Tag Archives: Labor economist

Around Idaho: June 2016 Economic Activity

Information provided in this article 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
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Bonner County

  • Bonner County has agreed to grant Quest Aircraft a package of tax exemptions in recognition of the company’s expansion plans. The exemptions come under a provision in Idaho code which allow a company to declare all or partial market value as tax exempt provided the company spends a minimum of $3 million on business improvements over a five year period. Source: Bonner County Daily Bee

Kootenai County

  • Several new restaurants and retail stores opened in Kootenai County, mostly in the northern and western areas around new housing developments. The Prairie Shopping Center in northern Coeur d’Alene continues to grow. Coeur d’Alene is running out of space against the lake and river in the south, which increasingly sent new business establishments and housing developments northward. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A Montana-based builder has announced plans to construct a new three-story, 52-unit apartment building in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Glenn Construction Co., confirmed it has purchased land and is currently working with the city to approve a design that will accentuate Coeur d’Alene’s downtown aesthetics. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Coeur d’Alene is in the process of a major downtown public works project which includes overhauling parking lots, city streets and pedestrian corridors around City Park and the lakefront. The goal is to better facilitate the large crowds that descend on the area for events like Ironman Triathlon and Independence Day. Source: Spokesman Review
  • Kootenai County’s Fairgrounds and Airport hosted a large training exercise which included state and local law enforcement and emergency services from Idaho and Washington, as well as federal agencies. The exercise was designed to test preparedness to respond to a major earthquake event along the Cascadia fault line. In such an earthquake scenario, northern Idaho would be expected to be a key evacuation point for Washington and Oregon residents on the Pacific Coast. Source: Spokesman Review

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Job Separations Rising in Idaho Which Is Good News for Economy

The unemployment rate is one of the most widely referenced indicators of economic health. Separations – people leaving jobs – can have a large impact on the rate. Some may view this as a negative indicator of economic strength – more separations mean a weaker job market – but that is not always the case as it depends on why people leave their jobs. Recently, data suggests separations are increasing and approaching the same levels during the recession, but this is actually a good thing.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in May 2016

Information provided in this article has been gathered from various sources throughout the state, including professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Region

  • According to a new report from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, homelessness in the five northern counties increased by 5 percent from 2015, including a 35 percent increase in the number of homeless people without access to shelter. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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In-Migration Boosts Economy on Many Levels

Out-migration had a negative impact on population growth in all but one county in south central Idaho from 2010 to 2015.

That one county — Twin Falls — has seen substantial in-migration over the past five years and is likely taking in residents who are leaving other south central Idaho counties, in addition to other parts of the state, the nation and even internationally. This is a boon for the area labor force as both domestic and international in-migration provides a source of diversely skilled workers for businesses. Twin Falls County estimates more than 1,000 foreign in-migration from 2010-2015. This addition of a vibrant, young population with the drive to rise above its previous generations, both economically and academically, is a boost during current challenges posed by an aging population.

Sudden shifts in south central Idaho county populations has traditionally been tied to jobs. In the latest Population Estimate Release from the U.S. Census Bureau, most of the region’s growth over the past year has been related to jobs but not directly. Individuals are applying for jobs and transferring in to work for some the newest companies, expanding ones or research & development companies.

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in April 2016

Information provided in this article has been gathered from various sources throughout the state, including professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Shoshone County

  • The Federal Aviation Administration approved a long-term expansion plan for the Shoshone County Airport at a cost of approximately $10.3 million. The work will take place over the next decade and will expand taxiways and add helicopter facilities. Though the Shoshone airport has very limited commercial uses, it is an important facility for emergency aircrews, including search and rescue, medical transportation and especially firefighting operations. Source: Shoshone News-Press

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in March 2016

Information provided in this article has been gathered from various sources throughout the state, including professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Kootenai County

  • Summit Cancer Centers, a national cancer-care chain of clinics, announced the opening of its newest clinic in Post Falls. The 11,000 square foot clinic is located on the campus of Northwest Specialty Hospital and will offer local residents access to cutting-edge and personalized oncology. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Kootenai Medical Center opened a 100,000 square foot expansion on March 15. The new wing includes additional patient rooms, a family birthing center and neonatal care unit. The hospital has already announced an additional phase of expansion, which will expand the emergency department and offer more room to support departments to accommodate an increasing rising number of patient visits. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Around Idaho: Economic Activity in February 2016

Information provided in this article has been gathered from various sources throughout the state, including professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Kootenai County

  • High-profile aerospace manufacturer xCraft moved from Sandpoint to Coeur d’Alene. xCraft gained national visibility after a successful and widely praised venture capital pitch on the popular show Shark Tank, where representatives demonstrated the core products: innovative and affordable recreational drone aircraft. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • Post Falls School District is moving forward with several construction projects, including the construction of a new elementary school — which does not have a name yet — and new classrooms, auditoriums and gyms to be constructed for Post Falls High School and multiple elementary schools. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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Around Idaho: January Economic Activity

Information provided in this article has been gathered from various sources throughout the state, including professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Bonner County

  • The Lake Pend Orielle school district approved hiring an architect in the first step toward replacing or renovating five school district buildings. Full details of the project have not been decided, but school officials expect roughly $55 million in total expenses. Costs are expected to be clearer once the architect completes the design for a new Sandpoint Middle School. Source: Bonner County Daily Bee
  • Bonner County Commissioners unanimously approved an application by the Alpine Cedar Mill to expand its hours of operation. The decision was delayed after opponents of the expansion protested that the mill violated noise pollution regulations. A study by the commissioners found the mill was not in violation of the county’s 70-decibel limit. The mill will now operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. Source: Bonner County Daily Bee

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Balanced Growth Driving Factor in Idaho’s Recovery

Idaho’s recovery from the recession has been among the strongest of any U.S. state. Over the past five years, Idaho has consistently ranked near or at the top in the rate of growth for employment. Idaho, significantly, does not suffer from imbalanced or lopsided growth, where one or two industries are growing while the rest of the economy struggles. Idaho has enjoyed job growth across a wide variety of sectors. The balance of this job growth can be measured using a variant called the Diffusion Index.

When evaluating job growth, it is preferable to see growth in all sectors of the economy. Some states, like North Dakota for example, experienced rapid job growth associated with a boom in oil drilling. While the oil industry is a strong employer that brings many economic benefits, it is a more stable scenario to have a diversified economy.

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Around Idaho: November Economic Activity

Information provided in this article is gathered from professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.

Northern Idaho
North Central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South Central Idaho
Southeastern
Eastern Idaho

NORTHERN IDAHO – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone counties

Kootenai County

  • Kootenai County has proposed to implement a permitting system to help track and regulate short-term vacation rentals. The issue arose over concerns that the short-term rental of homes to vacationers violates zoning laws by turning residential properties into de-facto hotels. The proposed regulations will aim to level the playing field between homeowners and traditional hotels and bed and breakfasts. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
  • A massive windstorm in November felled hundreds of trees and left 8,300 residents of Kootenai County without power, on top of 113,000 without power in Spokane. The widespread outages across the region strained the ability of utility companies to quickly restore power, even after mobilizing all their available line crews. The Kootenai County Board of Commissioners issued a declaration of disaster, authorizing local authorities to spend whatever they deem necessary to deal with the effects of the storm. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

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