Around Idaho: Economic activity, August 2026

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

  • Averill Hospitality has revised its plans for a resort hotel at the current site of the Best Western Edgewater Resort. The company now intends to renovate the existing structure and construct a new five‑story south wing that will include 27 condominiums. The reopened hotel at 56 Bridge St. will feature a lobby bar, coffee venue, retail space, outdoor dining areas, a pool and spa, lawn and terrace space for events and a new restaurant. Source: Sandpoint Reader
  • Hayden-based Viking Construction Inc. has started installing the infrastructure for a 52-acre development in Rathdrum. The development will consist of 164 single-family homes, 192 apartments in eight three-story buildings and several commercial buildings. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
  • The Post Falls City Council approved the construction of 17 cottage homes. In addition to the homes, the developers plan to build extra parking, a recreational space and an outlet road for the new development area. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Idaho Economic Advisory Council recently recommended Shoshone County (Kellogg, Smelterville and Wardner) for consideration under the federal Opportunity Zone designation. Opportunity Zones are federally designated census tracts created to encourage investment in economically distressed communities. Source: Shoshone News-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 Idaho Travel Council awarded $429,000 in tourism marketing funding grants to three north central Idaho nonprofit organizations. Visit Lewis Clark Valley got awarded $173,000, Moscow Chamber of Commerce got awarded $168,000 and North Central Idaho Travel Association got awarded $88,000. Grant funding was provided by statewide lodging tax collections that increased 6% to over $24 million during the most recent fiscal year. Source: Idaho Travel Council
  • Colorado-based Nepra Foods plans to acquire the operating assets and assume the existing lease of Tsceminicum Bottling Company (doing business as Artesian Fusion) at the Port of Lewiston in August 2026. Nepra Foods plans to manufacture bottled water, beverages and products at the site for third-party customers. Source: Nepra Foods
  • The University of Idaho was granted permission from the Idaho State Board of Education for three building projects during fiscal year 2028 that with an estimated combined cost of nearly $140 million – an Applied Engineering and Science Facility (which costs $115 million), the Joint Military Science and Veterans Assistance Center (which costs $16 million) and a College of Engineering cybersecurity facility (which costs $8 million). Source: Pullman Radio
  • Five Below entered the Idaho retail market by opening its first statewide location in Lewiston in mid-August. Source: Five Below

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

  • Micron Technology’s major semiconductor fabrication expansion in Boise is projected to create approximately 17,000 regional jobs, including roughly 3,500 direct technical positions alongside thousands of construction and indirect workforce roles. To support this growth, the expansion incorporates dedicated technician training facilities and localized workforce development initiatives aimed at addressing skilled-labor demands across the regional economy. Source: CNBC
  • According to the latest occupational survey data released by the Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho ranks third in the nation for wage growth, with average hourly wages increasing 4.7% to $29.41 per hour and median wages rising to $23.06 per hour. Source: Idaho News
  • The City of Middleton has broken ground on a $68 million wastewater treatment plant expansion to meet regulatory water quality standards and accommodate regional population growth. The multi-year infrastructure project is expected to generate temporary construction jobs during development and expand long-term demand for specialized municipal operations staff. Source: Idaho News 6
  • The lightning-caused Big Grass Fire along the Idaho-Oregon border has burned nearly 579,000 acres across rangelands in Owyhee County and eastern Oregon, prompting multi-agency suppression efforts and localized land closures. Firefighting personnel and interagency incident management teams continue to work on containment, mop-up operations and habitat rehabilitation planning in affected areas. Source: Idaho Statesman

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

  • Elevate Academy in Twin Falls has opened just in time for the school year after two years of construction. The new public charter school is designed around career readiness, pairing a high school diploma with trade certification. The school’s 350 students will have options to explore many trade classes before committing to a specific trade. Source: KMVT
  • The City of Twin Falls is planning a 39-acre mixed use development with hopes to address the housing shortage, called Cook’s Corner Subdivision. Ten acres will be for commercial use, with half of the space proposed for a storage unit facility along with a gas station and convenience store. Home construction is expected to begin in the next one to two years. Source: KMVT
  • Poindexter’s costume shop is entering its last era, with owner Susan Buhler working to sell off merchandise ahead of a planned closure. Source: KMVT
  • The College of Southern Idaho’s new LeRoy Craig Center has opened in Jerome. After two years of construction, the $9.3 million-dollar, 20,000 square-foot building contains four classrooms, local labs and student areas. This new center will increase educational access to those in and near Jerome. 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

  • Lex Developments LLC filed a request with the Pocatello City Council for reconsideration pertaining to construction approval of an AI Data Center at the Defunct Hoku Plant. This follows an initial denial from the council and a follow-up hearing which took place, July 16, where this denial was upheld. The city has 60 days to respond to this request. If it is again denied, Lex Development LLC can file with Bannock County’s 6th Judicial District Court. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • The Bannock County Board of Commissioners issued a 180-day temporary moratorium on the acceptance of data center permit applications. This gives time for the county to write new Land Use and Development Ordinance. This does not apply to the city of Pocatello, only unincorporated counties. Source: Local News 8
  • Portneuf Health and Regence BlueShield reached an agreement to resume in-network coverage. In June, the contract between the two expired. The new arrangement retroactively applies. Anyone who received out of network care from Portneuf Health is now treated as in-network. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • Idaho State University announced plans to build a second nuclear microreactor under the new U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Energy Launch Pad USA program. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • Bloom to Balm, a new personal care retailer, opened in Paris, ID. Starting in 2025, owners began renovations on the building with the goal of transitioning from an online platform to a brick-and-mortar store. The store offers hand crafted balms. 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

  • The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration announced $169 million in funding across six national Tech Hubs, with Idaho and Wyoming designated as the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor Tech Hub (iNEC). The iNEC is administered by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium and supported by over 45 regional partners, including Idaho National Laboratory. The state will receive $31 million in federal grant funding. There is also $9 million in local matching and private investments, for a total of $40 million over five years. This investment aims to accelerate reactor deployment, speed commercialization of next-generation nuclear technologies and strengthen U.S. energy security and competitiveness. Source: Local News 8
  • Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is collaborating with NASA to develop nuclear power systems that enable deep space missions. INL has already supplied radioisotope generators for Mars rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance, as well as the New Horizons mission to Pluto. Currently, INL is working on four upcoming missions, including powering the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan (2028); supporting a Mars lander and rover for the Rosalind Franklin Mission (2028); launching a small fission reactor for nuclear electric propulsion to Mars (2028); and providing power for the PROMISE lunar rover (2029). INL and NASA are also planning to deploy a nuclear fission reactor on the moon by 2030 to support future lunar bases. Source: Local News 8
  • For the third time this year, the U.S. Department of Energy made staffing cutbacks at the Idaho National Laboratory. The workforce reduction was with the Specific Manufacturing Capability, which manufactures tank armor for the U.S. Army. Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the contracting operator, confirmed the layoff affected up to 50 employees. Source: East Idaho News
  • The College of Eastern Idaho, in partnership with Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (BEA), is launching the BEA Applied STEM Institute this fall. Housed in the new Future Tech Building, the institute will offer hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math education and career pathways in various fields. The goal is to connect students with real-world experiences and prepare them for careers in Idaho. Source: Local News 8
  • Intermountain Health Care Health Services Inc., a large nonprofit healthcare system based in Salt Lake City, is seeking acquisition of Idaho Falls Community Hospital and a stake in Mountain View Hospital, as well as affiliated clinics in Idaho Falls. The deal involves buying out  ownership and to keep current local management, jobs and compensation unchanged. The acquisition is pending regulatory approvals and board sign-offs. Source: Post Register

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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