers, project managers, customer service representatives and research associates were carryovers from last month on the top 10 list of hard-to-fill job postings.

Region

• Gov. Brad Little attended a ribbon cutting of the new Idaho Healthcare Institute in Idaho Falls. The nursing program partners with the College of Eastern Idaho, Mountain View Hospital and Idaho Falls Community Hospital to combat the state’s shortage of health care professionals and provides three levels of certification —certified nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse and registered nurse. The governor hopes the institute’s program will boost the number of nursing graduates to 500 per year as it provides students with a short-tracked, financially achievable path to working in the health care field. Source: Post Register
• Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) is one of the beneficiaries of the governor’s “Leading Idaho” and “Idaho First” plans. The Idaho Water Resource Board has received $450 million to modernize the state’s water infrastructure through grants, loans and strategic investments in water sustainability projects, including ESPA. Source: Idaho Gov. Brad Little news release
• In August the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks received $712,665 in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as part of a nationwide effort to restore natural habitats and address climate change impacts. The IRA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $52 million to the National Park Service to fund projects throughout the country related to ecosystem resilience, restoration and environmental planning needs. Source: NPS news release

Bonneville County

• Public transportation in Idaho Falls expanded. Greater Idaho Falls Transit now offers after-hour service from 9 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The fare has been raised to $10 from the regular $4 for after-hours rides. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• Eagle Rock Indian Motorcycle in Idaho Falls recently partnered with Piaggio Group, an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, to provide additional luxury brands. The expansion is in a separate building and now allows the business to become a motoplex with a new showroom environment to exclusively display Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycle and scooter brands. Source: East Idaho News
• Amazon hosted an opening event in July for its first delivery station in Idaho Falls that will create over 150 new jobs. It serves as a major component of Amazon’s logistics network. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Idaho Falls City Council approved the annexation of approximately 170 acres. Project planners are requesting to zone 68 acres for residential mixed use, 44 acres for limited commercial and 44 acres for highway commercial. Source: Post Register
• The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies at Pets of Downtown Mural, First Colony Mortgage and Shredded Nutrition. These establishments met one of the following criteria: 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
• L. Evans Bank donated $17,500 to the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation to help buy new police equipment and fund better training programs. Source: Post Register
• Construction continues on Westmark Stadium at Hillcrest High School in Ammon. The opening of the stadium will likely be in October. Crews broke ground on the stadium in April, which will host football, soccer, and various other sports and events for the school and the Ammon community. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• For July, the Bonneville County median home listing prices decreased to $450,000 from the previous month (-3%) and decreased from July 2022 prices (-4%). The county’s month-over-month active home listings increased (18%), but decreased year-over-year (-20%). The median days on the market increased to 36 days (20%). New listings were down from the month prior (-8%) and down over the year (-26%). There were 160 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in July (36%). Source: Realtor.com

 Butte County

• Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve will receive infrastructure upgrades with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. The funds will be used to rehabilitate the park’s historic Mission 66 maintenance building and construct a new building to house snow removal equipment with a vehicle wash bay. The project will include restoring historic windows and doors, installing energy-efficient lighting, an HVAC system and correcting several critical code deficiencies and safety issues. Source: Post Register

Clark County

• For July, the Clark County median home listing prices did not change over the month at $525,000 but increased from July 2022 prices (50%). The county had no change in month-over-month active home listings, but decreased year-over-year (-60%). Median days on the market decreased to 188 days (-11%). Source: Realtor.com

Custer County

• For July, the Custer County median home listing prices decreased to $450,000 from the previous month (-3%) and decreased from July 2022 prices (-28%). The county exhibited no change in month-over-month active home listings, but increased year-over-year (106%). The median days on the market increased to 60 days (12%). New listings haven’t changed over the month but were down over the year (-33%). There were four homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in July (-50%). Source: Realtor.com

Fremont County

• The state has directed approximately $150 million to improve outdoor recreation via funding from the state’s new Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council. Investments of $530,000 are being made at Henry’s Lake State Park for completed water system upgrades and $2 million at Harriman State Park for water and sewer upgrades. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Idaho Water Resources Board approved nine statewide water sustainability projects, including $7.8 million for the North Fremont Canal System at a total cost of $19 million. This was funded by the federal American Rescue Act and state surplus funds. The board approved a total of $59.4 million statewide. Source: Idaho Press
• State and Tribal Assistance Grants through Community Project Funding will be used to construct a new single municipal water system in Island Park to replace numerous disparate small systems. Funding would cover the following: a new well, water storage tank and booster pump station; 8,500 linear feet of water main; nearly 200 service lines with meters; and a SCADA system for monitoring and control of the water system. Source: Idaho Sen. Mike Simpson news release
• For July, the Fremont County median home listing prices increased to $692,500 from the previous month (2%) but decreased from July 2022 prices (-8%). In the county, month-over-month active home listings increased 29%) as well as year-over-year (24%). Median days on the market decreased to 48 days (-9%). New listings were up from the month prior (18%) as well as over the year (25%). There were 32 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in July (167%). Source: Realtor.com

Jefferson County

• Jefferson County Planning, Zoning and Building Department reported that June 2023 exceeded the previous June’s number of building permits issued. Last year the department issued 28 building permits in June; this year the department issued 51 permits. Source: The Jefferson Star
• The Hot Classic Nights Car Show presented the Rigby Senior Center a $16,541 check for the Senior’s Meals on Wheels program, raised during the annual car show in July, which featured 547 classic car entries. Source: The Jefferson Star
• Roberts Fire District (RFD) received approval to build an annex next to the existing fire station at a cost of $430,000. The buildings will house new equipment. This year’s cost of the project is nearly double what it would have been last year due to inflation. RFD issued a Tax Anticipation Notice, a short-term debt security, to cover the cost. Source: The Jefferson Star
• Steele Water Ranch Subdivision development and Harrison Canal company came to a purchasing agreement. The development in Rigby has a proposed 16 lots in an R-1 zone. Source: The Jefferson Star
• The city of Rigby is in negotiations with the developer of the county subdivision, Teton Heights, to extend the water line with the stipulation when the city expands to that area, they annex the subdivision along with added costs. Source: The Jefferson Star
• In Rigby, Northern States Development construction in October will begin building The Hub, a two story, mixed-use building. It will have condos on the top floor and commercial space on the bottom floor. Source: East Idaho News
• For July, the Jefferson County median home listing prices decreased a negligible amount to $559,000 month-over-month but increased from July 2022 (8%). The county also increased active home listings month-over-month (10%), but decreased year-over-year (-10%). Median days on the market decreased to 40 days (-10%). New listings decreased from the month prior (-4%). There were 40 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in July (-33%). Source: Realtor.com

Lemhi County

• In July, reportedly the second-largest gold find in America was confirmed at Revival Gold’s Beartrack-Arnett Gold Project. The mine could provide 200 to 300 full-time jobs. Source: Challis Messenger
• The Hayden Fire west of Leadore, which started July 19, has burned 24,706 acres. As of Aug. 29, there was minimal fire activity and containment is estimated for Oct. 1. By comparison, the Moose Creek Fire near Salmon in 2022, at times the largest wildfire in the lower 48 states, burned 130,205 acres for 4.5 months before full containment. Source: KIFI Local News 8 and InciWeb
• Hoodoo Meadows airstrip in the Salmon-Challis Forest was added to the Idaho Transportation Department’s roster for public and emergency use. Source: Challis Messenger
• For July, the Lemhi County median home listing prices decreased to $650,000 month-over-month (-8%) but increased from July 2022 (3%). The county also increased in active home listings month-over-month (24%), as well as year-over-year (38%). Median days on the market decreased to 62 days (-3%). New listings increased from the month prior (60%). There were 12 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in July (20%). Source: Realtor.com

 Madison County

• The Madison Early Childhood Center will start the new school year with 300 enrolled students with a waiting list of 100 to 150 students. When Madison’s new elementary school is complete in January, the current Hibbard Elementary will transition into a full-time pre-K early childhood center. The new Hibbard Elementary was supposed to open this fall, but construction and Idaho weather pushed the opening back. Once the new, 19-classroom elementary school opens this winter, the current building will expand to six classrooms. Source: Idaho Education News
• State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) through Community Project Funding (CPF) will be used to upgrade the Headworks facility at the city of Rexburg Wastewater Treatment Plant. The regional sewer interceptor, lift station and pressure sewer line that convey wastewater from northeast Rexburg and the towns of Sugar City and Teton to the treatment plant will be replaced. Source: Idaho Sen. Mike Simpson news release
• For July, Madison County median home listing prices decreased to $419,500 (-5%) and slightly decreased from July 2022 prices. Active home listings in the county also increased month-over-month (7%) and year-over-year (8%). Median days on the market increased to 52 days (6%). New listings decreased from the month prior (-27%). There were 28 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in July (-26%). Source: Realtor.com

 Teton County

• Tractor Supply Company will be the first national retail franchise to open in Teton Valley with the development of land in Driggs. Source: Teton Valley News
• Idaho National Laboratory’s new Microgrid in a Box was deployed in partnership with the Fall River Electric Cooperative at its hydropower plant on the Teton River near Felt. With newly developed technologies, hydropower with advanced controls, and the use of a mobile microgrid, small communities will be able to maintain critical services during emergencies. Source: INL news release
• Teton Avenue LLC’s proposed condo development was denied on July 18 by Driggs City Council. The developers requested a rezone from Residential Single Family (RS-7) to Residential Multi-Family (RM-1) to build 12 four-plex condos (48 units). Source: Teton Valley News
• A skatepark in Victor was approved by the city council and is set to be built on city land in Sherman Park. Source: Teton Valley News
• For July, Teton County median home listing prices increased to $897,000 (2%) month-over-month, but decreased year-over-year (-3%). Active home listings in the county increased both month-over-month (15%) and year-over-year (22%). Median days on the market decreased to 52 days (-18%). New listings increased from the month prior (4%). There were 28 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in July (56%). Source: Realtor.com

Openings

• Idaho Falls Community Hospital opened its newest partner clinic, Pediatric Gastroenterology of Idaho, as the first full-time pediatric gastroenterology clinic based in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
• Pure Esthetics and Surgical Arts, a facial cosmetic and esthetics clinic, had its grand opening in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
• Hokkaido Ramen & Sushi Bar is opening a new location in Ammon at Sandcreek Commons, adding to their location in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
• The Delaware-based eatery, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, opened in Ammon. Source: East Idaho News
• A new Idaho Falls food truck opened in July called Kānaka Maoli Hawaiian Grill. Source: East Idaho News
• Funland, a newly restored historic amusement park with rides, had its grand re-opening on Aug. 12 at the Tautphus Park Zoo in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
• Vibe’n Tropical Drinks shop opened in Rigby. Source: East Idaho News
• Madison Health has announced the grand opening of its newest location, Rigby Medical Center. Source: Madison Health news release
• Wendy’s opened a new location in Rexburg in August. Source: East Idaho News
  Wydaho Roasters Coffee House opened for the first time in Driggs. Source: Teton Valley News

Closure

• Pine Creek Dental in Salmon closed for business. Source: Idaho Dept of Labor 

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.