Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of March and includes professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South central Idaho
Southeastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho

 

 

 

NORTHERN IDAHO

Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Bonner County

• Construction is underway on a luxury fly-in residential community in Sandpoint. SilverWing, a 44-lot development, is being built adjacent to the Sandpoint Airport with connectivity to the airport via taxiway. Units are designed for private pilots and airplane owners and will include private aircraft hangers. Source: Journal of Business.

Kootenai County

• North Idaho College (NIC) received a determination from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities extending the college’s show-cause sanction status until spring 2025. Accreditors will conduct a thorough site visit in October 2024 to determine NIC’s progress towards compliance with accrediting guidelines. A decision regarding the college’s accreditation will be delivered by April 1, 2025. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press.

Openings

• Circle K, Stateline
• The North Company, Coeur d’Alene
• First Steps Chiropractic, Hayden
• Lakeside Architecture, Lakeshore Drive
• Helmszz Deep Ink, Hayden
• Napa Auto Care, Stateline
• Ironwood Family Practice, Coeur d’Alene
• Heart City Barber, Coeur d’Alene
• Yummy Crab Seafood, Coeur d’Alene
• Vintage 77, Post Falls
• Pretty & Reckless, Coeur d’Alene

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

• The Idaho Career Ready Students Council distributed over $7 million in grants throughout Idaho. The funds will support Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in public and charter school districts. North Central recipients received over $2 million in grants, including:
  • Mountain View School District – $100,000 for CTE program upgrades.
  • Orofino Joint School District – $312,000 to expand and upgrade industrial maintenance mechanic program at Timberline.
  • Kamiah School District – $249,000 for forest product facilities and equipment.
  • Nezperce School District – $86,000 for construction of a greenhouse.
  • Lapwai School District – $1.2 million for construction of a shop facility.
  • Salmon River School District – $114,000 for upgraded agricultural shop equipment.
• American Queen Voyages, which operated the American Empress river cruise, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will no longer be docking at the Port of Clarkston. All future cruises have been immediately cancelled. As part of the bankruptcy process, the parent company, Hornblower Group, hopes to sell American Queen Voyages to a potential bidder at a proposed auction on March 27. Assuming an 80% load capacity, the American Empress vessel could have brought in around 4,000 passengers and 20% of the 21,000 Lewis Clark Valley cruise ship visitors in 2023. American Queen Voyagers operated one of the nine ships that regularly docks in the Lewis Clark Valley. American Cruise Lines, which currently docks multiple ships at the Port of Clarkston, has stated they may be interested in pursuing American Queen Voyages’ boat if the opportunity arose. Sources: Lewiston Tribune, MSN, Cruise Industry News.
  
• The University of Idaho received a $650,000 donation from Joe Ricketts’ Jackson Fork Ranch to research four native Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) animal species: pygmy rabbit, rattlesnakes, gray wolves and pronghorns. Phase 1 will last two years and increase the University of Idaho’s biodiversity conservation research within Idaho, while also increasing public awareness. Source: University of Idaho.
• Representatives from Nez Perce, Clearwater, Idaho, Lewis and Valley counties are considering whether to form a solid waste district within the region as an alternative to trucking solid waste to Missoula, Montana, or Payette, Idaho. Source: Lewiston Tribune.

Nez Perce County

• Clearwater Paper is purchasing a bleached paperboard mill in Augusta, Georgia, from Graphic Packaging Holding Company. The transaction will add 600k tons of capacity to the current 480k tons of production capacity in Lewiston, Idaho, and 340k tons in Cypress Bend, Arkansas. The transaction is expected to close in second quarter 2024. Lewiston is Clearwater Paper’s largest manufacturing facility and produces pulp, tissue and paperboard. Source: Clearwater Paper.
• The Lenore Bridge will be closed for up to six weeks, from the end of February through early April, as crews from A&R Construction replace deck timbers. Nez Perce County is currently seeking federal funds to build a new bridge, which may take up to 10 years to be constructed if approved. Source: Lewiston Tribune, Clearwater Tribune.
• United Gospel Mission broke ground on its new, 92 bed high-barrier homeless facility on Snake River Avenue in Lewiston. The two new buildings are being constructed by Kenaston Corp and are expected to be completed by fall of 2025. Source: Lewiston Tribune
• ServiceMaster Cleaning and Restoration experienced a fire at its Lewiston shop warehouse in late February with an estimated loss of over $500,000. Source: Lewiston Tribune.
• The Port of Lewiston may lease 4.4 acres for the newly expanded Idaho State Police District 2 headquarters. Funds may also be used to look at bid proposals for construction of a new Veteran Affairs (VA) clinic next to the Royal Plaza and Home Depot. The clinic is exploring a move from its current 7,000-square-foot building to a 20,000-square-foot space and could be open within two years. Source: Lewiston Tribune.
• Twenty studio and four one-bedroom apartments are being constructed in downtown Lewiston above the historic Bargain Hunter Mall on the third and fourth floor. Professional offices are planned for the second floor, and the first floor will remain retail. Completion is expected by the end of 2024. Source: Lewiston Tribune.
• The Lewiston Nez Perce County Regional Airport is suing tenant CAN-AM Partners ID for not renewing a lease that expired in 2023 and not vacating the property. Source: Lewiston Tribune.
• Port of Lewiston Commissioners approved a letter of intent for Pepsi distributor Admiral Beverage to lease 13 acres near the city’s solid waste transfer station. The company plans to construct a 75,000 to 100,000-square-foot distribution center and transfer operations to the new site. Source: Lewiston Tribune.

Idaho County

• The City of Grangeville awarded a sewer reconstruction contract to Knife River Corporation for upsizing and/or replacing existing lines. The project is expected to begin in mid-March and conclude in October. Source: Big Country News.
• The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) awarded the city of Cottonwood a $7.3 million wastewater construction loan to help fund its upcoming $27.6 million wastewater system project. Idaho DEQ previously awarded the city a $20.2 million construction grant. Between the grant and the construction loan, the project is expected to be fully funded. Source: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Latah County

• The University of Idaho reported its highest spring enrollment in at least the last 10 years. Undergraduate enrollment increased 4.6% with gains reported both for first time students and transfer students. Source: University of Idaho

Clearwater County

• ICARE Inc., a non-profit cancer support organization, will cease operations and transfer remaining funds to TLC Foundation to help community members in need of assistance due to cancer. Source: Clearwater Tribune.
• The city of Pierce adopted Ordinance No. 326, which allows the city to require a current survey or written statement from a licensed surveyor to verify property lines when a building permit is submitted. Source: Clearwater Tribune.

Lewis County

• The Upriver Youth Leadership Council Recovery Community Center held a grand opening celebration in mid-March. The center provides its members with access to recovery services, materials and coaching. Individuals seeking recovery from alcohol and substance abuse can use this safe and healthy place to focus on parts of their lives they want to change. Funding was provided through a five-year annual Partnerships for Success Community Grant totaling $375,000. Source: Lewiston Tribune, Idaho County Free Press.

Openings:

• Greenhorn Smokehouse, Riggins.
• Mac’s Steakhouse, White Bird.
• Delight’s coffee trailer, Lewiston.
• Muffin Tops This Bakery, Grangeville.
• O-Town Mugs and Grubs, Orofino.
• The Crafty Hideaway gift and craft shop, Grangeville.
• Three Beare Craft Brewery, Genesee.
• Planet Fitness, Lewiston.
• Bee’s Knees Resale clothing store, Lewiston.
• Firehouse Subs, University of Idaho, Moscow.
• McKenzie R. Lewis Attorney at Law, Grangeville.

Closings:

• Tapped gastropub is closing its Lewiston location after opening in June 2023 following multiple years of renovation. The location in Moscow will continue operations. Source: Lewiston Tribune.
• Krispy Krunchy Chicken closed in Grangeville’s NomNom after opening in early 2023. Source: Idaho County Free Press.
• Tri-Co Inc., Craigmont.

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 and Washington counties

Figure 1. Regional housing data, February 2024

Figure 2. Regional job posting analytics

Figure 3.

Ada County

• The requested judicial review of the Eagle annexation of master planned community, Avimor, was upheld. Going forward, the development will receive city services to its planned 10,000 housing units across 23,000 acres. A group named SOS Eagle filed a petition for the review on the premise that the annexation would impact Eagle residents’ property rights. Source: Idaho Press.
• The City of Boise evicted long-term residents of the Airport Inn and Rodeway Inn based on reports of criminal activity. Hotel property operators lease the ground from the city, and one hotelier admitted to being three months late on rent due to their declining income, which is based on a share of room sales. Source: KTVB News.
• Boise City Council members approved $2.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to keep the Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner providing rooms for families and people who are medically fragile and without housing. This funding should fill the gap until the Interfaith Sanctuary can renovate its new facility with an additional 40 beds. Ada County declined to extend funding for the Red Lion housing. Some people who are living at the Red Lion are working but do not make sufficient money for the high cost of renting or purchasing a home. Source: KTVB News.
• Zoo Boise announced it will build a new exhibit, part of which will house its three red pandas: Spud, Jasper and Stevie. Boise’s zoo was named one of the ‘Top 20’ zoos in the U.S. by USA Today. Fundraising is ongoing for its Heart of the Zoo campaign which will create a new education campus and renovate the Small Animal Kingdom, including the red panda exhibit. Source: KTVB News.
• Boise held its five-day music festival, Treefort, for the 12^th year. With it comes over 400 bands and an estimated 30,000 music lovers. Treefort has expanded over its lifetime to include Alefort, Dragfort, Comedyfort, Foodfort, Filmfort, Hackfort, Storyfort, Artfort, Kidfort, Skatefort, Yogafort and music talks. This year, Treefort and its organizing entity, Duck Club, installed a breathable, temporary flooring to help protect the grass at Julia Davis Park where its main stage was set up. Last year, the combined rain and snow caused trampling of grass which turned into mud. Sod had to be hauled in after the festival to repair the damaged park, so the floor will protect the park and save money. Over 25 venues offered music across downtown Boise with an economic impact estimated to reach $11 million. Source: Idaho News 6 and Idaho Press.
• The YMCA is entering into a $5 million naming rights agreement with CapEd Credit Union. The new 109,000-square-feet YMCA will be built across the street from the existing facility and will be called CapEd Credit Union YMCA. Its construction and equipment costs are estimated at $80 million. The gift allows for additional amenities including a makerspace, intergenerational space and a THRIVE (Together Helping Realize Inclusive Victories Everyday) center. Source: Idaho Press and Idaho Business Review.

Canyon County

• The College of Western Idaho purchased three types of Tesla Model 3s with grant funding from the Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education. Students will use the vehicles for specialized training through the Electric Vehicle Training Initiative. Hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming more prevalent on Idaho’s roads and the Tesla cars will provide students an opportunity to learn how to maintain more specialized automotives. Source: Idaho Press.
• West Valley Medical Center recently announced it will close its labor and delivery unit as of April 1. The hospital cited a decline in births and challenges in securing consistent workforce coverage. This comes on the heels of Emmett’s Valor Health and Bonner General Health both ending labor and delivery services in 2023. A study by the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare, made up of physicians and providers, claimed West Valley closed due to its inability to recruit obstetricians. Source: Idaho Press.

Gem County

• Emmett High School is installing new bleachers that will provide seating for people needing easier access based on ADA guidelines. The new bleachers will allow graduation ceremonies to return to the high school campus. In recent years, the ceremony has been held at the Idaho Center in Nampa. Source: Idaho Press.

Valley County

• St. Luke’s Community Health Initiative awarded $77,000 worth of funds to nonprofit grant recipients in Valley County with the five largest amounts distributed to:
  • Ignite Idaho Family Resource Center – Wellness Drop-in Day Care – $16,740.
  • Rise Up @ Thrive – Victim Support Services – $15,000.
  • West Central Mountain Youth Advocacy Coalition, Planet Youth Hope Squad – $12,300.
  • Council Valley Ambulance Journey Home – $10,000.
  • Payette Lake’s Community Association – After-School Healthy Snacks – $7,200.
    Source: The Star-News.

Groundbreakings

• In-N-Out is constructing two new locations, one near the Boise Town Square Mall and the other in Nampa. The company did not release an estimated time of completion. Source: KTVB News.
• TownePlace Suites by Marriott held a groundbreaking in Nampa for its latest property, which will feature 112 extended-stay suites. The Gardner Group purchased the parcel of land at Gateway Shopping Center in 2021. Source: Idaho Business Review.

New:

• The Warehouse in Boise’s BODO district welcomes Poppyseed Bakery & Café, a local operator with an existing Boise location, and Foy’s Franks, specializing in hot dogs. Source: Idaho Statesman.
• City of Good announced the opening of The Counter inside Boise’s Shrine Social Club. The fast, casual restaurant will serve snacks and meals with extended hours for club events. City of Good is a nonprofit organization supporting local food producers and much of their menu will consist of local products. This is City of Good’s first restaurant, and it will also utilize the space to process, store and distribute food for its programs. Source: Idaho Business Review.
• Wienerschnitzel opened its newly constructed fast-food restaurant in Meridian. It is returning to the area after operating its hot dog franchise decades ago near the Boise Town Square Mall. Two more locations are scheduled to be built in Ada and Canyon counties. Source: KTVB News.
• Medicap Pharmacy opened a new store in Cascade. It has been two years since the area’s only pharmacy, Watkins Pharmacy, was destroyed in a fire. Medicap Pharmacy currently owns pharmacies in Caldwell, Meridian, Parma, Garden Valley and Nyssa, Oregon. Source: The Star-News.

Grand Openings:

• The University of Idaho held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly constructed research and development crop facility in Parma. The facility has been coined the Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health, with a $12.1 million nod to the 118 different crops grown in the Parma area. Source: Idaho Business Review.
• Voodoo Brewing celebrated its grand opening in downtown Meridian. The company is headquartered in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and its craft beer is shipped to Idaho. This is the brewery’s second location in the Treasure Valley. The company reports its franchise is exploding nationally with 60 brewpubs opening. Source: Idaho Statesman.
• A ribbon cutting was held at the renamed Ada County Victim Services Center with a new name, logo and leadership. The center, previously named and managed as The Faces of Hope Foundation, is a collaboration between the county, local law enforcement, health care providers and the broad community to get one-stop help in the case of abuse and violence. The center has been in operation for almost 20 years and there is no cost to those in need of services. That mission will continue with 16 service providers utilizing the space. Source: Boise State Public Radio.

Closures:

• Alchemist Coffee Shop downtown closed citing high rent and low business volume. The company operates other coffee shops around Boise which will remain open. Its companion vegan restaurant closed last fall. Source: Idaho Statesman.
• The Backyard, a seasonal beer garden in Boise’s North End, has closed. It had 14 taps, two fire pits, hammock swings and food trucks. The bed and breakfast sold to a Boise entrepreneur who has not yet announced plans for the historic home and its hospitable backyard. Source: Idaho Statesman.
• The Growler Guys in Meridian closed after operating for eight years. There has been added competition, and the concept of refilling and taking home growlers has lost its shine. Source: Idaho Statesman.
• The Village Leadership Academy, a charter school in Meridian, announced it will close at the end of the school year. The school’s enrollment has declined, and it cannot meet financial obligations. Source: Idaho Education News.

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 and Twin Falls counties

Blaine County

• Bellevue City Council approved two contracts totaling $52,000 for water and sewer alarm and remote monitoring controls. Source: Idaho Mountain Express.
• After over 15 years of delays, construction has started on the Appellation Hotel. The project is expected to be completed in 2026. Source: Idaho Mountain Express.

Gooding County

• The Hagerman Academy of Agriculture and Food Science received an $884,248 grant to build a food science and processing lab. The lab will help train students with real-world experiences in the food processing industry. Source: KMVT.

Twin Falls County

• Fire station number three finished construction in late February. The station is equipped with state-of-the-art HVAC systems, as well as bedrooms and bathrooms for both men and women, which will help improve response time to incidents. Source: KMTV.

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 and Power counties

Regional

• In February 2024, there were 1,317 unique online job postings in Idaho’s southeastern labor market, up from 1,386 the prior month and 1,312 the previous February. The median posting duration stood at 28 days, up from 27 in January and 23 in February 2023.

Figure. 1

• The top occupational families by unique online job postings in southeastern Idaho continue to be health care practitioners and technical, sales and related, transportation and material moving, office and administrative support and management. Among specific occupations, retail salespersons are at the top of the list with 66 unique online postings followed by registered nurses (43), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (36), first-line supervisors of retail sales workers (35) and wholesale and manufacturing sales reps (31).

Figure 2.

• Health care and social assistance were back at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in February 2024, followed by educational instruction; finance and insurance; operations; construction; manufacturing; professional, scientific and technical services; and retail trade. Looking at specific industries, general medical and surgical hospitals had the most unique job postings while colleges, universities and professional schools jumped 25% year over year, placing them at second most.

Figure 3.

• Manufacturing occupations stood out this month for the median number of days an occupational job posting is listed. Snack food manufacturing had the greatest duration with 56 days. Construction machinery manufacturing had one of the lowest durations at 32 days. Job postings for retail occupations like convenience stores and department stores were at 48 and 47 days respectively. New to February’s ranking was snack food manufacturing, up 62% from the previous February, and department stores, up 70%.
• The Idaho Department of Water Resources and federal hydrologists’ outlook for the water year in the southernmost basins saw the most improvement between January and February. As long as the forecast exceeds 70% in the Snake River at Heise, officials expect there will be adequate water supplies. Major storage reservoirs in the Upper Snake River Basin, Jackson Lake, Palisades, Grassy Lake, Island Park, Ririe, American Falls and Lake Walcott were filled to 81% of total capacity. Aggregate for the Upper Snake above American Falls was above normal for precipitation. Snowpack accumulation is lagging in the headwater basins, but the storage system was at 118% of median. Projecting pre-irrigation season toward the first of April looks like the area will be approaching maximum levels dating back to records from 1977. Source: Post Register.

Bannock County

• A new knitting and yarn store, Knotty Twist, located inside Cottonwood Junction, opened in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Savage Railport intermodal rail terminal, in Pocatello, purchased the Idaho Rail Shop and its property, allowing for expansion to bring its railcar repairs in-house. Source: Idaho Business Review.
• The Yost-Ashcroft Family Exploration Center officially opened at the Marshall Public Library on March 1. Thanks to generous donations from the Yost and Ashcroft families, it is a space made specifically for science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• The Black Bison Dining Club opened in Pocatello by the same owner of Wild Noodle BBQ food truck. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Pony Express opened in Pocatello on Feb. 6 as the fourth Pony Express Car Wash to open in eastern Idaho. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Vanguard Tactical Laser Tag opened in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• The Apple Cottage, at Woodland Orchard in Pocatello, re-opened after being destroyed by a fire. Source: KPVI.
• The city of Pocatello will host two open houses for $450,000 in grant money for commercial landowners who want to make assessments on potential Brownfield property — land that is often abandoned or underutilized because of industrial pollution. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• The city of Pocatello will start new river projects, including river access and a complete water trail from the Gap to the reservation. They are also reportedly restoring Centennial Rainy Park. Source: KPVI.
• In conjunction with PROS Consulting Inc., Pocatello held its first meeting about the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) plan to provide an inventory and analysis of current facilities and programs, a needs analysis, a park design manual, a capital improvement plan, an operations and maintenance plan, and a funding and implementation strategies plan. The Pocatello 2040 plan recognizes the following seven core strategies: being outdoor oriented; economically robust; environmentally resilient, connected, safe and accessible; a community of great civic collaboration; having authentic and affordable neighborhoods; and celebrating the creativity within the community. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• The Portneuf Health Trust has invested in health-focused nonprofits throughout the region with a $135,000 donation to the United Way of Southeastern Idaho. Last year, the United Way, through its community investment fund, provided monetary support to 26 nonprofit programs in the region. The fund provided over $327,000 across organizations including the Bannock Youth Foundation, Family Services Alliance, Idaho Foodbank, Pocatello Free Clinic Access to Care, Health West’s Special Services Fund, among others. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• The Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cuttings at Idaho State University College of Education’s new donor wall, and Cornerstone Caregiving’s new office. Source: Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce.
• Pocatello hosted the 44th annual Simplot Games at Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome in February. Nearly 2,200 high school athletes from across the United States, Canada and Australia competed over the three-day track and field competition. Source: East Idaho News
• Pebble Creek Ski Area, within the Caribou Targhee National Forest near Inkom, just celebrated 75 years of operation. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• The Idaho Health Occupations Students of America-Future Health Professionals, a prominent health care career technical student organization, held its annual State Leadership Conference in March at Idaho State University. More than 900 high school students from throughout Idaho attended. This conference serves as a platform for talented youth to showcase their health science knowledge and skills by participating in 81 competitive events. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• The Museum of Clean announced the My World Discovery Museum will move into the Clean World Campus. By relocating from its current location inside the Pine Ridge Mall, My World will triple its operational space. Source: East Idaho News.
• Hundreds of middle and high school students gathered at Idaho State University for its annual Bengal STEM Day on Feb. 22. The day is structured to inspire students interested in science, technology, engineering and math careers. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• Median home listing prices in Bannock County increased 2% from last month to $392,975 and dropped 4% from this time last year. Active home listings dropped 6% month-over-month but increased 1% year-over-year. Median days on the market dropped by eight days to 75. New listings were up from the month prior by 48% and by 39% over the year. Listing prices for 56 homes in inventory fell in February, down 32%. Source: Realtor.com.

Bear Lake County

• A pickleball tournament in Montpelier raised over $2,300 for Bear Lake Education Foundation Scholarships. Source: News Examiner.
• Broulim’s Fresh Foods in Montpelier is undergoing a major expansion including a construction of a new service center and offices. The store will have a new self-checkout along with an expanded deli, bakery and produce section. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Median home listing prices for Bear Lake County increased 18% to $576,000 in February and 46% from this time last year. Active home listings slipped by 1% month-over-month but increased 52% year-over-year. Median days on the market increased by 14 days to 102. New listings were down 67% from the month prior and didn’t change over the year. Listing prices for four homes in inventory dropped in February. Source: Realtor.com.

Bingham County

• Pony Express Car Wash opened its new Blackfoot location. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• A new beauty salon, Beauty DeTour, opened on Parkway Space in Blackfoot. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Busy Bee Preschool donated over 360 blankets and stuffed animals to the Bingham County Sheriff’s Department for children involved in traumatic calls or accidents. Quilters from the Mennonite church sewed handmade quilts for the project. Source: The Aberdeen Times.
• The Idaho Career Ready Students Council recently distributed $7,437,410 in grants to support Career Technical Education programs within Idaho’s public and charter schools. Aberdeen School District received $4,336 for greenhouse equipment upgrades at Aberdeen High School and Shelley School District won $98,000 for materials for the student-led Save the Spuds project. Source: Big Country News.
• The Nuart Theatre in Blackfoot was selected by the Idaho Heritage Trust to receive $49,000 to support restoration of the historic building. Funds will go directly to refurbishing seat cushions. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• Mayor Carroll of Blackfoot delivered his State of the City address, highlighting that the city was losing employees until some salary and benefit adjustments were made. According to the mayor, the city now has a stable core of 114 full-time employees, including 51 new hires and a fully staffed police and fire department. City goals include hiring a domestic violence investigator, finding funds for a drone to aid investigations and finding people, hosting a fentanyl awareness town hall event, mental health support and counseling for first responders, establishing a community care fund from a $20,000 Blue Cross of Idaho grant and initiating the Downtown Revitalization project. For anyone struggling with addiction, the city and county are partnering to establish and maintain a Center of Hope. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Median home prices in Bingham County decreased 2% to $399,500 in February and dropped 4% from this time last year. Active home listings increased 6% month over month and 4% year over year. Median days on the market decreased 14 days to 71. New listings were up 90% from the month prior and down 5% over the year. Listing prices for 18 homes in inventory dropped in February, down 25% from January. Source: Realtor.com.

Caribou County

• Pace Development Group plans to build new housing in a 28-to-32-acre area west of Kelly Park, most of it residential. They are also considering other amenities for the community, such as a daycare or RV storage. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• A group of local citizens recently restarted the Soda Springs Chamber of Commerce after five years, raising hope for business owners who look to gain more tools to help grow the local economy. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Creative Center Daycare, in Soda Springs, received help through the Just Serve program from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A group of 20 volunteers painted the walls of two rooms and the facade. The daycare also earned grant funds from Just Serve to pay for new flooring. Source: The News-Examiner.
• Mayor Barthlome of Grace outlined her city goals, one of which included opening up lines of communication with citizens. The goals stemmed from a concern that city council meetings are only attended by city council members. Long term, Barthlome would also like to create a good city savings fund for when emergencies arise. Source: News-Examiner.
• Median home listing prices in Caribou County increased marginally in February to $341,500 and increased 11% from this time last year. Active home listings showed no movement month over month but dropped 21% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 12 days to 94. New listings were unchanged from the month prior but down 67% over the year. February listing prices were reduced for four homes in inventory. Source: Realtor.com.

Franklin County

• A new restaurant, Sydney’s, opened its doors in Preston at the former New York Deli location. Source: Preston Citizen.
• Franklin County Commissioners accepted a construction bid for a Search and Rescue building. Also, Twin Lakes Canal Company and Consolidated Irrigation District updated the commissioners on recent decisions to protect water from invasive species, including Quagga mussels, and requested funds to help with mitigation. Condi and Winder reservoirs have been closed to all flotation devices and will allow bank fishing only until further notice. Other reservoirs, such as Glendale, remain open, but if the risk is too great, they could also be closed to flotation devices. The commissioners approved the funding request of $5,000 for each entity, which is the same as last year. Source: Preston Citizen.
• West Side School Board met to discuss current issues, including replacing a damaged steel roof out of tight building funds and installing snow brakes over the Elwell gym and elementary classrooms to protect roof vent pipes and HVAC equipment. Next, the district’s open enrollment policy has been changed to allow a fixed 60 students to move into the district from outside the boundary. Also, a change to the rental policy was put into place, charging by the hour instead of by the day for school facilities, namely the Dahle Performing Arts Center. And finally, issues were discussed regarding PowerSchool staying up to date with student grades. Source: Preston Citizen.
• After three years of planning, the Bear River Massacre site is to begin construction on a wetland project. Utah Nature Conservancy donated $25,000 to the project for restoration of an active floodplain, including beaver dams and wetland marsh habitats which are expected to improve overall water quality in Battle Creek and in Bear River. With the help of 400 volunteers, about 10,000 native plantings have been placed along the banks. Trout Unlimited, the Bear River Environmental Coordination Committee, Utah State University and the Sageland Collaborative provided funds and expertise to the project. Source: KSL.
• Child and Protective Services is working on a contract to utilize space in the hospital. Plans are to have at least two full-time employees in Preston in the future. Source: Preston Citizen.
• The Larsen-Sant Library Committee in Dayton is looking for donations for expansion. The library has already raised $1 million toward that goal; however, due to increased costs of building supplies, the expansion went from a cost of $1.5 million to $3 million. Source: Preston Citizen.
• Preston City approved a $2,500 donation, the same as in prior years, to Consolidated Irrigation to monitor and protect local reservoirs against Quagga mussels. Source: Preston Citizen.
• Median home listing prices in Franklin County decreased 1% to $475,000 in February and dropped 2% from this time last year. Active home listings grew by 4% month over month but decreased 19% year over year. Median days on the market dropped 20 days to 35. New listings were down 57% from the month prior and 50% over the year. Listing prices for homes in inventory were unchanged in February. Source: Realtor.com.

Oneida County

• The Idaho Career Ready Students Council recently distributed $7,437,410 in grants to support Career Technical Education programs within Idaho’s public and charter schools. Oneida County School District received $40,100 for auto lift and safety equipment upgrades at Malad High School. Source: Big Country News.
• Oneida County median home listing prices slid 15% in February from to $229,500 and 18% from this time last year. Active home listings dropped 41% month over month and are down 53% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 3 days to 46. New listings were down 67% from the month prior and unchanged over the year. There were no homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com.

Power County

• The Idaho Career Ready Students Council distributed $7,437,410 in grants to support Career Technical Education programs within Idaho’s public and charter schools. Rockland School District received $49,350 for welding program equipment upgrades at Rockland High School and American Falls School District received $908,775 for an agricultural building expansion at American Falls High School. Source: Big Country News.
• The American Falls Lions Club donated $1,500 to the American Falls High School Ag Barn program teaching animal husbandry. Source: Power County Press.
• The city of American Falls removed trees in front of the courthouse to make way for curb and gutter, ADA-compliant ramp and asphalt for a total project cost of $52,206. Source: Power County Press.
• Power County median home listing prices for the month of February didn’t change from last month’s $376,750 but increased 3% over the year. Active home listings increased 5% month over month but dropped 36% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 16 days to 74. New listings were unchanged from the month prior and over the year. Listing prices were reduced for two homes in inventory. Source: Realtor.com.

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

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EASTERN IDAHO

Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties

Regional

• There were an estimated 1,739 unique job postings in the state’s eastern Idaho labor market for February 2024, according to the Conference Board: Help Wanted Online (note: this is regional job postings data and not necessarily job openings data). Postings decreased 4% from 1,810 the prior month and dropped 19% from 2,156 year-over-year. Retail salespersons again lead the top occupations by unique (deduplicated) job postings for the month. Retail sales supervisors surpassed registered nurses, ranking second in occupations by unique job postings. Farmworkers, crop, nursery and greenhouse laborers replaced managers in the top five. Construction managers, stockers and order fillers replaced software developers and fast-food workers in the top 10. All other occupations carried over from January’s list. Employer hiring demand from a job posting perspective increased 24% for retail salespersons, 13% for retail supervisors and 47% for heavy truck drivers. However, there were notable decreases in postings for registered nurses, down 50%, and customer service reps, down 23%.

Figure 1.

• Retail trade swapped with professional, scientific and technical services in rankings for February’s top industries by unique job postings. The same industries remained in the top five from January. Job postings increased by 12% for manufacturing and 34% for construction. Meanwhile, postings declined by 7% for professional, scientific and technical services, dropped 60% for education services and fell 12% for manufacturing.

Figure 2.

• February data from the Conference Board denotes which occupations were the hardest to fill in eastern Idaho. This data combines the median job posting duration with multiple unique job postings and included heavy truck drivers, wholesale and manufacturing sales, and retail supervisors. February’s hardest-to-fill job postings were for health care practitioners and technical, transportation and material moving, and construction and extraction jobs. All the same occupations carried over from the prior month.

Figure 3.

• The University of Idaho received close to a $650,000 donation from Joe Ricketts’ Jackson Fork Ranch to fund the research of four native Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) animal species. Source: University of Idaho.
• According to Idaho Department of Water Resources, the Upper Snake System is forecast to fill completely this year and is currently at 86% capacity, due to the warm winter weather. The basins saw improvement in snowpack with February storms. Precipitation ranged from 110% of normal in the Clearwater region to 244% of normal in the Little Wood Basin. Looking at the three major sub-basins, the one above Heise is at average, Henry’s Fork Basin is at average and the lower elevation basin, covering Blackfoot and Pocatello, is at 140% of normal. American Falls is measuring at 90% capacity, as is Palisades. Meanwhile, Jackson Lake is measuring at only 73% capacity. Aquifer recharge water will be available in a few weeks when the basins are spilled for flood control. Source: Jefferson Star.
• Grand Teton National Park hosted 3,417,106 recreation visits in 2023, a 22% increase from 2022. Yet, 2019 and 2023 saw similar overall numbers in visitation. In 2019, Grand Teton had higher levels of visitation in the summer, with peak months in June, July and August. Meanwhile, in 2023, the peak months shifted later in the year to July, August and September. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• The National Park Foundation and National Park Service (NPS) announced a $40 million gift to expand and improve NPS employee housing at Yellowstone. The gift will fund more than 70 new modular units to address the critical shortage of employee housing. Source: National Park Foundation.
• The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is celebrating 75 years this year. On Feb. 18, 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission picked up where the Navy left off. The former proving ground was selected as the site for a nuclear research facility, but its sole purpose was to find ways to use atomic energy for peaceful means. The INL is the nation’s leading center for nuclear energy research and development and is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Created in 1977, the DOE brought most federal energy activities under one umbrella. The INL has grown to include an Idaho Falls campus that expands its research efforts beyond nuclear energy. National security and energy, as well as environmental sustainability are part of its mission. With roughly 6,200 employees, it’s the region’s largest employer, and many benefit from its research. Source: East Idaho News.
• A Request for Quotation (RFQ) has been released by the Department of Energy (DOE) for developers interested in setting up projects on Idaho National Laboratory (INL) land and are willing to enter into a long-term lease agreement. Projects must be focused on carbon pollution-free electricity generation and could include nuclear energy, wind, solar, geothermal, net-zero microgrids, energy storage and other clean energy technologies. The DOE hopes to open the RFQ on an annual basis to solicit Carbon Free Energy (CFE) projects that become generation ready. Source: Idaho Business Review.

Bonneville County

• Bricks & Minifigs, a new-and-used Lego store, opened in Ammon. Source: Idaho Department of Labor.
• Rejuvenate Health Spa opened in Ammon inside BodyWorx Massage Therapy & Esthetics. Source: East Idaho News.
• Tru Flo, a new yoga studio, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: Post Register.
• Pony Express Car Wash owners recently acquired a site in north Idaho Falls to open a future location. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• For the past 15 years, the Snake River Animal Shelter has held its fundraiser, the Fur Ball. This year’s event raised over $100,000. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• The Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s Family Self-Sufficiency program had 94 Idaho Falls families participate in February. One family, on their way to self-sufficiency, successfully completed their program and received an escrow award check in the amount of $19,891. Source: Idaho Housing.
• Compass Academy Assistant Principal Kelly Sheridan was awarded the $25,000 Milken Educator Award for Exceptional Innovation and Maximizing the Potential for All. Source: Post Register.
• For the first time ever, an Idaho animal shelter has won the national Home 4 the Holidays contest. Snake River Animal Shelter (SRAS) won the grand prize of $25,000. The shelter’s approach to increase adoptions was multi-faceted with events, social media, promotions, media coverage, community outreach, partnerships and shelter operations. Source: KIFI Local News 8.
• The greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce held ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies at Honey Baked Ham and Bricks & Minifigs. These establishments met one of the following criteria: (1) Opened their doors within the past six months; (2) Moved to a new location due to expansion; or (3) Remodeled or expanded their current location. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce.
• Bonneville County median home listing prices marginally increased to $435,000 for February and decreased 6% from this time last year. Active home listings decreased month over month by 14%, and year over year by 21%. Median days on the market dropped by 18 days to 54. New listings were up 28% from the month prior and 21% over the year. Listing prices were reduced for 64 homes in inventory in February, down 22% from January. Source: Realtor.com.

Butte County

• Butte County median home listing prices decreased to $235,000 in February, both over the month and dropping by 21% over the year. Active home listings dropped 28% month over month and 7% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 18 days to 112. No new listings were reported from the month prior. Listing prices for two homes in inventory were reduced in February. Source: Realtor.com.

Clark County

• Clark County School District’s Tyson Schwartz, a second-grade teacher, was honored with the Outstanding Practice Award (OPA) through the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance. Source: Jefferson Star.
• Clark County median home listing prices reported no change for February at $240,000, nor over the year. The county also reported no change in active home listings month over month, nor over the year. Median days on the market increased by 28 days to 184. There was no data reported for new listings nor homes that reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com.

Custer County

• The Idaho Career Ready Students Council (ICRS) recently distributed $7,437,410 in grants to support Career Technical Education (CTE) programs within Idaho’s public and charter schools. Mackay School District received $635,000 for an animal science and diesel repair and maintenance center at Mackay Jr. and Sr. High School. Source: Big Country News.
• A Feb. 23 fundraiser for expanding the Stanley School brought volunteers closer to raising $700,000 to help fund a second new classroom and a new library. Citizens agreed to match the $550,000 the Challis school board allocated for the expansion. The district’s money will pay for one new classroom, a hallway and other work. Source: Challis Messenger.
• Metallis Resources, Inc., a mining company focused on gold, copper, nickel and silver exploration out of Vancouver, British Columbia, has entered into an agreement with Greyhound Mining and Milling, Inc. This agreement would give Metallis Resources, Inc. the option to mine the Greyhound property and Bulldog mine, however, it is still subject to regulatory approval. Source: Idaho Business Review.
• Construction of a new 300,000-gallon concrete water storage tank in Challis will be part of the upcoming city water system improvement project thanks to a $2.3 million Idaho Department of Environmental Quality grant. Source: Challis Messenger.
• Custer County median home listing prices decreased 5% to $597,500 last month but increased 20% year over year. Active home listings decreased 4% month over month but increased 21% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 13 days to 122. There was no updated data for new listings nor homes that reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com.

Fremont County

• The Henrys Fork Wildlife Alliance, Involved Property Owners of Island Park and Bear Aware Island Park received $14,000 in combined grants from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. The funds will be used to encourage the adoption of a bear-resistant container ordinance. Source: East Idaho News.
• Fremont County median home listing prices for February increased 6% to $738,750 over the month and 14% over the year. Active home listings showed no change month over month but increased 26% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 5 days to 122. New listings are down 22% from the month prior. Six homes in inventory reduced their listing prices in February. Source: Realtor.com.

Jefferson County

• The Idaho Career Ready Student Council (ICRS) recently distributed $7,437,410 in grants to support Career Technical Education (CTE) programs within Idaho’s public and charter schools. Ririe School District received $1.3 million to build an auto and diesel mechanic shop at Ririe Jr./Sr. High School. Source: Big Country News.
• The U.S. Bank branch in Rigby will officially close for business June 13. Source: Jefferson Star.
• West Jefferson School District #253 received $80,000 from the Securing Our Future grant, to be used for effective security improvements in Idaho schools. The district upgraded its lock systems and ADA doors. Source: Jefferson Star.
• The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved changes and plats for several subdivisions. The 32-lot Sunset View Estates plat in Ririe will consist of R-3 and R-1 zoning. An amended plat for a three-lot subdivision located off 600 N. in Rigby and an R-5 zone for a lot line adjustment creating three lots out of two at Willow Rose Estates were also approved. The remaining parcel necessitated an administrative plat, not just a regular division of property. The land is believed to be located where the school district was planning to eventually build another school. The short plat for Tranquility Estates, a five-lot subdivision, off 3500 E., was also approved. Source: Jefferson Star.
• Northern States, the developer chosen by Rigby Urban Renewal, will construct a building on the lot of land at 100 W. Main, which used to be the home of Me ‘N Stan’s Diner. The proposed design is a multi-use building with retail and residential space and possibly a restaurant on the ground floor. Residential apartments will be on the second. Source: Jefferson Star.
• The Rigby Police Department added three new Dodge Durango’s to its police fleet. The department also obtained laptops through Jefferson County Emergency Management’s Homeland Security Grant. Source: Jefferson Star.
• Jefferson County median home listing prices increased 5% to $508,825 month-over-month in February but decreased 1% over the year. Active home listings dipped 2% month over month and 10% year over year. Median days on the market decreased by 26 days to 57. New listings increased 60% from the month prior. February listing prices for 14 homes dropped 36% from January. Source: Realtor.com.

Lemhi County

• Two nurses at Steele Memorial Medical Center in Salmon were selected for loan repayment assistance of $5,000 each through a new state rural nursing loan repayment program. It offers nurses up to $25,000 to repay loans incurred to complete their nursing education. Source: Challis Messenger.
• Former Salmon School District Superintendent Troy Easterday resigned. Chris Born, a history teacher at Salmon High who served as the district’s superintendent from 2015 to 2022, is now acting interim superintendent. Source: Idaho Education News.
• The Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario invested $5 million into Electra Battery Materials’ cobalt sulfate refinery in Canada. Besides its focus on developing North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery and black mass demonstration plant, Electra continues advancing its exploration and cobalt-copper work at Iron Creek, Lemhi County. Source: Challis Messenger.
• Lemhi County median home listing prices increased 2% to $638,500 month over month and 5% over the year. The county saw no change in home listings month over month, but listings decreased 8% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 9 days to 132. There was no new listings data from the month prior. Listing prices were reduced for two homes in inventory. Source: Realtor.com.

Madison County

• Wanderful Workshop, a Harry Potter inspired wand shop, opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News.
• Sunnie’s Salon and Spa opened in Rexburg at Hemming Village. Source: East Idaho News.
• A new restaurant, Bonzai Ramen, is opening in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News.
• SOMA Jiu-Jitsu Academy opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News.
• Pony Express Car Wash owners recently acquired a site in Rexburg to open a future location. Source: Idaho State Journal.
• Rexburg Economic Development Department and Madison Economic Partner, Inc. hosted a BIG Idea Competition at the Hatchery Coworking Space in Rexburg, March 7. The competition encouraged innovative ideas, networking and community engagement to pitch a 90-second business plan and awarded cash prizes. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal.
• Madison Economic Partners, Inc. initiated a program, called Economic Gardening, to identify up to five businesses in the community that are beyond the start-up phase, but need additional help breaking through to bigger markets. The program funds approximately $4,700 per business enterprise or activity. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal.
• Madison County median home listing prices for February decreased 1% to $375,125 over the month and 12% over the year.  Active home listings dipped 4% month over month but increased 15% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 13 days to 83. New listings increased 150% over the month. Listing prices were reduced for 14 homes in inventory in February, down 13% from January. Source: Realtor.com.

Teton County

• A drive-thru craft coffee shop, Tetonia Grinders, opened in Tetonia. Source: Teton Valley News.
• Teton counties from Idaho and Wyoming met to connect on joint projects and possible impacts due to projected growth that connects the two counties. Officials have been working together on several projects after receiving a $20 million Teton Mobility Corridor Improvements BUILD grant in 2020 to improve the corridor between Driggs, Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming. Several improvements were approved to receive funding:
  • Stilson Transit Center – grant covers $7.2 million of $14 million cost.
  • Driggs Transit Center – grant covers $296,500 of $390,000 cost.
  • 5th Street Park ‘n Ride – grant covers $470,846 of $609,000 cost.
  • Greater Yellowstone Trail, SH-33 Pathway to Driggs Airport – grant covers $232,019 of $260,000 cost.
  • Greater Yellowstone Trail, Old Jackson Hwy Advisory shoulder – grant covers $10,246 of $15,000 cost.
  • ID 33 Baseline Road – grant covers $666,892 of $1.2 million cost.
  • ID 33 Passing Lane – grant covers $3.1 million of $5.5 million cost.
    All projects are projected to finish by 2026. Source: Teton Valley News.
• Teton School District Trustees voted to move forward with a four-day week next school year, with a caveat: the district will revert to five days if HB 521 turns out to have financial implications detrimental to the district. Source: Idaho Education News.
• The Idaho Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Teton Creek Resort (TCR) LLC, of Wyoming vs. Teton County. After approving a petition from the county for a rehearing, the Supreme Court will hold another oral argument for the case in June. The case arises from a condominium development in 1995, when a lot in Driggs was approved for Planned Unit Development with up to 16 standalone condominiums. In 2020, county officials had not recorded the plat. TCR asked the courts to require the county to record the plat and for compliance with the Idaho Condominium Property Act. Source: East Idaho News.
• The Food Pantry, Mental Health Coalition, Community Resource Center and Family Safety Network in Teton Valley nearly doubled numbers in community need in January compared to last year. An increase in food pantry need grew with 81 new households in January and 1,357 total served. The Community Resource Center saw 89 unique households in their office this January, up from 39 households year over year. They spent over double the total fund which the Center budgeted for emergent basic needs. Family Safety Network served 39 clients in January, 24 of which were new, up from 25 the year prior. The Mental Health Coalition in 2023 saw 360 people receive care; community trainings increased from 175 to 307; and 273 free counseling sessions were given. Source: Teton Valley News.
• Pine Needle Embroidery is leasing 3,500 square-feet in the Front Street Building in Driggs. Source: Idaho Business Review.
• Teton sub-watershed (represented by three SNOTEL stations at Grand Targhee, Phillips Bench and Pine Creek Pass) received an average of 10.6 inches of snow water equivalent between Feb. 1 and March 7, which is 176% of average snow water equivalent, and the fourth-highest total in the last 36 years, since record keeping began in 1989. As of March 8, the Teton watershed is now at 103% of average snow water equivalent for this time of year. Pine Creek Pass reported 123% of precipitation for the water year to date, and 123% of average snowpack. Source: Teton Valley News.
• Teton County median home listing prices increased 4% to $858,000 month over month but decreased 3% year over year. Active home listings dropped 14% month over month and 19% year over year. Median days on the market increased by 15 days to 149. New listings increased 75% from the month prior. Listing prices were reduced for eight homes in inventory in February. Source: Realtor.com.

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.