Around Idaho: Economic activity, May 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of May 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

  • The northern region reported 67 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 761 average weekly continuing claims during April 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 12% from the previous month and 6% from the 71 average weekly initial claims filed in April 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in the region decreased 39% from March 2026 and 22% from the 978 average weekly claims in April 2025. Weekly volume for statewide initial claims decreased 15% from March 2026 and continuing claims also decreased 31% from April 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • PNGC Power and Kindle Energy have agreed to jointly construct a combined-cycle natural gas power plant in Rathdrum. The construction and design period is estimated to take approximately six years to complete. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Ponderay Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special use permit request by Avista Corporation for development of a six-acre substation on a 22-acre parcel on Bronx Road. The initial construction period is estimated to take 16 months. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality awarded over $40 million to the City of Sandpoint for wastewater infrastructure upgrades along with drinking water system improvements. Source: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
  • Safariland LLC acquired Alien Gear Holsters for $10.3 million as part of a court-approved bankruptcy auction distributing the assets of Tedder Industries LLC. Court records indicate Alien Gear Holsters employs 108 workers with operations in a 70,000 square foot facility in Post Falls. Source: Spokane Journal of Business

Read more developments from the northern region

Northern developments for May were prepared by Labor Economist Lisa Grigg.

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

  • The north central region reported 32 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 242 average weekly continuing claims during April 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 13% from the previous month and 6% from the 34 average weekly initial claims filed in April 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in north central Idaho decreased 24% from March 2026 and 36% from the 378 average weekly claims in April 2025. Weekly volume for statewide initial claims decreased 15% from March 2026 and continuing claims also decreased 31% from April 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Oregon Container Terminal and the Port of Lewiston announced a joint plan toward reintroducing container shipping along the Columbia-Snake River system along Marine Highway M-84. The Port of Lewiston previously accommodated container shipping services from 1978-2015. Sources: Daily Fly and Lewiston Tribune
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture reinstated the previously awarded $59 million Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership Program grant through the University of Idaho. The program will include the hiring of four professional staff, five graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher. Source: University of Idaho
  • The University of Idaho and Hiroshima University in Japan created the Microchip Engineering and Security Alliance (MESA) to fill demand for global engineers in semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Starting in fall 2026, students in the program will complete the first two years at Hiroshima University and transfer to University of Idaho’s Moscow campus to complete their degrees. Source: University of Idaho
  • Inland Cellular and Emerge Technologies of Lewiston acquired First Step Internet of Moscow. The partnership will combine Inland’s regional mobile network with First Step’s broadband services. Source: Inland Cellular

Read more developments from the north central region

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

  • Resolution Minerals is looking to start an exploratory drilling operation for stibnite. The project would expand Resolution’s operations in the region like the existing Yellow Pine Exploration site and the Golden Gate Hill which has already bored 14 holes. Additionally, the company has already purchased the nearby Johnson Creek Mill which will also require assessments before it is operational. Source: Valley Lookout
  • Construction began for The District on Ten Mile in Meridian under the developer Tommy Ahlquist. Currently being built are two industrial buildings, a law-enforcement focused daycare and a gym. Plans include future storefronts for Target, Panera Bread, Zao Asian Grill, Taco Bell and others. There are also plans for 400 townhomes. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • The combined AC Hotel Boise Downtown and Element by Marriott Boise Downtown opened. The 296-room facility is now the largest in Boise. The hotels have shared amenities like a gym and a rooftop restaurant. Source: Boise Dev
  • Idaho Holdings LLC submitted an application to annex 200 acres in northwestern Meridian for residential and industrial development. This is part of a wider proposed development called The Fields which would expand to 480 acres with 1,000 planned residential units, 50 acres of industrial land and some commercial development. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • Brighton Development submitted a plan to the city of Meridian to develop 570 units in zones with varying density. The plan is currently in its preliminary phase and may soon move forward with a formal application. Source: Boise Dev
  • The Meridian city council approved the annexation of 70 acres of farmland for residential and commercial development. The current plan, submitted by 5B Holdings, allocates 25 acres to commercial and 48 acres to residential development. Source: Idaho Statesman

Read more developments from the southwestern region

Southwestern developments for May were prepared by Labor Economist Brandon Duong.

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

SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO

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

Regional news

  • Idahoan Foods has announced it will cease operations at its Rupert facility at the end of June 2026. This closure will affect 61 employees. The city of Rupert is working with Idaho Commerce and regional economic partners to help employees in this transition. Source: KMVT
  • Splash Canyon Hotel, a waterpark hotel, is coming to Twin Falls in mid-June. The 61-room hotel has multi-story waterslides, hot tubs, splash pads and an indoor pool. 28 additional rooms are planned to be completed in the next six to eight months. Source: Magic Valley Times News

Read more developments from the south central region

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

  • A new proposal, from Portneuf Capital and Lex Developments, to turn the defunct Hoku polysilicon plant into an Artificial Intelligence data center was submitted. A hearing about the proposal was held May 14 in the Pocatello City Hall rejecting this proposal on grounds of lack of details about the project. Data centers aren’t listed in Pocatello’s zoning ordinance, so the hearing was necessary before issuing the permit. The plant would require 100 megawatts of electricity which is roughly what the city consumes in a year. Lex Developments is in negotiation with Idaho Power and Intermountain Gas Company to develop the infrastructure for the plant while natural gas turbines are expected to supply power while that infrastructure is built. City staff are still in talks about the wastewater implications of such a plant as the developer proposed a closed loop liquid cooling system for the site which would require less water than older data centers. Lex Development estimates 150 to 300 permanent jobs added to the economy for maintenance, security, landscaping and utilities while the estimated jobs from construction would number from 140 to 400. Total investment in construction is estimated at $2.26 billion. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • Titan Batteries opened its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Pocatello. The lithium-ion battery packs manufactured at the site are catered to the national defense Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • Thousands of southeastern Idaho residents are at risk of losing Portneuf Medical Center as an in-network provider. Negotiations were underway in May as disagreements arose between Ardent Health, the operator of Portneuf Medical Center and Regence BlueShield of Idaho. If no agreement is reached, Regence’s Pocatello customers might have to go to other hospitals like Bingham Memorial Hospital for in-network care. Sources: Idaho State Journal and Regence
  • The City of Blackfoot opened its first Starbucks, May 5. Located on Parkway Drive, the new location has 30 local employees. The café offers benefits including 401(k), health insurance and tuition assistance to its employees who range from teens to older adults. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • Bannock County and the Pocatello Fire Department are decommissioning the Inkom volunteer ambulance in July 2026. The plan is to hire four new full-time paramedics and consolidate six coordinator positions into a single role. These new roles would be staffed out of the new McCammon Fire Station. Currently, when the volunteer ambulance is unavailable, ambulances are dispatched from Pocatello, which frequently takes 30 or more minutes. The new changes would improve this response time. Sources: Idaho State Journal and East Idaho News

Read more developments from the southeastern region

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

  • The College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) in Idaho Falls, Idaho’s newest community college, held commencement for the largest graduating class in its nine-year history. A total of 626 students received associates degrees, technical certificates, apprenticeships and workforce training credentials. Source: CEI
  • The Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Launch Pad (NELP) program was unveiled at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). NELP will support advanced nuclear technology developers — Deployable Energy, General Matter, NuCube Energy (in partnership with Idaho State University) and Radiant Nuclear — with demonstration projects and fuel cycle work at INL. It is aimed to foster regional workforce development and provide new opportunities for local students and researchers as the lab becomes a hub for testing and deploying next-generation nuclear reactors. Source: POWER Magazine
  • To help modernize America’s aging irrigation canal infrastructure, Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed IrrigationViz, an online tool funded by the Department of Energy. IrrigationViz helps irrigation districts of all sizes explore upgrades — like canal lining, piping or adding hydropower and solar projects — by estimating costs, savings and energy potential. The tool addresses planning hurdles, provides mapping capabilities and helps users prioritize projects to save water and generate revenue. Source: Idaho National Laboratory
  • The Altura Community Consulting & Business Finance Center in Rexburg was awarded a $500,000 grant to supplement costs of a $6.5 million building that will be constructed next to their location. The facility will serve as a low-cost hub for new and developing Rexburg businesses. Altura assists businesses in nine counties secure and manage grants as an economic development agency. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
  • Over the past year, most eastern Idaho counties saw declining median home prices, signaling softer demand, while Teton, Jefferson and Fremont had price increases likely due to scarce or high-end inventory. Days on the market generally fell, pointing to stronger buyer activity or more realistic pricing. Inventory grew in Madison and Fremont, typical for spring, while low supply in Jefferson and Lemhi kept prices elevated. Pending home sales were mixed, suggesting uneven buyer momentum. Overall, the region is showing signs of stabilization and rebalancing between buyers and sellers. Source: Realtor.com Inventory Core Metrics

Read more developments from the eastern region

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 SFY26 as part of a Workforce Information grant (41%) and state/nonfederal funds (59%) totaling $860,595.

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