Around Idaho: Economic Activity in December 2020

Information provided in these news updates is from 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 & Shoshone Counties

Kootenai County

  • MetalQuest Unlimited, a precision machine manufacturer based in Nebraska, has chosen Post Falls for its new manufacturing facility. The company, which specializes in precision production for clients in oil, agriculture and firearms manufacturing, expects to begin production at its new Post Falls facility by the end of January, with roughly 25 employees at first. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Health care providers in Kootenai County have received the first batches of COVID-19 vaccine and have begun vaccinating frontline medical staff. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The JC Penny in the Silver Lake Mall is now slated to close in the spring after being included in the company’s recent list of planned store closures. The store had been an anchor tenant of the Silver Lake Mall and was the last remaining JC Penny in North Idaho following the previous closures of stores in Lewiston and Ponderay. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • The Post Falls City Council approved the purchase of a $415,000 parcel of riverfront property, which was the final privately held plot in the Post Falls Water Treatment Facility’s easement to the Spokane River. The parcel is expected to be acquired in anticipation of a future expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment capacity. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

OPENINGS

Coeur d’Alene

  • Boho West
  • Daybreak Coffee
  • Sushi I
  • CK Barrel Room
  • 208Nutrition
  • 208Massage
  • Inland Northwest Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery

Hayden

  • American Kickboxing Academy.
  • MiQuelle’s Natural Bath.
  • Mode Salon.

Post Falls

  • Family Dollar.
  • Jitterz Espresso.
  • Hardwick & Sons Hardware.

Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 457-8789 ext. 4451

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Increase 14 Percent

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for regular state unemployment insurance benefits increased 14 percent for the week ending Jan. 2 to 13,338, up 1,632 over the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased from 11,028 for the week ending Dec. 26 to 11,725.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 4,612 for the week ending Jan. 2, up by 386 claims, while the four-week moving average decreased by 3 percent to 4,219.

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Labor Department Partners with ID.me for Claimant Identity Verification

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 7, 2021
Media Contacts: Darlene Carnopis, darlene.carnopis@labor.idaho.gov or Georgia Smith, georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

The Idaho Department of Labor has partnered with ID.me for unemployment insurance claimant identity verification.

The information gathered from claimants is needed to make sure others are not filing claims using the person’s name and other personally identifying information. This is one step Labor is taking to help prevent fraud.

Thousands upon thousands of unemployment insurance claims have been filed by scammers using false or stolen identities across the country. It is estimated these scammers have siphoned off $36 billion in fraudulent unemployment payments from states since the start of the pandemic and the implementation of the CARES Act.

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U.S. Department of Labor Recognizes Three Idaho Businesses for Supporting Veterans

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 7, 2021
Media Contacts: Darlene Carnopis, darlene.carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

National Native American Construction Inc. of Coeur d’ Alene, Independence Indoor Shooting of Meridian and Treasure Valley Advanced Concepts LLC of Nampa each received a 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Award. This U.S. Department of Labor program recognizes U.S. employers for recruiting, hiring and retaining America’s veterans.

The awards were presented in November at a virtual ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia at the Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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Serve Idaho Announces $1.1 Million in Grant Funds Available

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 4, 2021
Media Contacts: Renee Bade,       Renee.Bade@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho nonprofit, educational, community and faith-based organizations, Indian tribes and local governments are eligible for federal funding through AmeriCorps.

Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, announced that interested organizations have until Feb. 12 to submit an application for the grants that would support the cost of running an AmeriCorps program. Grant awards vary in size based on the size and complexity of the AmeriCorps programs.

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Increase 4 Percent

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for regular state unemployment insurance benefits increased 4 percent for the week ending Dec. 26 to 11,706, up 481 over the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased from 10,412 for the week ending Dec. 19 to 11,028.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 4,226 for the week ending Dec. 26, up by 270 claims, while the four-week moving average increased by 1 percent to 4,335.

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Salmon Native Discovers Path to Teaching Career

There are many advantages to living in a town the size of Salmon, which Hannah Burch found out when she returned to her hometown after living in Alaska for four years.

“My mom ran into Julie Dodd in town and told her I was moving back and would be looking for work,” Hannah said. Julie is the manager of the Idaho Department of Labor Salmon office, and that was the contact she needed.

“Julie met with me and said she might have something,” Hannah said. That something turned into a training opportunity for Hannah to earn elementary education teacher training online through Western Governors University (WGU). And now Hannah, 26, is running a homeschool co-op for kids from kindergarten through sixth grade.

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FAQs About ID.me and Claimant Identity Verification

What is ID.me?

ID.me is the Idaho Department of Labor’s federally certified partner for verifying your identity. The department uses ID.me to prevent fraud and identity thieves from using your information to file for unemployment insurance benefits. Claimants are required to complete the digital ID.me verification process when filing for benefits online at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal.

UPDATED Oct. 18, 2021: Why do I have to sign in with ID.me just to use Claimant Portal?

The department saw significant attempts by fraudsters to file claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of that, we partnered with ID.me to require a higher identity standard to prevent fraudsters from accessing claims or filing claims on other’s behalf.  As of Oct. 13, we have taken the next step to help make sure your unemployment account is secure by having claimants log in to ID.me every time before accessing Claimant Portal.

UPDATED Oct. 12, 2021: What will I see when I go to the Claimant Portal homepage?

You will see a green button which will direct you to ID.me for your log in. You can follow our tutorial for a step-by-step guide.

UPDATED Oct. 12, 2021: How long will it take me to verify my identity each time I use Claimant Portal?

Once you have an ID.me account, most of the time it should take you just a few minutes. This authentication process is similar to what banks and other businesses use. If you have not signed into ID.me in a while, you may have to upload a new selfie photo or take other steps to verify your identity.

UPDATED Oct. 12, 2021: What if I don’t have a cell phone?

You can borrow a cell phone for the verification process at the Labor office or remote location nearest to you.

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Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Increase 6 Percent

The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for regular state unemployment insurance benefits increased six percent for the week ending Dec. 19 to 11,225, up 595 over the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased from 9,804 for the week ending Dec. 12 to 10,412.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 3,956 for the week ending Dec. 19, down by 127 claims, while the four-week moving average decreased by 4 percent to 4,276.

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Idaho’s Standard Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate Drops Approximately 18% for 2021

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Dec.18 2020
Media Contacts: Georgia Smith, Georgia.Smith@labor.idaho.gov or Darlene Carnopis, Darlene.Carnopis@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho employers will see a roughly 18 percent decrease in unemployment insurance tax rates for 2021.

The state’s new employer rate remains at 1.0 percent – the lowest rate allowed by federal conformity requirements.

“Thanks to Governor Little approving a $200 million transfer of CARES Act funding to keep the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund whole, most Idaho businesses will see a decrease in their tax rate for 2021,” said Jani Revier, Idaho Department of Labor director. “This move by the governor allows Idaho to keep UI tax rates low in the coming year and will help business owners as they navigate through these difficult times,” Revier said.

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