Around Idaho: Economic activity, July 2026

Map of IdahoInformation provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of July 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 45 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 382 average weekly continuing claims during June 2026. Initial claim volume decreased 14% from the previous month and 20.2% from the 56 average weekly initial claims filed in June 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims increased 2.5% from May 2026 and decreased 21.7% from June 2025. Statewide continuing claims increased 1.9% from last month and decreased 7.8% from June 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Big Tree Construction is planning The Wilder – a new three-level mixed-use building in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The Wilder will comprise 3,000 square feet of commercial space on the main floor that will be leased to Ink and Easel Fine Art Gallery and one additional tenant. Source: Inland Northwest Business Watch
  • A open house event was held for the Hagadone Medical Clinic in Coeur d’Alene. Kootenai Health operates the clinic in partnership with the Hagadone Corporation and offers free health services for eligible Hagadone employees and their covered family members. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Lakeside Companies acquired The Highlands Golf Course in Post Falls. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Read more developments from the northern region

Lorren.Morgan@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2295

NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO

Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties

Regional news

  • The north central region reported 18 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 100 average weekly continuing claims during June 2026. Initial claim volume increased 12% from the previous month and decreased 25% from the 24 average weekly initial claims filed in June 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in north central during June decreased 29% from May 2026 and 33% from the 150 average weekly claims in June 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims increased 2% from May 2026 and decreased 22% from June 2025. Statewide continuing claims increased 2% from last month and decreased 8% from June 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Golden Ticket Cinemas took over Village Centre Cinemas in Moscow and Lewiston in July 2026. Golden Ticket Cinemas currently operates in 17 states and this agreement represents the company’s first presence in Idaho. Source: Lewiston Tribune
  • Six counties in Idaho’s panhandle – including Clearwater, Latah and Nez Perce – received presidential approval for the Major Disaster Declaration following the March 2026 storm that resulted in $5.9 million in regional damage. The approval activates the Public Assistance Program to aid in recovery of critical infrastructure impacted by severe flooding and landslides. Source: Idaho Office of Emergency Management
  • The University of Idaho is offering three new artificial intelligence degrees starting in Fall 2026 – a bachelor’s, a master’s of science and a master’s of engineering. Courses can be completed at either the Moscow or Coeur d’Alene campus. Source: University of Idaho

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

  • The Claremont Fire in the Boise Foothills burned 6,817 acres with Boise County receiving up to level three evacuation orders during early stages. As of July 19, the fire was 84% contained. Closures will remain until Aug. 1 for Bureau of Land Management areas between 8th St., Rocky Canyon Road and Boise Ridge Road. Source: Idaho News 6
  • The Ada County Jail kicked off a $20 million expansion project to address overcrowding and modernization needs as its daily inmate population consistently surpasses 1,000 people. Funded by money previously set aside by the county, this first phase focuses on a major overhaul of the jail’s outdated kitchen, which currently stretches past its intended capacity to prepare roughly 4,000 meals a day. While construction crews install a temporary trailer kitchen and a permanent secure corridor, the upgrade will integrate new technology to maximize cooking efficiency rather than just expanding the room’s footprint. The first phase is scheduled for completion by July 2027, laying the groundwork for potential future phases, including additional inmate housing pods and a new booking area, once further funding is secured. Source: Idaho News 6
  • Boise Airport received $74 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants to continue growth. The funding comes from three grants including a grant to support reconstruction of a parallel runway ($59.4 million), a grant to add a visual guidance system to the reconstructed runway to help with landings ($4.9 million) and another grant to help complete construction of aircraft apron for the future Concourse A ($9.6 million). This will increase aircraft parking to allow better service to the Boise area. Source: Idaho Press
  • Gem County commissioners approved a 393-acre gravel mining project known as Merrill’s Pit near Star Lane in Emmett. The project, proposed by Granite Excavation, faced pushback from local residents organized under the Southwest Gem Community Association, who raised concerns over dropping property values, heavy traffic, dust pollution and potential disruptions to local wildlife. Despite setbacks, the project was ultimately greenlit with a lifespan spanning up to 20 years, after which the developer plans to reclaim the land by leaving behind roughly 40 homes and a series of reclaimed ponds. Source: Idaho News 6
  • Payette County Paramedics, a small ambulance district that serves a county of nearly 26,000 people, is down to only one active ambulance due to rising costs but not rising revenue. Roughly 11% of 911 medical emergencies are handled by other county paramedics as Payette can’t keep up with time sensitive emergency response times. Attempts to secure further funding have missed the mark granting one-time funds rather than long-term cost solutions. Source: BoiseDev

Read more developments from the southwestern region

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

  • The Cassia County Joint School District has cut back 17 teaching positions for the upcoming school year. This reduction in staff is due to flat state funding and declining enrollment. Source: KMVT
  • Blaine County has approved the development of the McHanville medical building, a two-story 14,000 square foot medical office adjacent to St. Lukes’s Wood River Medical Center. Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2027 and is estimated to be completed in 2028. Source: Idaho Mountain Express

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

  • The Pocatello City Council approved an agreement to conduct preliminary engineering work to assess the feasibility of a new railroad crossing on Phil Meador Avenue to Bullock Street. Source: East Idaho News
  • Portneuf Valley Development Corporation and Idaho State University held a forum with representatives from Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium to explore nuclear energy in Bannock County. Small modular nuclear reactors were discussed, as was the viability of a reactor in Downey and Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • The Pocatello City Council voted four to one in upholding the denial of Lex Development’s conditional use permit for an Artificial Intelligence data center. Developer Schultz has 28 days to file a lawsuit to contest this ruling. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • The Fort Hall Fire Station opened after two years of construction. The new, 25,699 square foot, station will house 18 line personnel and four administrative staff. The new facility is also capable of housing the entire fleet where before trucks had to be distributed in different buildings with one truck outside year-around. Source: KPVI News, Idaho State Journal
  • Grace Medical Clinic opened in Grace, Idaho. This is an expansion of the wider Caribou Medical Clinic. The clinic hosted a ribbon cutting July 13. Source: The News Examiner

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

  • Government officials and members of the nuclear industry celebrated a new “Golden Era of Nuclear Power” at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls, following a major milestone at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright delivered the keynote, emphasizing the nation’s momentum in advancing next-generation nuclear energy. The celebration marked the successful criticality demonstration of Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 advanced reactor at INL—the first privately developed non-light-water reactor to achieve this milestone in more than 40 years. It paves the way for future commercial deployment, with hopes to begin producing electricity as early as 2027. It is part of the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program aiming to power military sites, data centers, remote communities and space missions. Source: KIFI
  • As the Unity microreactor achieved criticality at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Deployable Energy unveiled a compact, one-megawatt nuclear battery small enough to fit in a pickup truck, yet powerful enough to supply 700 homes for five years. The Unity reactor, part of a trio of advanced reactors launched under a 2025 executive order, is designed for rapid deployment and broad site flexibility. This innovation could make nuclear energy more accessible and affordable. Supported by INL and the Department of Energy, Deployable Energy’s achievement marks a milestone in microreactor technology, with more advanced reactors expected to be online. Source: KIFI
  • The College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) became the first community college in Idaho to earn national accreditation for its Early College Program from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. CEI is one of 10 institutions nationwide to receive this recognition in the 2025-26 cycle, joining 136 accredited programs across 27 states. The program allows high school students to take college-level courses for credit. Source: Post Register
  • A consulting and marketing business in eastern Idaho, Conectate, received a $20,000 grant from American Express’s Shop Small Grants program, which awarded $10 million to over 500 businesses nationwide, including 10 in Idaho. Conectate has collaborated with major local organizations, such as Idaho Falls Community Hospital and the College of Eastern Idaho. Source: East Idaho News
  • Yellowstone National Park saw 903,025 recreation visits in June, a decrease both 3% from June 2025 and 4% from June 2021, which was the park’s record-setting year. Source: National Park Service

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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