Around Idaho: Economic activity, September 2026

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

  • Unemployment insurance (UI) weekly claims: The northern region reported 50 average weekly initial UI claims and 319 average weekly continuing claims during August 2026. Initial claim volume has increased 12.7% from the previous month and decreased 5.3% from August 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims decreased 13.6% from July 2026 and 29.2% from August 2025. Statewide continuing claims decreased 12.2% from last month and 12.2% from August 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • North Idaho College and Lewis‑Clark State College announced a memorandum of understanding establishing a co‑admission and co‑enrollment agreement. The agreement is designed to provide a seamless pathway for students to earn an associate degree at North Idaho College and complete a bachelor’s degree at Lewis‑Clark State College. Students participating in co‑enrollment will have access to resources at both institutions. Source: North Idaho College
  • ATC Manufacturing began construction to expand the Post Falls facility. The project will increase the facility’s size by 57,365 square feet and is expected to double workforce capacity upon completion. The expansion is projected to be finished in summer 2027. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest completed a series of facility expansions and enhancements. The hospital provides care for individuals recovering from disabilities resulting from injuries, illness or chronic medical conditions. The complete improvements increased the facility’s capacity to 70 private patient rooms. Source: Ernest Health
  • Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has continued expanding its operations in Idaho with the purchase of a large industrial building in Post Falls. This expansion will allow the company to bring two facilities online to help meet demand for its electronic devices. The new manufacturing facility is expected to be fully operational in 2027 and to initially create approximately 250 manufacturing careers. Source: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

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 15 average weekly initial unemployment insurance claims and 96 average weekly continuing claims during August 2026. Initial claim volume increased 15% from the previous month and decreased 25% from the 20 average weekly initial claims filed in August 2025. Continuing weekly claim volume in north central during August decreased 13% from July 2026 and 32% from the 141 average weekly claims in August 2025. Statewide, weekly initial claims decreased 14% from July 2026 and 29% from August 2025. Statewide continuing claims decreased 12% compared to both last month and August 2025. Source: Idaho Department of Labor
  • Both the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College were awarded four-year project grants by the Idaho State Board of Education to support artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and responsible use in Idaho education. The University of Idaho will integrate AI literacy into teacher preparation courses while Lewis-Clark State College will expand dual-credit AI and cybersecurity offerings to 16 regional school districts. Source: Idaho State Board of Education
  • Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories purchased two Idaho facilities – one in Nampa and one in Post Falls –  to manufacture electronic devices similar to what is produced in their existing Lewiston location. The new centers will open in 2027 and each is expected to employ 250 workers. Source: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
  • Clearwater Valley and Grangeville started the 2026-2027 academic year as two distinctly separate school districts that were previously part of the unified Mountain View School District. This is the first traditional Idaho school district that has deconsolidated since Salmon River split from Grangeville in 2006. Source: Idaho Ed News

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 Idaho Division of Financial Management projects state general fund revenue increased to $5.93 billion, representing a 4.5% increased rate compared to the previous fiscal year. State Budget Director Lori Wolff instructed state agencies to submit maintenance-level budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year. Most of the increased revenue will cover non-discretionary costs for public education, Medicaid and state prisons. Source: Idaho Press
  • West Ada School District and Middleton School District broke ground on two new facilities, Freedom Elementary and a rebuilt Lake Hazel Elementary campus. Funding for both school construction projects is sourced from state allocations, including House Bill 521, rather than new local tax measures or bonds. The new facilities are intended to increase student capacity and address regional school overcrowding issues without increasing local property taxes. Source: BoiseDev
  • Micron Technology announced plans to invest $10 billion over the next decade to build a new dedicated semiconductor research facility, Micron Research Labs, in Boise. Groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for 2027, with the site designed to accommodate hundreds of researchers, foster industry and academic partnerships, and advance artificial intelligence memory technologies. The investment aims to support local employment across construction, education, and technology sectors while expanding the company’s existing domestic research and development infrastructure. Source: KTVB7
  • Meta Platforms officially completed and launched its new 750,000-square-foot data center in Kuna, which was built specifically to support advanced artificial intelligence workload operations. The facility features specialized liquid-cooling systems and closed-loop water technology designed to decrease overall resource consumption compared to traditional data infrastructure. Company representatives indicated that the operational facility supports long-term technical operations while funding critical local municipal infrastructure improvements across the region. Source: Idaho News 6
  • The U.S. Department of Defense partnered with Perpetua Resources and Idaho National Laboratory to advance domestic extraction and processing of antimony from the Stibnite Gold Project in central Idaho. The initiative seeks to establish a secure domestic supply chain for military-grade antimony trisulfide, a critical mineral component used in ammunition, defense munitions and national security applications. Federal officials and project partners launched a pilot processing plant to validate refining processes and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources of the strategic mineral. Source: KREM2

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

  • A new Shoshone Falls overlook has opened in Jerome. The 40-by-20-foot overlook provides a new view of the iconic scenery. The project took nine years to complete. Source: KMVT
  • Twin Falls High School has completed its new expanded welding and agriculture facility, adding 10 welding booths. This expansion allows more students to explore a future career in welding and the agriculture industry as a whole. 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

  • The Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance Company acquired Mountain West. The acquisition amounts to $800 million dollars in premiums from 130,000 members among the company and its affiliates: Mountain West, 360 Insurance Company and Mountain West Captive Reinsurance Company. The company will keep branding unchanged for its operations in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • The Lava Hot Springs reopened its hot pool after 10 months of renovations. With an average operating temperature of 112 degrees, the pool had degraded after years of operation. Additions to the pool include new surrounding landscaping and a wheelchair accessible entrance to the pool. Source: KIFI News, Idaho State Journal, Lava Hot Springs, KIFI News
  • Cielito Lindo Cocina Mexicana opened a new restaurant in Blackfoot. This will expand the restaurant’s offerings outside of its original location in Pocatello. The owner said he is also exploring future expansions in Idaho and Utah. Source: Idaho State Journal
  • The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes opened a new fish and wildlife building. The new building was constructed by the contractor Steel Design out of Idaho Falls and was financed by the American Rescue Plan. Source: Idaho State Journal

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

  • A $229,000 AI Innovation Award was granted to College of Eastern Idaho for their Building Critical AI Literacy in English, a two-year project training faculty. It is part of Accelerate Idaho: An AI-Powered Future for Teaching and Learning and funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • Antares, a nuclear microreactor startup, received a $161 million Strategic Breakthrough grant from the U.S. Space Force to develop nuclear power systems for space missions — the largest defense investment in space nuclear power in decades. Antares reached a major milestone at Idaho National Laboratory where its Mark-0 microreactor achieved initial criticality earlier this year. Antares’ Mark-1 reactor is set for operational testing in 2027 and aims to provide spacecraft with persistent, high-output power for advanced computing and maneuverability, vital for modern military satellites. The project aligns with U.S. policy goals to deploy nuclear power in space by 2028 and on the moon by 2030, as the first U.S. nuclear reactor in space since 1965. Source: Interesting Engineering
  • The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Reactor Innovation Center at Idaho National Laboratory has selected 13 new projects — led by 12 companies — to join its Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative. This program gives nuclear technology developers prioritized access to DOE authorization pathways, regulatory expertise and technical support to help move their reactor and fuel cycle innovations from concept to commercialization. The initiative aims to strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and accelerate deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. Source: Post Register
  • Idaho National Laboratory developed FORESIGHT, an AI-powered tool that helps the Department of Energy and other stakeholders monitor, predict and manage disruptions in critical materials supply chains. By analyzing diverse data sources and simulating scenarios, FORESIGHT streamlines research, forecasts risks and price trends and enables more resilient, data-driven decision-making in a rapidly changing global environment. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • SelectHealth Inc. awarded $35,000 in grants to community organizations across eastern Idaho to support initiatives such as food access, mentorship, education, disability services and preventative health. Award recipients included Friends of the Children, Global Community Partners, Idaho Hispanic Foundation, Lutheran Community Services Northwest – Safe Families, Toby’s Place, Unlimited Potential Athletics and the Upper Valley Child Advocacy Center. Source: Idaho Business Review

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 SFY27 as part of a Workforce Information grant (55%) and state/nonfederal funds (45%) totaling $649,127.

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