Region News

• An International Joint Commission comprising both American and Canadian officials will conduct a study evaluating contamination in the Kootenai River, which flows across the Idaho-Canada border and runs through Bonner’s Ferry in Boundary County. The study relates to concerns raised by Native American tribes and environmental groups, including the Kootenai Tribe, which has seen rising selenium levels in the river threaten fish stocks. Pollution in the river is suspected to originate from coal mines in British Columbia’s Elk Valley. Source: Idaho Capital Sun

Kootenai County

• Stratford Building Corp., based in Rathdrum, has launched a new product line of modular homes. Dubbed the “Living Small” brand, the new line provides a flexible assortment of modular spaces which offer multiple floorplans ranging from 450 to 840 square feet. The component buildings are constructed in Stratford’s Rathdrum facility and can be completed in between four and six weeks. Stratford offers the modular “tiny homes” as an innovative way to increase housing stock without putting additional pressure on land development. Source: Journal of Business
• Development has begun on a new $20 million retail center in Post Falls. The new development, to be named North Point Plaza, currently has five available lots, with a 7-11 and an anchor Grocery Outlet store under construction. Source: Journal of Business
• Post Falls Emergency Room and Hospital has opened in Post Falls, providing emergency and trauma care with ambulance services through Kootenai County Emergency Medical Service and American Medical Response. The 21,000 square foot facility includes five inpatient beds, 12 emergency room beds and will employ 14 physicians and 50 support staff. Source: Journal of Business
• Northwest Surgery Center opened a new outpatient surgery center in Post Falls. Operating in partnership with Northwest Specialty Hospital, the 9,000 square foot facility will focus on ambulatory procedures including orthopedic and spinal operations. Source: the Coeur d’Alene Press

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Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2353

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NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO

Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties

Region

• The Nez Perce Tribe was awarded a $37 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to install solar power infrastructure, improve residential weatherization, complete wood stove replacements and electric vehicle networks. Source: KOZE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Lewiston Tribune
• The U.S. Forest Service reported a lightning bust on July 24 with over 3,000 lightning strikes that ignited 69 known wildfires throughout north central Idaho. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour on July 25 resulted in the Gwen Fire, quickly raging through nearly 29,000 acres of Nez Perce and Latah counties. Over 160 structures, including 38 primary residences, were destroyed. The fire closed parts of both Highway 3 and Highway 12 for over three days and resulted in an evacuation order for the entire City of Juliaetta. Source: the U.S. Forest Service, Inciweb, Idaho State Patrol and Weather History
• Lewis-Clark State College will offer an online master’s degree in CyberAccounting starting Spring 2025. The program includes classes focused on data analytics, fraud examination, forensic accounting and accounting information systems. This immediately follows the launch of their first online master’s degree, a Master of Science in Nursing, that is being offered starting Fall 2024. Source: Lewis-Clark State College
• Freedom Munitions closed its Peck operations and will continue producing at its new state of the art Lewiston facility. In 2014, the Lewiston Tribune reported that the Peck facility disassembled rounds of ammunition that were either expired or didn’t meet quality specifications. Source: the Idaho Department of Labor and Lewiston Tribune
• The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will begin vacating their leased offices in Grangeville beginning in October 2024 and will redistribute employees to Kamiah, Slate Creek, Elk City and Kooskia. Source: Big Country News

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Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2256

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SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO

Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties

Region

• PetIQ, headquartered in Eagle, announced an acquisition by investment firm Bansk for $1.5 billion. The acquisition restructures ownership to private, with all common stock purchased by Bansk at $31 per share. Earlier, the company announced some closures of pet wellness centers across the nation. In the Treasure Valley, only one of the nine wellness centers is slated for closure — located in the Meridian Walmart. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Micron hosted a ribbon cutting for its new child care facility, positioned near its campus in southeast Boise. The center will start with 124 children of Micron employees. There was some private-public partnering that helped support the center’s creation. It will provide STEM curriculum along with teaching life skills to early childhood learners. The center is expected to expand its child care and education programs. Source: KTVB News
• Hart & Cooley announced it will close its fabrication and distribution plant in Nampa. The layoffs will be staggered starting in October — impacting about 65 workers. The company makes heating, ventilation and air conditioning units fueled by natural gas, which is currently out of favor environmentally. Source: WARN, Idaho Department of Labor
• McCain Foods announced it will close Great American Snacks in Nampa. An estimated 250 workers will be laid off in September, with opportunities to move to other processing plants, including one in Burley. Source: KTVB News
• Heartland RV is closing its manufacturing plant in Nampa, impacting an estimated 70 workers. The separation date is Oct. 5, 2024. Source: WARN, Idaho Department of Labor

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Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2172

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SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO

Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties

Region

• Construction job postings increased 144% over the year as more road and housing projects increased demand.

Blaine County

• Blaine County School District, in partnership with affordable housing developer Advocates for Real Community Housing, recently completed five rent-controlled homes for school district employees. Tenants will pay no more than 30% of their adjusted gross income for rent, with another deduction available for tenants with student loan debt, if the degree is related to their job. Source: Idaho Education News
• Fly Sun Valley Alliance has announced that Friedman Memorial Airport will be getting a third daily flight to Salt Lake City starting Dec. 21, 2024, with an additional Saturday flight to Los Angeles this winter. Source: Idaho Mountain Express

Cassia County

• More than $5 million in federal funding though Community Project Funding has been secured to upgrade the G Canal in Burley, along with widening the street and installing a new traffic signal on the road above, where the G Canal runs. Source: Magic Valley Times

Twin Falls County

• The Twin Falls Mainline Canal breached two miles south of Hansen on Sunday, Aug. 18. Water flooded the nearby road, N. 3800 E., as well as the nearby fields. The exact cause of the breach is unknown, but the leak has been successfully sealed and the road has reopened. Source: KMVT

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Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2364

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SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO

Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power counties

Region

• The world’s largest operational steam locomotive, Union Pacific’s “Big Boy No. 4014” visited Soda Springs and Montpelier. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Pocatello City Council voted unanimously to purchase and improve the Western Recycling building on Garrett Way. Source: KPVI News
• Private citizens raised $90,000 to build a new park in the city of Shelly. Source: East Idaho News
• Preston celebrated the 20th anniversary of the film Napoleon Dynamite with the 2024 Napoleon Fest. Activities included a school bus tour, a self-defense dojo class and a tetherball tournament, among other events. Source: Napoleon Fest, The News-Examiner
• French fry producer, Lamb Weston, opened a new factory in American Falls to produce a new line of french fries. The new factory covers 600,000 square feet and will employ 135 workers. Source: Idaho Business Review

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Brandon.Duong@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 236-6715

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EASTERN IDAHO

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

Region

• College of Eastern Idaho Future Tech building construction is underway for cybersecurity, energy systems, mechatronics, nuclear technology, battery and solar technology programs. Source: East Idaho News
• Ririe, Sugar-Salem, Salmon, Clark and Challis School Districts each received technology grants for high school classrooms. Source: Jefferson Star
• The Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act was signed into law in July, which will lead to more nuclear energy jobs including at the Idaho National Laboratory. Public-private partnerships with universities will bolster the nation’s lead in nuclear energy, industry and business. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Clark, Custer and Jefferson Counties received $1.8 million of payments in lieu of taxes from the U.S. Department of Interior to be used for infrastructural needs to compensate for public land within county lines. This includes national forests, national parks and Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation water projects. Source: Jefferson Star
• The Idaho Entrepreneur Center opened in Rexburg. Source: East Idaho News
• The $30 million Sherman Park Workforce Housing Development Agreement was approved for a 90-unit complex in Driggs. The state’s $4 million subsidy allowed them to build more units for households making 80% or less of the average median income. Construction will begin by June 2025. The developer also offered $50,000 to the city to support a park bouldering project. Source: Teton Valley News
• An affordable housing development in Victor will be built by the homeowners themselves through the USDA’s Mutual Self-Help Housing program. Source: Idaho Business Review

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Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2347

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This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY24 as part of a Workforce Information grant (48%) and state/nonfederal funds (52%) totaling $704,259.

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