Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of December 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, Kootenai and Shoshone counties
Regional news
Bonner County
- An application for a large industrial facility in northern Sandpoint is under review by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Although the operator of the proposed facility has not been announced yet, the traffic impact study for the project indicates a 25,500 square foot facility which would employ roughly 150 people. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
Kootenai County
- Construction is underway on a new food truck and restaurant court in Post Falls. Named Eats on Spokane Street, the facility will feature a 1,500 square foot bar and restaurant with outdoor spaces for seven food trucks. Confirmed tenants so far include MelFit Healthy Kitchen, Nachos Cantina and a Charcuteria food truck. Construction on the $1.2 million project has begun and the space is expected to open in the spring of 2025. Source: Journal of Business
- A large new commercial center is being built on Highway 41 in northern Post Falls. The Early Dawn Commercial Center will include three separate buildings of 12,000 square feet each, with space for five or six commercial suites per structure. The facility is expected to open in April. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- North Idaho College is finalizing plans to cut its athletics budget by about $1.8 million over the next two years. College leadership began examining options for reducing the athletics budget after it increased sharply over the last two school years, from $2.2 million to $6.2 million. The current proposal entails reducing funding for tuition, fees, and housing for student athletes, as well as eliminating the golf program. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
Openings
- Lanai (Coeur d’Alene)
- Rose Restorative (Post Falls)
- Boiada Brazilian Grill (Coeur d’Alene)
- Oval Office restaurant (Re-opening in Coeur d’Alene)
- Lash & Locks Girl Studio (Coeur d’Alene)
- Albatross Golf Experience (Coeur d’Alene)
- Squad9 (Post Falls)
- REVV Health (Coeur d’Alene)
- Earth Fairy Holistics (Coeur d’Alene)
Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2353
NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO
Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties
Regional news
North Central Idaho
- Vista Outdoor closed its sale of The Kinetic Group ammunition operations to Czechoslovak Group. All of Lewiston’s CCI/Speer employees are now under new ownership. CCI/Speer is one of the top three employers in both Nez Perce County and within the north central region. Along with Lewiston, the transaction includes all of Vista Outdoor’s sporting products manufacturing operations (renamed The Kinetic Group) in Minnesota, Arkansas and Oregon. No new local job opportunities have been publicly posted since the change of company ownership occurred. Source: Vista Outdoor, Idaho Department of Labor
- United Airlines will discontinue flights between the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport and Denver, effective Jan. 31, 2025. This daily service began in October 2021 and is the only flight United Airlines offers out of Lewiston. Remaining flights from the regional airport include Salt Lake City and Seattle, both of which are operated by Delta Airlines. Source: Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport
- Following failed reimbursement negotiations, two regional hospitals will terminate contracts with Regence BlueShield effective Jan. 1, 2025. BlueShield enrollees receiving services at St. Mary’s Health in Cottonwood or Clearwater Valley Health in Orofino will be able to receive “in-network” care rates at both hospitals during the 12-month grace period throughout all of 2025 but will be considered out of network beginning on Jan. 1, 2026. Source: Clearwater Valley Health, St. Mary’s Health
- The Nez Perce Tribe was awarded a $1.9 million America the Beautiful Challenge grant to restore 22 acres of an abandoned hydraulic mine in Leggett Creek near Elk City. The project will focus on reducing excess sediment and decreasing erosion. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- The Idaho State Board of Education approved Mountain View School District’s request to have Idaho County voters decide in May 2025 whether to split the school district into two separate districts. The school district covers the largest square area of any district in Idaho. If a simple majority vote occurs in favor, the split is scheduled to happen in fall of 2026. The last time a school district deconsolidated was in 2006 when the Mountain View School District spun off the Salmon River Joint School District in Riggins. Source: Idaho Board of Education, Idaho Ed News
Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2256
SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO
Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties
Regional news
Ada County
- Boise State University closed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center and is transitioning to a new Student Connections and Support Center. The center will have the same staff with just a different name and broader mission. There will be a new program to assist first-generation college students in all areas of growth including academic, career and personal. The center will provide a campus clothing closet with case management available, along with crisis intervention services, assistance in reporting acts of violence and resources for navigating campus life. Source: KTVB News
- Nara Ramen opened its fifth location in the Treasure Valley. This venue is in Meridian at the former Homestead Bar and Grill. Source: Idaho Statesman
Canyon County
- Caldwell School District trustees voted to allow private security officers to carry pepper spray, tasers and rifles to protect students in middle schools and high school. Source: KTVB News
Gem County
- Gem County Commissioners announced there will be specific Gem County departments combining under one roof. The availability of an Emmett facility with sufficient square footage has presented this opportunity to provide one-stop service. Source: Emmett Messenger Index
Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2172
SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO
Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties
Regional labor market information
- Labor demand in south central Idaho remained stable in November 2024, with a total of 2,525 unique job postings in the region, a 13% increase from 2,901 unique postings in October 2024. The unemployment rate increased to 0.2% from October 2024 and has increased 0.6% from November 2023. Total employment has grown 0.7% over the past year.
Regional news
Blaine County
- Dollar Mountain opened to snowboarders and skiers for the season, Dec. 13. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
- Sun Valley Resort opened seven runs on their opening day, Nov. 28. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
- The City of Ketchum is in the process of buying a three-unit residential building and adjacent lot to be converted into workforce housing. Once finalized, the city will rent to residents living and working full time in Blaine County and make more than 140% of the area median income. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Cassia County
- The Bank of Commerce opened a new branch in Burley. The current location is temporary, with a more permanent building planned to break ground next spring in 2025. Source: KMVT
- Pomerelle Mountain opened to snowboarders and skiers, Nov. 29. Source: KMVT
Twin Falls County
- The Twin Falls City Council has accepted a contract and approved funding to move forward with the planned Canyon Trail Junction and Chobani Wellness Park. The current gravel lot will be turned into a landscaped area with a permanent restroom, a larger parking lot, fitness equipment, shade structures and bouldering features. Construction is planned to take around 12 weeks with groundbreaking planned in February. Source: Magic Valley Times News
Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2364
SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO
Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power counties
Regional news
Bannock County
- The Portneuf Cancer Center held a ribbon cutting for their new Varian True Beam Linear Accelerator. This machine is the main tool for radiation oncologists to fight various types of cancer. Before this change, patients from Pocatello would have to travel a distance for this treatment, usually to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. Source: KPVI News
- The Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25, as a part of their new committee to address enrollment, is discussing the closure of Washington Elementary School as enrollment decreases and maintenance fees increase. Total enrollment in the district decreased by 1,000 students compared to seven years ago, 740 students have been in elementary schools. In response, there was a march in protest for the suggested change comprised of students, teachers and families from Caldwell Park to the school. Source: Idaho State Journal, KIFI News
- The metal and punk concert in downtown Pocatello, Mosh for Santa, was held for the benefit of the Southeast Idaho Toys for Tots program. The concert raised $20 thousand in its six-year history. Source: Idaho State Journal
Franklin County
- Five-hundred people participated and volunteered at the Bear River Massacre site restoration — reintroducing 23 native plant species back to the 350-acre plot of land. Source Idaho State Journal
Power County
- The American Falls Airport was renamed to Savage Field to honor Dave Savage for his years of service to the local aviation community. The completion of the revamped runway is set to open June 2025. Source: Power County Press
Brandon.Duong@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 236-6715
EASTERN IDAHO
Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties
Regional news
- According to Natural Resources Conservation Services mountain data from SNOTEL, the five runoff basins that comprise eastern Idaho have an average year-to-date snow water equivalent measuring 82% of median, but only 68% of median for average year-to-date precipitation. Source: Natural Resources Conservation Services
- The U.S. Small Business Administration issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration to aid businesses impacted by wildfires, including the Bench Lake and Wapiti Fires that began July 11. This makes assistance available in Butte, Custer and Lemhi counties to offset economic losses. Source: U.S. Small Business Administration
- A new memorandum of understanding between Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Idaho State University has began collaborative research in critical and strategic minerals and materials, as well as environmental sustainability and security. This research involves the study and development of materials vital to technology and industrial processes that are also at risk of supply disruptions. Some of these critical minerals are mined in eastern Idaho. Environmental sustainability research will include carbon reduction, sequestration and storage technologies, digitization and artificial intelligence, geothermal energy, as well as spent fuel storage and disposition. Sources: INL and Post Register
- Allegiant Airlines is adding a new stop to Denver from Idaho Falls Regional Airport starting May 2025. Source: KIFI
Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2347
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of a Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
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