Northern Idaho
North central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho
NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties
Region
Labor demand in northern Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. In total, there were 1,305 job postings in December of 2023, according to data from the Conference Board, of which 1,064 were posted in Kootenai County. Registered nurses and retail salespeople were the most in-demand occupation.
Kootenai County
- Development is underway on a new commercial center in Post Falls. “North Point Plaza,” will include a Grocery Outlet, a 7-Eleven and seven sites for future tenant businesses. The project is being developed by Corhaven Properties and is scheduled to open in late 2024. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- The Coeur d’Alene City Council instructed city staff to explore an update to the city’s comprehensive plan which would rezone North Idaho College’s campus into a University Zoning District. The zoning change, if adopted, would prevent future development unrelated to higher education in the district. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
Openings
- North Idaho Bungee Fitness (Post Falls)
- Flats Motel (Coeur d’Alene)
- Spark Med Spa (Hayden)
- Kindred and Company (Post Falls)
- Kitty G’S Fine Meats and Cheese (Post Falls)
- Gesa Credit Union (Post Falls)
- Crafted Stone (Post Falls)
- Brewscape Beer Co. (Hayden)
- Panhandle Barber (Hayden)
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
- Single-family home sale volumes in 2023 ranged from being down 2% in Idaho County to down 19% in Latah County, but existing home median sales prices increased 1% to 2% across the board compared to 2022. The lowest volume of total home sales in the region since at least 2018 occurred in 2023 and concludes three consecutive years of sales volume declines. Average monthly existing single-family home listings for the three counties where data is available from Intermountain MLS (Nez Perce, Latah and Idaho counties) improved slightly in 2023 to 200 compared to extremely low levels of inventory of 150 average monthly postings in 2022. For comparison, the Associated Press reported U.S. home sales in 2023 fell just shy of 19% and was the weakest year for home sales since 1995.
Lightcast job postings in December for north central Idaho were down 17% from November and flat compared to December 2022. This is in line with normal seasonality of the region (December 2022 job postings were down 25% from November 2022). Although total postings declined, the number of new postings were 9% higher than November and nearly 20% higher than new postings one year ago in December 2022. The number of employers with active job postings remains elevated at over 400 (for comparison – December 2022 had 300 employers posting) and has been consistently above 400 employers for any given month since June 2023, compared to an average of 300-325 employers posting in any given month during the second half of 2022. Health care continues to be the dominant industry represented and accounted for 22% of total postings, compared to 15% of regional employment. Health care is the largest industry by total employment in the north central region, followed closely by education. Source: Lightcast and the Idaho Department of Labor
Nez Perce County
- Due to equipment damage from extreme low temperatures and a temporary shortage of natural gas, Clearwater Paper suspended its Lewiston operations to protect its equipment and crews. Production restart as weather allows. Lewiston set a record low temperature of -10 degrees on Jan. 13. Source: Clearwater Paper
- After suffering a loss of $5.5 million in 2023, United Airlines is asking the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport to offer a minimum revenue guarantee for flights between Lewiston and Denver. United Airlines began the Lewiston-Denver connecting flight in 2021 when Nez Perce County agreed to provide $4 million over three years to bring the service to Lewiston. Lewiston’s City Council voted to write a minimum revenue guarantee agreement for the airline as the town’s largest employers rely on flights to bring clients to the Lewis-Clark Valley. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Ethan & Friends, a local non-profit organization, has secured a physical location in Lewiston with the intention of opening a sensory friendly activity gym in 2024. They are currently seeking grants, grant writers and financial donations. Source: Ethan & Friends
Idaho County
- The Limber Elk logging project, located on 2,600 acres near Elk City, was approved by the U.S. Forest Service for commercial timber harvest, post-harvest fuel treatment and planting site prep for tree species that show better disease resistance. The area was prioritized due to findings of insect infestation as well as other fatal tree diseases. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Mountain River Outfitters in Riggins recently acquired Rubicon Outfitters and is moving into a larger location with a parking area, expanded retail shop, and space for jet boats and rafting gear. Youth Dynamics will be moving into Mountain River’s former retail/coffee shop location and should be fully moved in the Spring of 2024. Source: Idaho County Free Press, Mountain River Outfitters and Youth Dynamics Riggins.
- The City of Riggins was awarded $330,000 by the Idaho Department of Transportation to replace existing sewer/utility holes. The project is expected to go out for bid in March/April and be completed by June. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- The Salmon River Ambulance District is transitioning its emergency medical technicians from volunteer to paid positions as is now able to receive funding as a voter-approved taxing district. With a rising population and an increase in calls, maintaining sufficient staffing for the 932 square-mile region is a significant issue. In 2023, Riggins Ambulance received 306 calls for service compared to 270 in 2022 and 114 in 2017. Statewide, rural volunteer emergency medical technicians are reaching critically low levels which are compromising their ability to serve the local population. Source: Idaho County Free Press and Salmon River Ambulance District
Latah County
- The University of Idaho’s Seed Potato Germplasm lab purchased a new cryopreservation unit that freezes and stores up to 1,800 seed potato tissue varieties in liquid nitrogen at -320 degrees. The new laboratory opened in March 2022 and produces disease-free potato germplasm for both domestic and foreign seed potato growers and researchers. Following the program’s debut in 1983, the University of Idaho ships 300,000+ disease-free potato plantlets and around 2,500 pounds of mini tubers each year. Ninety percent of Idaho’s potatoes and 60% of potatoes grown in the U.S. originate from University of Idaho stock. Source: Big Country News
- Gritman Medical Center opened its neurosurgery practice focused on cranial (tumors, TBI, malformations, hydrocephalus) and spinal (cervical/thoracic/lumbar disorders, spine fractures, spinal cord injuries) surgery. Source: Pullman Radio
- Lightcast (formerly EMSI) acquired eIMPACT, a data visualization software company headquartered in White Salmon, Washington. Lightcast and eIMPACT began a partnership endeavor in 2022. Source: Lightcast and eIMPACT
- As a result of grounding the Boeing 737 Max 9 planes for inspection, Alaska Airlines has temporarily shifted its Embraer 175 planes to fill some of those flights. The shift resulted in Alaska Airlines cancelling its evening flight to Seattle from the Moscow-Pullman Regional Airport for approximately one week in January. Source: Lewiston Tribune
Openings
- A Taste of Sicily in Moscow
- Future Leaders Learning Center in Orofino
- Salmon Rapids Lodge in Riggins is under new ownership by Killgore Adventures
- Beauty in Bloom skin care service in Moscow
- Secured Climate Controlled Storage in Grangeville
- Omega Electric opened a location in Moscow
- Hello Everything vintage furniture store in Moscow
- Lawyer Creek Farmers Market in Kooskia
- Wilson Diesel Repair and Performance in Lewiston
- Generations Lewiston will soon open its new memory care apartments
Closings
- Moscow Contemporary, a non-profit art gallery in Moscow, will close when its lease expires Jan. 31 until a new location can be found.
- Cutting Edge Salon in Lewiston
- Yahweh Supplies Groceries in Craigmont
- Tatiana Portraiture of Lewiston has temporarily halted photography services
- Slice of the Moon Restaurant in Lewiston
- Grateful Threads Consignment in Lewiston
- Murray’s Shoe Store in Orofino
- Catkin women’s boutique in Lewiston
- Stitches & Petals fabric store in Moscow
Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 799-5000, ext. 3849
SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO – Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties
Regional Housing Reports
December 2023 Intermountain Multiple Listing Service – Southwestern Idaho
- With mortgage interest rates remaining well above 6%, time on housing market is increasing in most southwestern counties and the inventory of homes and total homes sold is decreasing. The biggest exception is Elmore County which reported a doubling of its sales activity, moving from 16 homes sold in December 2022 to 33 sold in the same period of 2023. This outlier is more of an indicator of a sales decline during December 2022. Home sales in November of 2022 and 2023 were 27 and 30, respectively.
- Apartment rentals in the city of Boise, which has the greatest rental activity in southwestern Idaho with more new construction on its way, show the median rent in 2023 declined by 6.2%. This comes after four years of positive median rental price escalations. The price change in median rent from 2019 through 2022 tallies 36.5%.
Source: Apartment List
- The vacancy rate for the Boise Metro (a five-county area including Ada, Boise, Canyon, Gem and Owyhee counties) showed an increase in vacancy rates for single-family and multi-family homes but the steep slope of the multi-family surge from 1.99% in 2022 to 7.97% in 2023 was somewhat expected as in-migration slowed down, remote work is decreasing and construction of multi-family complexes across Ada and Canyon counties is at a high. Rents for multi-family averages dropped to an average of $1,385 from $1,580 the previous year. This data is only through Q3 2023, a lag from the City of Boise chart released by Apartment List.
Source: Keller Williams Realty Boise
Regional Job Posting Analytics
Region News
Canyon County
- The Nampa School District is considering a change from its Block A/B schedule at the high school which provides 82 minutes per class to a trimester with the same classes convened daily for a shorter duration. The consideration comes off a recent decision to close two schools and repurpose another three facilities. The cost-cutting measures are key after the district’s largest bond request of $210.2 million failed to achieve super-majority approval at the polls. Another board consideration for better recruitment and retention of certified and classified staffing is a four-day school week. Source: Idaho Press and Nampa School District website
Valley County
- McCall’s Winter Carnival has been reset for a different date and length of time, but still offering many of the activities that have drawn visitors for about 60 years. A 2021 survey conducted by the McCall Chamber of Commerce shows 70% of members support a shorter festival or moving it to later in the winter season. Another 82.5% reported that canceling the carnival in 2021 due to the pandemic did not have a negative impact on business, with 80% reporting business was up when there was no carnival. The festival has moved to Feb. 23-25, offering activities for a three-day period, reduced from the traditional 10-day schedule. Events include the ice sculpture competition, Kid’s Torchlight and Mardi Gras Parades, the fireworks show, Music on the Main Stage, the Monster Dog Pull and Snowshoe Golf. Source: The Star-News
Ribbon Cuttings and Grand Openings
- A ribbon cutting was held for the first phase of Mountain Home’s Turner House Depot subdivision as it readies to lease 33 newly constructed two-bedroom, two-bath single-family homes. The units are conducive for roommates, couples and small families. The subdivision is expected to attract the 500+ service members and their families that live in Boise and commute to Mountain Home Air Force Base. The rent is set at almost $2,000 monthly. Most active military not living on the base receive a housing subsidy. The project will create a total of 280 homes in the subdivision. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Brundage Mountain hosted a grand opening of its new high-speed chairlift – Centennial Express, replacing the 32-year-old Centennial chairlift. The ride to the top of the mountain is reduced from 16 minutes to six and the capacity is increased from a three-seater to a four-seater, taking up 1,200 skiers per hour versus the previous 1,800 per hour. Source: The Star-News
Openings
- Country Bay Bistro opened with a surf and turf menu, replacing O’Crab Cajun Seafood which had been operating since 2021. Before that, the space at the Boise Spectrum was home to long standing McGrath’s Fish House. Source: Idaho Statesman
- Seoul Street Café opened in downtown Boise offering K-food and boba drinks along with a photo booth. The restaurant will cater to the lunch and dinner crowds. Source: Idaho Statesman
- A grand opening was held at Be Thai restaurant which opened in the former Guang Zhou space at the Boise Spectrum. It is operated by sisters that have been restaurateurs in San Francisco. Source: Idaho Statesman
Closures
- Saltzer Medical Group announced its pending closure of all 11 facilities across the Treasure Valley, with an effective shuttering date of March 29, 2024. The group is owned by Intermountain Health Systems of Utah, with locations in seven states across the western U.S. It owns and operates Cassia Regional Hospital in Burley also. The company reported over 400 employees will be affected by the closure, as will 100,000 patients cared for annually. According to the news release, the decision was made ‘due to ongoing financial and economic challenges facing Saltzer and other health institutions nationwide.’ Source: Idaho Press and 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 and Twin Falls counties
Blaine County
- St. Luke’s Health System has announced a partnership with TytoCare, a telehealth platform that will enhance at home doctor visits. TytoCare will allow for virtual visits that are as effective as in-person appointments, allowing for tests like heart, lung and body-temperature exams to be done remotely. The services will begin to be offered in early 2024. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Cassia, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties
- Burley, Heyburn, Murtagh and Hollister all received funding for improving local community parks through federal Idaho Community Development Block grants. The program, administered by the Idaho Department of Commerce, allows incorporated cities and counties with a population under 50,000 to apply for up to $250,000 for community development projects. The funds must be used by the end of fiscal year 2026. Source: KMVT
Twin Falls County
- The city of Buhl received a $30,000 grant to update its comprehensive plan. The grant requires adding a health focus to the comprehensive plan, as well as topics such as housing, economic development and transportation. Source: KMVT
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 and Power counties
Region
- Labor force estimates for December 2023 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program shows employment and unemployment both decreasing in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, December’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants dropping by 357 persons that month, with 325 fewer employed people and 32 fewer unemployed. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 3.1%, 0.7 percentage points higher than it was one year prior.
- There were 1,349 unique online job postings in the southeastern Idaho labor market area in December 2023 down from 1,472 the prior month and down from 1,415 the previous December. The median posting duration stood at 29 days, up from 24 days in November and down from 30 days in December 2022.
- The top occupational families by unique online job postings for December 2023 in southeastern Idaho continue to be health care practitioners and technical, sales and related, management, transportation and material moving, as well as office and administrative support. Among specific occupations, registered nurses remain at the top of the list even though they are down 39% percent compared to the same time last year. Retail salespersons, customer service representatives, and first-line retail sales supervisors continue to be in the top five occupations and with fairly stable numbers of job postings. Radiologic technologists and technicians jumped up to No. 5 with 34 unique postings.
- Health care and social assistance were back at the top of industries by unique online job postings in December 2023 with 216, down 25% from the prior December. A majority of all job postings remained in service-producing industries, though manufacturing came in No. 3 with 176 postings and construction came in No. 9 with 48 postings.
- The single occupation with the longest median posting duration was network and computer systems administrators at 55 days followed by secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive (48 days); nursing assistants (45 days); licensed practical and vocational nurses (44 days); and construction laborers (40 days).
- Snowpack in the Willow-Blackfoot-Portneuf and Bear River basins is at or above expected levels for this time of year after multiple snowfalls the past few weeks and despite a relatively mild December. While most southern Idaho basins are off to a good start, much of the rest of the state has snowpacks significantly below their expected seasonal levels. Multiple winter storms since the holidays forced many local schools to cancel classes on multiple occasions and disrupted some local businesses. Reservoirs on the Upper Snake River are at healthier levels than they were this time last year when much of the Mountain West was experiencing a multiyear drought and hydrologists are optimistic there will be carry-over through this winter season. Although the arrival of the El Nino system in the Pacific Ocean might still bring a drier winter this season, the seasonal outlook remains drought free. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
- Idaho State University named Robert Wagner as the new university president. Wagner currently serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Utah State University (USU) in Logan, UT and previously served as USU’s vice president of academic and instructional services, executive vice provost and dean of academic and instructional services, and vice provost of regional campuses and distance education. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Idaho State University’s Department of Communications and Disorders received $2.2 million in grants from the Office of Special Education Personnel Preparation to train students and educators who will work with children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. These grants will fund training, tuition and stipends for 42 students working to become service providers in speech language pathology or audiology. Source: Idaho Capital Sun
- Tavian and Bryndon Belnap purchased the local orthodontics practice of Dr. Summers located in Pocatello and Blackfoot. The new practice is named Belnap and Summers Orthodontics. Source: Idaho State Journal
Bannock County
- Chubbuck dessert shop Woodland Orchards is temporarily closed after a fire severely damaged the business in addition to the owner’s home. The business is expected to remain closed for the remainder of the year while repairs are made on the structure. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Pocatello bar and grill Clydesdale’s announced it will be closing in March and auctioning all business property. The owners of the decades-old establishment hope to host a customer and employee appreciation party between now and their final day in business. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Portneuf Valley Soccer Club will have a new indoor soccer facility inside Pocatello’s Titan Center on the city’s northside. The facility will include four 7-by-7 soccer fields, four baseball batting cages, a multipurpose field, seated spectator areas, on-site parking, a gym/workout area and a sports retail store. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Franchise restaurant chain Wingstop opened a new location in Chubbuck located on Yellowstone Avenue near Pole Line Road. The business will employ 24 workers. Source: Idaho State Journal
- Arizona-based commercial real estate acquisition and development company SimonCRE is looking into purchasing and redeveloping Chubbuck’s Pine Ridge Mall with the possibility of a Target moving into one of the spaces. The company is still about two months out from announcing details of the plan. Source: Idaho State Journal
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 and Teton counties
Region News
- Labor force estimates for December 2023 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics program showed both the number of employed and unemployed decreasing over the month in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, December’s preliminary estimates show a decrease of 1,021 labor force participants from November, with 173 less unemployed and 848 less that are employed. Seasonally adjusted unemployment again decreased slightly to 2.5% over the month, but half a percentage point higher than it was one year prior.
- There were an estimated 1,704 unique job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for December 2023, according to the Conference Board’s Help Wanted Online application. (Note that this is regional job postings data, and not necessarily job openings data.) The 1,704 postings are a decrease from 1,979 (-14%) the prior month and a decrease from 2,168 (-21%) the prior year. Retail salespeople again lead the top occupations by unique (deduplicated) job postings in the region for December. Retail sales supervisors surpassed customer service representatives and tractor-trailer drivers in second place on the list of occupations by unique job postings. Driver/sales workers replaced registered nurses in the top five. Cashiers and maintenance and repair workers replaced fast food workers and managers on the top-ten list since last month. All other occupations carried over from November’s list. Employer job demand, from a job postings perspective, increased for retail supervisors only (17%). Conversely, there were notable decreases in postings for tractor trailer drivers (-27%), freight/stock/material laborers (-28%), driver/sales workers (-30%) and registered nurses (-34%).
- Retail trade swapped with professional, scientific and tech services in the top spot for eastern Idaho rankings of top industries by unique job postings for December. Accommodation and food services moved up one spot ahead of construction as did public administration, moving ahead of education services. There was an increase in retail trade and education service job postings in December. Conversely, all other top industries on the list reported a reduction in job postings.
- December data from the Conference Board denotes the hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, in terms of combination of time to fill (median job posting duration) and multiple unique job postings. These included food service managers, fast food workers, heavy and light truck drivers and sales reps. Hard-to-fill job postings in December by occupational family were food preparation and serving, transportation and material moving and sales and related. The only carryovers from the prior month of hard-to-fill occupations were food service managers, heavy truck drivers and sales reps.
Region Developments
- Rehabilitative Health Services in Ammon opened its doors to a new program, CARES for YOUth. The program focuses on community-based intensive treatment for adolescents ages 12 to 17 in eastern Idaho. Source: Post Register
- At the end of 2023, Idaho Falls Regional Airport checked in 535,000 passengers, an average of 1,700 to 2,000 passengers daily. The airport recorded its second-busiest year ever, and 2023 would have been a record if not for an unprecedented one-time influx of passengers due to maintenance work that closed Jackson Hole Airport in early 2022. This contributed to a record 628,329-passenger-record the year prior. Source: Post Register
- The College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) reported a 14.4% increase in credit student enrollment for the 2024 spring semester. Since its transition to a community college in 2017, CEI has consistently expanded its student body each academic year. CEI has witnessed a 244% increase in its total credit student headcount between 2017 and 2023 and anticipates continued enrollment expansion with the implementation of the Idaho LAUNCH program beginning in the Fall of 2024. Source: KIFI Local News 8
- Brad Little, joined by Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke and Workforce Development Council Executive Director Wendi Secrist visited Sugar-Salem High School to tell students about the Idaho LAUNCH initiative. As of Jan. 3, the total number of applications started for Idaho LAUNCH was 12,642. In the Madison School District, 32% of seniors are applying for Idaho LAUNCH, with Fremont County Joint District having 60% of seniors applying and Sugar-Salem Joint District having 81% of seniors applying. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
- Ian Turner will become the new director of the Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) on Feb. 1. Turner will be responsible for the administration, planning, organizing, directing and controlling of all financial and operational activities. IDA is served by five major airlines, including American, Alaska, Delta, United and Allegiant. For the last three years, IDA has seen double-digit passenger growth. Six new non-stop destinations have been added in the past two years in response to tremendous regional growth. In addition, IDA has seen increased cargo growth year-over-year for the last four years. Source: City of Idaho Falls news release
- Idaho National Laboratory researchers and Idaho State University (ISU) nuclear engineering students developed the world’s first nuclear reactor digital twin — a virtual replica of ISU’s AGN-201 reactor — in a campus collaboration. Digital twins are virtual models of real-life assets, such as complex infrastructure, machines or buildings. By modeling nuclear reactors, digital twins allow researchers to understand how certain changes affect the entire system, without making an irreversible change to the physical reactor itself. Digital twins could save nuclear energy researchers time and money, especially as new, innovative reactors come online. Source: East Idaho News
- Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner testified before the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the opportunities and challenges facing the nuclear energy industry. The hearing came less than a month after the cancellation of Utah Associated Municipal Power System and NuScale Power’s Carbon Free Power Project, which would have built six 77-megawatt nuclear power modules at Idaho National Laboratory. Source: Post Register
- Various local city and county offices, libraries, schools, business and other agencies closed Jan. 9 – 16 due to inclement weather conditions, including blowing snow, a blizzard warning and dangerously cold temperatures. Source: East Idaho News
Bonneville County
- The Give Back Soup Shack has opened in Idaho Falls. Every month, a portion of its profits will benefit a specific community cause. The Bonneville County Jail’s I.G.N.I.T.E (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally through Education) program will benefit from December’s profits. Source: East Idaho News
- Phase 4 Stereo in Ammon launched an electronics museum inside its shop. Source: East Idaho News
- Ammon City Council approved Grand Peak Medical’s plot of land and development agreement to bring a new multi-use medical facility to the north side of Ammon and a conditional use permit for a new Les Schwab tire store. Source: Post Register
- The city of Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Department is searching for concessionaires to run and operate any or all three cafes at the Idaho Falls Municipal Golf Courses: Pinecrest, Sand Creek and Sage Lakes. Months of operation will be March through September and the cafes will ideally be open seven days a week. Winning proposals for concessionaires will run through 2026. Source: East Idaho News
- ERIKS North America, Inc. extended a lease on 8,680 square feet of industrial space in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Business Review
- The City of Idaho Falls and Idaho Falls Sanitation will end a 20-year-long recycling program at 13 receptacle sites due to excessive expense. Source: Post Register
- Ammon city fiber network completed its LID (local improvement district) 5 process and is well into LID 6, the second-to-last step to being fiber-ready city wide. Source: Post Register
- The Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Ammon is closed indefinitely due to fire damage. Source: KIFI Local News 8
- Budget cuts are on the way for Idaho Falls School District 91. This year the schools will be using savings to cover expenses and will be put on an immediate strategic hiring freeze. No staffing cuts for current employees will be made at this time. To balance the budget the district will reportedly need to make at least $4 million in cuts for the 2024-25 school years. Source: KIFI Local News 8
- The December Bonneville County median home listing prices marginally increased from last month to $420,000 and decreased from this time last year (-4%). The county decreased in active home listings both month-over-month (-6%) and year-over-year (-14%). Median days on the market increased by 14 to 61 days. New listings were down from the month prior (-21%) and over the year (-19%). There were 68 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in December (-57%). Source: Realtor.com
Butte County
- Butte County median home prices for December decreased to $247,000 over the month (-4%) and from this time last year (-9%). Active home listings decreased month-over-month (-7%), but increased year-over-year (31%). Median days on the market increased by six to 90 days. New listings decreased from the month prior (-100%) and no data was reported for change over the year. There were no homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in December. Source: Realtor.com
Clark County
- Clark County’s median home listing prices increased from last month to $240,000 (13%) in December but decreased over the year (-79%). Median days on the market increased by 56 to 131 days. There was no data reported for new listings nor homes that reduced their listing prices in December. Source: Realtor.com
Custer County
- Two Challis High School seniors, Alley Waters and Makayla Bruno, completed senior projects that will benefit students in the school district with 818 free lunches from $2,771 raised and another $12,043 raised for the schools’ disability sensory rooms. Source: Challis Messenger
- Grants awarded in December by The HUB (Help Us Build) set another record. The 2023 grant awards to 55 local entities and individuals totaled $85,640, up 40% from 2022. Money raised at the Challis thrift shop is reinvested into the community. Since 1976, grants total at least $1,023,324. Source: Challis Messenger
- The Challis Bureau of Land Management local office will use $9.1 million in federal Inflation Reduction Act money for watershed restoration, invasive weed control and effective uses of water projects. The Challis office must obligate 50% of the $9.1 million this year and spend the entire amount within four years. Funds will be used on the restoration of the Upper Salmon River watershed, including riparian fencing, maintenance and replacement of various infrastructure and instream habitat restoration. Source: Challis Messenger
- The December Custer County median home listing prices marginally decreased to $575,000 from last month, but increased year-over-year (15%). The county decreased in month-over-month active home listings (-2%), but increased year-over-year (20%). Median days on the market increased by two to 103 days. There was no data reported for new listings nor homes that reduced their listing prices in December. Source: Realtor.com
Fremont County
- South Fremont High School’s business education department received a $22,000 grant from the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education for new technology and equipment. This includes creating a video/broadcasting studio and other technology updates to advance the current digital and graphic communication courses. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
- A structure fire destroyed the Sutton Saw Service shop. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
- Recent snow will provide a big boost to winter tourism in Island Park, and more snow is on the way for snowmobiling, flat tire biking, snow kiting, cross-country skiing and Yellowstone options. Some businesses shared they had a slower start this year as the snow hasn’t been as abundant as it was from the record-breaking winter of 2023. Source: KIFI Local News 8
- The December Fremont County median home prices increased to $699,000 both over the month (2%) and over the year (5%). Active home listings decreased month-over-month (-13%), but increased year-over-year (28%). Median days on the market increased by 11 to 103 days. New listings are down from the month prior (-64%). There were four homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in December (-78%). Source: Realtor.com
Jefferson County
- There was an accidental structure fire at the Ririe Fire Station that burned an auxiliary building, housing their water tender trucks and other equipment. At least four fire vehicles were damaged. Source: East Idaho News
- Jefferson School District 251 will build a state-of-the-art Career Technical Education facility thanks to a $5.3 million grant by the Idaho Career Ready Students Program in November. The district also received a generous donation – a 30,000-square-foot structure from R & M Steel – which will have room for the auto, nursing, robotics and cybersecurity programs. Source: East Idaho News
- The December Jefferson County median home listing prices decreased to $495,000 both month-over-month (-4%) and over the year (-9%). Active home listings dropped month-over-month (-14%) and year-over-year (-3%). Median days on the market increased by 10 to 78 days. New listings decreased from the month prior (-57%). There were 16 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in December (-38%). Source: Realtor.com
Lemhi County
- The December Lemhi County median home listing prices decreased to $600,000 both month-over-month (-10%) and over the year (-14%). Active home listings dropped month-over-month (-8%), but increased year-over-year (21%). Median days on the market increased by 13 to 121 days. New listings increased from the month prior (100%). There were no homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in December (-100%). Source: Realtor.com
Madison County
- Rink 99, a multipurpose outdoor ice-skating rink, opened in Sugar City. Source: East Idaho News
- The Hibbard Elementary School is ready for students after a $25.5 million bond approved in 2022. The new school increased by 10 classrooms, enhanced by 30,000 more square feet than the old school, and increased capacity by 465 students. Two new teachers have also been hired. Source: East Idaho News
- Chesbro Music Company in Rexburg permanently closed its shop. Source: East Idaho News
- The City of Rexburg received a $4 million Idaho Transportation Department Grant to relocate the Rexburg-Madison County Airport. This grant will be used in partnership with Public Works, the FAA and BLM for the airport in 2024. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
- The December Madison County median home listing prices marginally decreased to $379,900 both over the month and over the year (-5%). Active home listings dropped month-over-month (-4%), but increased year-over-year (13%). Median days on the market increased by eight to 54 days. New listings decreased over the month (-52%). There were eight homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in December (-64%). Source: Realtor.com
Teton County
- Endo Peaks, an e-bike rental and purchase establishment, opened in Driggs. Source: Teton Valley News
- MAG Capital Partners purchased a 60,056-square-foot, multi-building warehouse/storage property on 20 acres in Driggs. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Teton Valley Hospital qualifies as a critical access hospital because of the rural aspect of Teton Valley with level-four trauma certified nurses and physicians. A new program — acute care and swing-bed — no longer requires the hospital to have patients in for three nights before accepting them into the ‘swing-bed’ program (professional care without being in acute need). New equipment and assets acquired in 2023 increased the hospital’s capacity to treat patients with new infusion line and wound care, lab equipment, ultrasound machine and MRI services that run five days a week. The hospital employs around 140 local individuals. Source: Teton Valley News
- The Teton Regional Economic Coalition plans to vacate the Geo Center in Driggs. The Downtown Driggs Association proposed to take over the operation as a partner with the city to have a location in Driggs Plaza, as many events happen around the Geo Center. The city authorized an additional $15,000 to bring on a full-time staff member. Source: Teton Valley News
- The Driggs/Idaho Falls Civil Air Patrol squadron established an aviation program for youth, providing emergency services for Teton Valley and engaging in aerospace programs. The national glider program makes Driggs a hub, offering hands-on experience for young participants. The 32-cadet squadron completes 200 flights per season. Collaboration with the emergency management committee for Teton County is underway, including future search and rescue simulations. Source: Teton Valley News.
- The Idaho Transportation Department Board of Directors recently awarded the City of Victor a grant for $692,000 to transform an unimproved dirt section of Agate Avenue between larkspur Avenue and Aspen Road into a complete street. Out of 127 grant applications from local governments, 48 — including the city of Victor — were approved to receive funding through the department’s Strategic Initiatives Program. Source: Teton Valley News
- The Teton County Fire District and Sheriff’s Office took just under 13,000 calls for 2023; however, the severity of the cases increased, which requires more hours as felonies take more time and attention from the deputies and staff. Last year was a partially staffed sheriff’s office for most of the year, resulting in staff covering dispatch shifts while only one deputy was responsible for responding to all calls. There is currently a full operating staff, with two dispatch positions filling with one last open position to be filled. The annual fire department report showed a 13% increase in calls this past year as it responded to 68% medical-related calls and 32% fire, rescue and services calls. The fire department responded to a record breaking 1,011 calls in 2023. Source: Teton Valley News
- Teton Valley Food Pantry–Food for Good, a division of the Community Resource Center of Teton Valley, relied heavily on the largest grocer in Driggs to distribute food to the community at pop-up locations. The grocer chose instead to work with a national program to donate its unsellable food, and the pantry has less food to distribute to needy households. Last month, the Driggs-based pantry distributed food to a record 850 families, not including people who came in for food rescue only. The pantry is seeking new donors and has acquired Swan Valley General Store, Victor Valley Market with the support of an undisclosed donor. The pantry shelves which were bare at times last summer due to a national food shortage and increased food prices, are full again. The pantry has grown significantly since last year, preparing to provide food supplements to an average of 700 households a month. Source: Teton Valley News
- The December Teton County median home prices decreased to $649,500 month-over-month (-21%) and year-over-year (-28%). Active home listings dropped slightly month-over-month (1%) but decreased year-over-year (-5%). Median days on the market decreased by four to 90 days. New listings decreased from the month prior (-47%). There were 12 homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in December (100%). Source: Realtor.com
Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 557-2500 ext. 3628
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.