Around Idaho: Economic activity, June 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of June 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 52 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 474 average weekly continuing claims during May 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 22% from the previous month and 9% from the 57 average weekly initial claims filed in May 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in the northern region during May decreased 38% from April 2026 and 14% from the 550 average weekly claims in May 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims decreased 2% from April 2026 and 25% from May 2025. Statewide continuing claims also decreased 19% from last month and 8% from May 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Encompass Health plans to build a 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Post Falls. Construction is planned to be completed in 2028 and will be the second location in Idaho — along with Boise. Source: Encompass Health
  • Jacklin Northwest is developing Jacklin Ranch Retail Center in Post Falls with 12 leasable spaces covering 18,000 square feet. The groundbreaking is planned for fall 2026 with completion in 2027. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining grossed over $300 million in proceeds after closing an initial public offering of 23 million shares of common stock. The Sunshine Mine is expected to restart silver and antimony operations in late 2028 with plans for a 24-year mine life. Source: Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining

Read more developments from the northern region

Northern developments for June 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 17 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 140 average weekly continuing claims during May 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 47% from the previous month and 11% from the 19 average weekly initial claims filed in May 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in north central Idaho during May decreased 42% from April 2026 and 31% from the 204 average weekly claims in May 2025. This compares to weekly initial claims which statewide decreased 2% from April 2026 and 25% from May 2025. Statewide continuing claims also decreased 19% from last month and 8% from May 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Lifepoint Health completed its acquisition of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center from ScionHealth. The hospital is expected to maintain its existing employees, providers and current services under the new ownership structure. Source: Lifepoint Health
  • Lewis-Clark State College launched LC State Elevate for non-traditional students looking to finish their education or complete training for career advancement. LC State Elevate programs include a direct entry graduate program in nursing leadership and healthcare, career technical education, over 20 fully online degrees and a 3-year accelerated Bachelor of Applied Science degree. Source: Lewis-Clark State College
  • Brighter Futures Clinic opened a new mental health service facility in Lewiston and will serve patients over the age of seven. Services offered include psychotherapy, Community-Based Rehabilitative Support and case management. Source: Daily Fly
  • The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality awarded a $7.3 million low-interest wastewater construction loan to the City of Kendrick to transition the current lagoon system to a mechanical treatment process. Source: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

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

  • Boise Airport was awarded nearly $9 million in federal grants from the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Terminal Program to support infrastructure improvements and accessibility upgrades. These include expansion of the airport’s electrical capacity, new central utility plant and new ADA-compliant elevators and escalators. These projects are part of future Concourse A, which will add up to 10 gates to accommodate rapidly increasing passenger traffic. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • Boise State University will lead a new nine-state partnership, the Pacific Intermountain Network for Education in Semiconductors (PINES), aimed at addressing the projected 157,000 workforce shortage in the U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics sectors by 2030. Supported by $20 million in federal CHIPS Act funding, PINES brings together colleges and universities from Colorado to Hawaii to share curriculum, faculty and hands-on industry experiences. The partnership also aims to build pathways for high-tech careers starting with pre-college programs. The initiative includes traditional students, veterans and others seeking career changers. Source: Idaho Education News
  • Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) is joining the nationwide initiative to address the projected semiconductor workforce shortage by 2030. With $80,000 in initial funding, NNU will support student research, host a semiconductor camp for local high schoolers and develop educational resources as part of a regional effort led by Boise State University. This program, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Commerce, connects education and industry to prepare students for careers in the growing semiconductor sector. Source: CBS2
  • Star and Middleton fire districts approved two separate temporary levies, giving the departments new funding tools as they face rapid population growth and rising emergency calls across Ada, Canyon and Gem counties. Source: KIVI
  • The Idaho Community Foundation awarded grants to the Boise State University Foundation for $14,500 and The College of Western Idaho Foundation for $13,500. The funding helps students facing unexpected financial emergencies stay enrolled and graduate, including assistance with tuition, housing, transportation or other essential needs. Source: Idaho Business Review

Read more developments from the southwestern region

Southwestern developments for June were prepared by Labor Economist Ryan Whitesides.

Knox.Freedman@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2547

SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO

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

Regional news

  • Idaho Milk Products has officially opened its ice cream facility in Jerome. The facility was built next to the existing plant. The facility includes three ice cream production lines and two blenders, with the possibility of expansion in the future. The company is expecting to hire 100 additional employees when the facility is fully operational. Source: KMVT
  • The Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls began a $1.8 million project to rehabilitate a general aviation ramp on the northwest end of the airfield. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June. Source: KMVT

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

  • Idaho State University (ISU) is launching the state’s first three-year degree program. This accelerated bachelor track is offered for three programs: Law Enforcement Management and Leadership, Applied Business and Professional Sales and Trustworthy Digital Systems. The programs, developed in collaboration with industry partners, aim to meet demand for these occupations by reducing credits from 120 (in a typical degree) to 90. Source: ISU, East Idaho News
  • Lex Developments LLC and Gus Schultz appealed to the City of Pocatello Hearing Examiner’s denial of a data center permit. After the Hearing Examiner denied the conditional use permit citing lack of information on the project and a heated public hearing, this appeal claims that the City of Pocatello did not follow procedure for issuing the permit. The appeal contends that the planning director was required to conduct an analysis on if the data center would have similar impact as other heavy industrial zones that were already approved for the Hoku Site. The city has 60 days to respond. Source: Idaho State Journal, KIFI News
  • A settlement between Portneuf Medical Center’s parent company Ardent Health and Regence BlueShield of Idaho was not reached by the June 15 deadline. Negotiations, made public in April, stemmed from disagreements on cost increases that Regence alleges would have raised premiums too quickly for members. Ardent Health alleges that the increases were necessary due to unpaid claims and a high claim denial rate by Regence. Source: Idaho State Journal, East Idaho News
  • Direct Communications will be expanding fiber optic internet services to Montpelier. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall. Additionally, the company is planning to expand wireless internet services to Pocatello through its subsidiary Optix. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • A groundbreaking was held for the new Fort Hall Recreation Center. With expected completion by early 2028, the 67,000 square foot facility will replace the older Timbee Hall fitness center. Gaming economic development funds financed the construction. Source: Sho-Ban 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 Idaho Community Foundation (ICF) awarded grants totaling $70,000 to Friends of the Children-Eastern Idaho, Tender Loving Care Inc., Idaho Falls Area Humanitarian Center, United Way of Idaho Falls and Bonneville County, Challis Joint School District No. 181 and Challis Public Library. These grants support a range of educational and youth-focused initiatives across their respective communities. ICF also awarded grants to the College of Eastern Idaho for $13,500 to help students facing unexpected financial emergencies stay enrolled and graduate, including assistance with tuition, housing, transportation or other essential needs. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • Brigham Young University-Idaho’s spring enrollment increased for the second year in a row, reaching 17,326 students (an increase of 1.6%). On-campus enrollment increased 2.3%, while online and internship numbers decreased slightly. About 14,800 students currently live in Rexburg. Source: Idaho Education News
  • The refurbished Idaho’s Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) DOME at Idaho National Laboratory in Arco has reopened as the world’s first dedicated test site for fueled microreactors. The facility enables private companies to safely test advanced nuclear designs and is already attracting new businesses to Idaho Falls. The first reactor demonstrations are set to begin this summer. Source: KIFI
  • Guidedwave and Sensible Photonics have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Center for Used Fuel Research to advance in a competition at Idaho National Laboratory, where they will demonstrate technologies for automated, continuous monitoring of used nuclear fuel storage canisters. After summer testing, one technology may be chosen for a larger demonstration in 2027, potentially leading to safer and more efficient fuel storage practices at nuclear plants nationwide. Source: Post Register
  • The U.S. Department of Energy and Idaho National Laboratory announced a major milestone for America’s nuclear industry: Antares Nuclear’s advanced reactor (Mark-0) achieved its first self-sustaining fission chain reaction during a demonstration in Idaho Falls. This “zero-power criticality” test confirms the reactor’s safety and paves the way for electricity production from similar advanced reactors as soon as 2027. The Mark-0 is the first privately developed non-light-water reactor to reach this stage in over 40 years, marking a significant advance in small modular nuclear technology. Source: KIFI

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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