Around Idaho: Economic activity, May 2024 (2024)

Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of May 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

Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties

Benewah County

• Stimson Lumber will permanently close its small-log mill in Plummer by August 2024. The Plummer mill produces dimensional lumber (2×3, 2×4, 2×6) as well as 4×4 boards and 5×4 decking for Home Depot, Lowes and other retailers. The 22 employees, currently working there, will be offered positions at Stimson’s other five mill locations in Idaho including St. Maries, Priest River and Oregon. Source: Spokesman Review
• The Benewah County Veteran’s Outreach Center has reached enough funding to begin construction of a new building on Main Avenue in St. Maries, which could start as early as mid-June. The new building will contain a full kitchen, handicap bathrooms, offices and other additional space. Source: St. Maries Gazette Record
• The Big Eddy Bar and Grill in St. Maries recently opened under new ownership but was consumed in a devastating fire on May 16. Source: Big Eddy Bar and Grill

Bonner County

• Bonner General Health’s Emergency Department is Idaho’s first pediatric-ready critical access hospital recognized by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The hospital has implemented pediatric specific procedures, equipment, personnel and additional resources to directly address the unique needs of kids under the age of 18 in specialized emergency care. Source: Bonner County Daily Bee
• Cedar Street Bridge Public Market in Sandpoint hosted a grand reopening under new ownership at the end of April. The shopping experience includes over a dozen different vendors, including the new additions of Verdant Plants, Mtn Life Co, Sushi Sensei, Vintage Revival and Local Yokel. Source: Cedar Street Bridge
• Bonner County Commissioners declared Bonner a “hidden heroes county” with a proclamation to create a veteran caregiver list to distribute information for support, education and opportunities for family caregivers. Source: Bonner County Daily Bee
• After a single metal spillway gate at Albeni Falls Dam in Oldtown showed signs of defect in a recent inspection by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, operations at the dam have been modified and are being evaluated. Depending on the findings, it may result in a later than normal refill of Lake Pend Oreille. Source: Albeni Falls Dam
• Oden View Estates Improvement Association secured a $2 million drinking water construction loan from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Funds will be used for a new water source, replace some of the distribution infrastructure, increase the number of water meters and pressure-reducing valve stations, and install a standby generator. Source: the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

Boundary County

• A new Mendenhall Stadium grandstand has been constructed at Bonners Ferry High School. Source: Bonner County Daily Bee
• The City of Bonners Ferry was awarded a $500,000 Idaho Community Development Block Grant for a wastewater system project. Source: Idaho Department of Commerce

Kootenai County

• The Coeur d’Alene Design Review Commission approved a new Marriott hotel to be built on Northwest Boulevard. Construction on the four-story, 105-room hotel is planned for later in 2024 and may be completed within 18 months. This represents the second Marriott hotel under construction in Coeur d’Alene. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
• Mathnasium and Sports Clips have leased spaces at Ironwood Square Shopping Center in Coeur d’Alene for new franchise locations. Source: Spokane Journal
• Express Employment Professionals in Coeur d’Alene relocated to a new office on Northwest Boulevard. Source: Express Employment Professionals
• Sixty-one townhomes and 61 apartments at the Millworx Development in Post Falls are available at the former Idaho Veneer Mills site. The development is planned to add more housing units, a mixed-use retail space, amphitheater and common areas. Source: KREM
• Hayden Orthopedic Surgery Center features elbow and shoulder surgeries, orthopedic urgent care and physical therapy. Source: Hayden Surgery Center.
• Coeur d’Alene School District will close Borah Elementary for the 2024-2025 school year and the building will become the Coeur d’Alene Early Learning Center. Borah students will be distributed between Fernan STEM Academy, Bryan Elementary, Ramsey Magnet School of Science, Winton Elementary and Dalton Elementary. Idaho State Board of Education data shows 306 K-5 students enrolled at Borah Elementary in 2023-2024, down from 416 in 2017-2018. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press, Idaho State Board of Education
• Silverwood Theme Park expects to have its 3.86-acre Boulder Beach expansion open June 2024. The expansion includes an Eagle Hunt dueling water coaster, Rapids Grill food pavilion, kid slides and additional restrooms. Silverwood opened for the season on May 4. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
• Avista has commenced a $56 million spillway rehabilitation project for the Post Falls North Channel Dam. The multiyear project includes replacing the steel spillway gates, new gate hoists and upgrading the electrical control systems. The Falls Park parking lot will be closed to the public as it will house materials, equipment and materials until the project’s completion in 2027. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
• The former Golden Glo Espresso Stand on Spokane Avenue in Coeur d’Alene was demolished in preparation for incoming tenant Trader Joe’s. Golden Glo has four other locations in Hayden and Rathdrum. Source: City of Coeur d’Alene Building Permits, Golden Glo Espresso
• Due to recent staff growth, J-U-B Engineers will be constructing a new 18,000-square-foot office building in Post Falls with capacity for around 80 staff members but may be able to expand to 21,000 square feet. It could possibly accommodate 100 employees. Groundbreaking is expected to occur soon, and the building is planned for completion by June 2025. Source: J-U-B Engineers
• Red Lion Templin’s Hotel on the River in Post Falls has been acquired by StanCraft Cos. of Hayden. StanCraft will be updating its 167-room hotel and marina during the summer. Source: Spokane Journal of Business
• The Apartments 26 complex in Post Falls has started leasing new tenants as construction of its 270 new units nears completion. Source: Apartments 26

Shoshone County

• Shoshone County has declared a state of emergency following a large rockslide over Moon Pass. Initial cost estimates are over $200,000 to remove the 8,000 cubic yards of rock and debris before the road can be stabilized and reopened. The road provides access to Avery, Calder and Herrick as well as an alternate route to St. Maries other than via Highway 3. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
• Construction will soon begin on a $745,000 stormwater management project between the Kellogg School District, Alta Science and Engineering, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Project scope includes regrading parking lots and access roads. The plan also includes removing parking islands to help decrease puddling and ice from driving and walking surfaces. This will help reduce runoff into the Coeur d’Alene River and Lake Coeur d’Alene. Source: the Coeur d’Alene Press
• Shoshone County was awarded a $430,000 Rural Community Investment Fund project grant for electrical power upgrades. Source: Idaho Department of Commerce
• The Kellogg School District Board voted to pilot a four-day school week for the 2024-2025 school year with a mandate that certified staff will be present for two contract Fridays per month. School days will extend by 15 minutes, professional days will continue and early release on Wednesdays will be eliminated. Source: Shoshone News Press

Openings

• Kindred & Company coffee shop and book store, Post Falls.
• Arise Building Group, Post Falls.
• La Pinata breakfast and brunch, Post Falls.
• Hayden Lake Physical Therapy and Aquatic Center opened a new Post Falls location (along with Hayden and Coeur d’Alene locations).
• Thairapy hair extensions, Hayden.
• Summit Sprouts (new ownership, formerly Judy’s Greenhouse), Hayden.
• Selkirk Diagnostics ultrasounds, Hayden.
• Rhino Linings moved from Coeur d’Alene to Hayden.
• PNW Juice Junkie food truck, Hayden.
• Metro Express Car Wash, Hayden.
• Helmszz Deep Ink tattoo shop, Hayden.
• Spero Naturopathic Medicine women’s health and pediatric care, Coeur d’Alene.
• Copal Salon, Coeur d’Alene.
• Ciccarelli’s Wood Fired Pizza, Coeur d’Alene.
• Brunch Box waffle food truck, Coeur d’Alene.
• Outer Limits powersport gear and accessories, Coeur d’Alene.
• Upside Down Event Tents, Coeur d’Alene.
• Locked in Escape Rooms, Coeur d’Alene.
• Idaho Guns & Outdoors, Athol.
• Sparks Electric LLC, Rathdrum.
• Firehouse Discount Thrift Store will move locations in June and operate under the name Thrifty Treasures, Plummer.
• The Snake Pit is expecting to open late May under new ownership, Kingston.
• OrVeganic will open a location in Coeur d’Alene.

Closings

• Big Red’s Barn animal experience, Coeur d’Alene.
• JB’s Restaurant, Coeur d’Alene.
• Gardenia Center, Sandpoint.

Sam.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2353

*Northern developments for May were submitted by Labor Economist Lisa Grigg.

Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties

Region

• Idaho Community Development Block Grants totaling $2.5 million (five grants of $500,000 each) were awarded to five local governments within north central Idaho. Source: Idaho Department of Commerce
  • Idaho County, water system.
  • Latah County, wastewater system.
  • City of Cottonwood, water system.
  • City of Grangeville, water system.
  • City of Orofino, downtown revitalization.

Nez Perce County

• Welch Comer was awarded an $800,000 contract to produce a preliminary engineered design and estimate for revitalizing downtown Lewiston. The project would encompass the downtown area along Main and D Streets between the interstate bridge and 11th St. including underground utilities (water, wastewater, stormwater and telecommunication), road surfaces and sidewalk vaults. Source: Lewiston Tribune
• Nez Perce National Historical Park’s Spalding Visitor Center will celebrate its grand opening May 31 following a significant remodel and installation of new exhibits. Source: Big Country News
• Hobby Lobby is set to become a new tenant in the Lewiston Center Mall in the 40,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by JCPenney. Construction is expected to begin near the end of 2024 with no announced opening date. Hobby Lobby has over 900 locations nationwide, including six others in southern Idaho (Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Twin Falls, Chubbuck and Ammon). Source: Big Country News

Idaho County

• The United States Forest Service will move its Grangeville dispatch center to Coeur d’Alene. After the move, the Coeur d’Alene dispatch center will be the sole remaining dispatch site in the northern half of Idaho within the Northern Rockies Coordination Center Zone. Source: Idaho County Free Press, the U.S. Forest Service
• The Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation is launching the Youth Wilderness Expedition for up to 24 applicants ages 13-18. The expedition will be free to participants as they learn backpacking, traditional tool usage and providing community service. Source: Idaho Capital Sun
• The State of Idaho awarded two separate Phase II Securing our Future Grants to schools in the Salmon River School District to improve safety and security. Riggins Elementary School was awarded $199,000 to install a fire life safety system and the Salmon River Junior/Senior High School received $107,000 for implementing an intercom and access control system. Source: Idaho County Free Press
• Solberg Agency of Grangeville has combined its insurance business with Stonebraker McQuary and will retain its independent real estate business. Both businesses will continue to be staffed at the Grangeville office. Source: Idaho County Free Press

Latah County

• The newly constructed Pullman-Moscow airport terminal is open to passengers and is located a half-mile west of the existing terminal. Source: Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
• The University of Idaho received approval from the State Board of Education to complete a planning and design phase that would expand student housing by up to 150 spots through possible debt financing. If it moves forward, the project may take up to three years to complete and cost over $140 million. Source: Lewiston Tribune
• Beginning fall 2024, the Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program and the University of Idaho Division of Student Affairs will replace Gritman Medical Center as the operator of the University of Idaho Vandal Health Clinic. It will serve as northern Idaho’s first teaching clinic and provide health services to students on campus. Clinic applications are currently being accepted for registered nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and medical assistants. Source: The University of Idaho
• A University of Idaho College of Engineering team won first place in the Idaho Women’s Business Symposium and Idaho Pitch to earn $10,000 for developing an automated c-arm device to improve real-time X-ray imaging. Source: The University of Idaho
• Moscow’s 1912 Center selected an architecture firm, Knit Studios, to create a design plan for a commercial kitchen space in the 10,000-square-foot third floor that is currently vacant. Source: Lewiston Tribune
• The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality sought public comment during the month of May as it fined Meridian’s The Track Doctor $7,600 for disposing 55 gallons of Plexitrac Binder waste into a local storm drain that ran to Paradise Creek during July 2023. The incident occurred while the Track Doctor was resurfacing the rubberized track at Moscow Middle School. Source: the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
• The Moscow-Pullman Daily News recently switched from a five-day printed newspaper to a daily online newspaper with printed editions on Thursdays and Saturdays. The printed editions will be delivered via the Postal Service rather than delivered. Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Clearwater County

• American Legion Post 203 is located in Orofino’s Idaho Correctional Institution as one of three American Legion posts within an Idaho prison. Post 203 provides incarcerated veterans an opportunity to serve their local communities through fundraisers, activities and events. Source: Clearwater Tribune

Lewis County

• Kamiah School District will receive funding for an on-site nurse as a recipient of the Healthy Schools Grant. Source: the Idaho Department of Education

Openings

• Style Bar Beauty Academy, Lewiston.
• Phil’s Family Foods under new ownership, Kendrick.
• Selway Barbell gym and physical fitness, Kooskia.
• Backwoods Brew is opening a second location in Lewiston.
• Pamplemousse Boutique, Grangeville.
• Avencroft Homes, Stites.
• 3 Mmmm’s food truck, Lewiston.
• Flavors of India food truck, Lewiston.

Closings

• Red Lobster, Lewiston.

Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2256

Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties

Region

Education sector

• Smaller school districts across the state were awarded funding from the Idaho Department of Education and the Division of Medicaid. The funding is administered by the Idaho Department of Education to hire nurses, either full-time equivalent nurses or part-time equivalent positions, shared by another district. Payette Joint will have an on-site nurse while Cambridge, Midvale, Horseshoe Bend and Garden Valley School District will share nurses. Source: Idaho Business Review

Figure 1. Southwestern Idaho’s single-family home sales — April 2023 and 2024 data

Figure 2 and 3. Southwestern job postings

Canyon County

• The Nampa City Council approved the new name ‘Idaho Hispanic Community Center’ for the former Hispanic Cultural Center. New branding and a website will be released soon, according to Facilities Director Jose DeLeon. Source: KTVB News
• Exyte, a technology and service company serving the semiconductor manufacturing industry, announced it will expand its current presence in Nampa through its subsidiaries, Diversified Fluid Solutions and NEHP. The new production and office facility will be about 300,000 square feet and is expected to open later this year, with expectations of more expansions. The two companies will create more than 250 new jobs serving the semi-conductor industry. The company has been in business since 1989. Source: Exyte

Owyhee County

• The city of Homedale received a $2.6 million low-interest loan from the Department of Environmental Quality toward improvements to its drinking water system. The city estimates it will save over $300,000 by having requested a judicial confirmation to bond for $6.113 million, rather than ask the voters for approval of a general obligation debt. The city is hoping to combine some grants with the bonding to reduce the financed amount. Source: The Owyhee Avalanche
• The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality revoked the air permit granting Perpetua Resources the right to mine antimony and gold from the Stibnite mining site in Yellow Pine. The level of arsenic released is too high for the period of time allotted. Perpetua has not announced how it will proceed. Source: Boise State Public Radio

Openings

• Bomb Burger replaced Louisiana Soul Bayou at the Boise Spectrum food court offering burgers and bar bites. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Terroir Bistro is bringing its local-sourced menu into the former Little Pearl Oyster restaurant in downtown Boise. It is moving from a food trailer servicing clientele of a local winery to this brick-and-mortar location. Source: Idaho Statesman
• D. P. Dough opened its calzone restaurant near Boise State University, catering to the student market with open hours listed from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Source: Idaho Statesman
• The new Payette Assessment and Childcare Center opened its doors to foster children in transition. The foster children will stay at the facility, have their own room, recreate and learn online as they wait for their assigned family. The state contributed money towards the facility offering 16 single bedrooms. Many other businesses contributed donations toward the effort to smooth the process for the kids. Source: KTVB

Closings

• Louisiana Soul Bayou closed at the Boise Spectrum after serving Cajun food for three and a half years. The owner plans to open a catering business and introduce a Cajun food truck to the Treasure Valley. Source: Idaho Statesman
• Shari’s Café and Pies is closing in Boise. Its building will be razed with a new 4,286-square-foot Bank of America branch built in its place. Its remaining restaurants in Garden City, Meridian and Nampa remain open and displaced staff are being moved to the other locations. Source: Idaho Statesman

Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov,regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2172

Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties

Figure 1. Top 10 occupations by unique job posting

Figure 2. Top 10 industries by unique job posting

Figure 3. Top 10 hardest-to-fill occupations

Cassia County

• Burley residents Ursula Campos and Edwin Pablo opened a water purification center, “Magic Water Store.” The idea came from long wait times at the supermarket and the need for more community options for clean water. Source: Magic Valley Times-News

Jerome County

• Nelson-Jameson, a food processing distributor, had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its distribution center in Jerome after relocating from its previous location in Twin Falls. The new distribution center is 45,000 square feet, with roughly 1.5 million cubic feet of combined refrigerated storage, office space, service and maintenance areas. Source: Magic Valley Times-News

Twin Falls County

• The Magic Valley Fire Stations have unveiled a $186,000 air unit to be shared between fire departments. This unit includes a compressor, fill station generator, cascade system and reserve air storage. Source: KMVT
• The City of Twin Falls and First Federal Bank have announced two projects at First Federal Bank Park beginning May 20. The new playground surface is expected to be completed June 1 and the new splash pad is expected to be completed by June 15 Source: KMVT
• St. Lukes Hospital is opening its new Behavioral Health Services location May 22. This new location provides room for 11 clinicians and will allow for approximately 12,400 visits a year. Source: KMVT

Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov,regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2364

Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power counties

Region

• Figure 1 shows labor force estimates for April 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) had employment and unemployment increases in the seven-county southeastern region. Seasonally adjusted, April’s preliminary estimates had labor force participants increasing by 77 people, with 31 more employed and 46 more unemployed. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 3.2% over the month, 0.3% higher than it was in April 2023.

Figure 1.

• Looking at Figure 2, in April 2024 there were 699 unique online job postings in Idaho’s southeastern labor market area, down 16% from 828 the prior month, and down 12% from 798 over the year. The median job posting duration was nine days, up from five days in March, but down from 22 days in April 2023.

Figure 2.

• Figure 3 shows the top occupational families by unique online job postings in the region continue to be sales and related, health care practitioners and technical, and management. Among specific occupations, retail salespersons were again at the top of the list with 37 unique online postings, followed by registered nurses (29), heavy truck drivers (21), certified nursing assistants (14) and customer service representatives (12).

Figure 3.

• As seen in Figure 4, education and health services were at the top of broadly defined industries by unique online job postings in April, followed by other services and construction. Looking at specific industries, general medical and surgical hospitals had the most unique job postings. There were also year-over-year increases in employment placement by 13%, colleges and schools by 56%, temporary services by 12% and restaurants by 8%.

Figure 4.

• Health care and social service industries stood out in April for the median number of days an occupational job posting is listed. Pharmacists had the greatest duration with 27 days, followed by physicians with 22 days and physical therapists with 22 days. All occupations were new to April’s hardest-to-fill occupations list.

Region News

• Natural Resources Conservation Service reports basins along the southern Idaho border range from 118% to 138% of normal for total water year precipitation. Source: Challis Messenger

Bannock County

• The Washing Cat Gift Shop opened in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
• El Gallo Mexican Food opened in Pocatello. Source: East Idaho News
• Jersey Mike’s restaurant opened in Pocatello. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Gate City Gift & Gallery opened in historic downtown Pocatello. Source: KPVI
• As part of the downtown Pocatello revitalization project, new businesses have moved into the district including Meraki Body Jewelry and Fisher’s Technology sales office. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Dude’s Public Market a food hall style business, in Pocatello that also acts as a space for entrepreneurs, has added four new kitchens for interested food ventures to move in. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Idaho was awarded $6.7 million in Community Development Block Grants and the Rural Community Investment Fund to improve publicinfrastructure, including $225,000 toward the city of Downey’s community center. Source: Idaho Business Review
• NASA’s DC-8 aircraft flew over Pocatello and surrounding areas at low altitude during its final flight from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center to Idaho State University. The aircraft is retiring and will be used to train future aircraft technicians at the university’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology Program.Source: NASA news release
• The Bannock County Event Center hosted the first ever Southeast Idaho Days, a two-day event. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• Bannock County’s remaining $10.8 million from their American Rescue Plan Act funds are earmarked for an assortment of upgrades throughout the county. $2.36 million will be used to remodel the Search and Rescue and SWAT team building at the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office and the jail. $2 million will be used to construct two barns, an office, a meeting room and an exhibit building at the Bannock County Fairgrounds. $1.54 million will be used to construct a Youth Development Center and Event Center office. $1.5 million will be used for building repairs at the Assessor’s Office, expansion of the Department of Motor Vehicles and other office entrances. $1.23 million will be used to replace the roof of the road and bridge building, as well as upgrade the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The Connecting Communities path construction began in Pocatello to connect the Bannock County Event Center with Pocatello Creek Road. It will be part of a larger trail system to also connect the Portneuf Wellness Complex and Idaho State University. It is funded in part by grants from the Portneuf Greenway Foundation, Idaho Central Credit Union, Idaho Parks and Recreation, Portneuf Health Trust, Idaho Environmental Coalition, Ifft Foundation and the Idaho Transportation Department. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• Portneuf Cancer Center is expanding within the hospital, constructing an addition to the House Linear Accelerator facility. Source: KVPI
• High school students from southeastern Idaho participated in an annual Construction Combine in Chubbuck to receive training on construction trades including electrical, plumbing and granite. They also built sheds for disabled veterans. Source: Idaho State Journal
• First Presbyterian Church in Pocatello donated $10,500 to Gateway Habitat for Humanity to complete a home. Source: KPVI
• Gov. Little visited in person with students at Highland High School, reporting that 500 students in Pocatello signed up for Idaho LAUNCH. He also spoke of passing the largest ever state investment in school facilities with two bills, creating a net $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to fund maintenance and construction on school buildings, including Highland High School. Source: East Idaho News
• The Idaho State Board of Education approved a 3% increasein residenttuition at Idaho State University. Source: Idaho Education News
• The historic James H. Brady Memorial Chapel in Pocatello will undergo preservation and restoration work this spring funded in part by the city, along with grants from the Idaho Heritage Trust, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Historic Preservation Commission and Friends of the Brady Chapel. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• The Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cuttings at My World Discovery Museum, The Museum of Clean, Batiste Bridge River Access, All Season Aqua Pros Pool and Spa, BBSI, Beard St. Clair Gaffney, The UPS Store, Dude’s Public Market, Chubbuck Days Celebration and Idaho State University Graduate School. Source: Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce
• Median home listing prices in Bannock County in April increased 6% from last month to $424,450 but decreased 1% from this time last year. Active home listings increased 8% month-over-month and 41% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by five days to 54. New listings were up 29% from the month prior. Listing prices for 58 homes in inventory dropped in April, up 45% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Bear Lake County

• Montpelier Community Foundation transferred ownership of the Centre Theatre in Montpelier to C & S Theater Management, LLC. Source: News-Examiner
• Welders from Bear Lake High School placed first in the Idaho State University Rocky Mountain Shootout Welding Competition for the fifth time in a row. Source: News-Examiner
• Bear Lake High School formed a partnership with Bear Lake Memorial Hospital to provide hands-on experience and classes in medical career exploration and certified nursing assistance for both high school and college credit. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Nutrien donated $2,000 to Bear Lake High School Agricultural Science Department. Source: News-Examiner
• Median home listing prices in Bear Lake County in April increased 6% from last month to $634,925 and 41% from this time last year. Active home listings increased 11% month-over- month and 64% year over year. Median days on the market decreased by 22 days to 93. New listings were up 17% from the month prior. Listing prices for eight homes in inventory dropped in April, up 100% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Bingham County

• Idaho was awarded $6.7 million in Community Development Block Grants and the Rural Community Investment Fund to improve publicinfrastructure, including $500,000 toward the city of Shelley’s water system. Source: Idaho Business Review
• The Healthy Schools Grant funded by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid, and administered by the Idaho Department of Education, will award $400,000 in grants over the next three years for school districts to fund either a full-time or half-time equivalent nurse. Firth School District is one of the grant recipients. Source: Idaho Department of Education
• The city of Blackfoot was awarded a Community Development Block Grant for $500,000. The project involves replacing sidewalks and adding two Americans with Disabilities Act approved ramps with four traffic calming bump outs. The street will be reconstructed with a new surface, curbs and gutters. There will also be new benches, trash cans, pavers and six light poles. The Broadway block was chosen since it is the busiest block in the city’s downtown with 18 active businesses. Source: Idaho State Journal
• Bingham County Mayors Scholarship Award program gave $27,500 in scholarship funds to 55 high school seniors. Source: Aberdeen Times
• The Gem Trail in Aberdeen is planning to use $9,000 in funding for educational and interpretive signs along the route. Source: Aberdeen Times
• Elks Lodge in Blackfoot donated $6,500 to Community Dinner Table and the Community Food Pantry.Source: Idaho State Journal
• Scholarship awards totaling $6,500 were presented to members of the Distinguished Young Woman Program in Aberdeen. Source: Aberdeen Times
• Stotz Equipment donated $25,000 for a new sound system in the gym at Aberdeen High School. Source Aberdeen Times
• Future Farmers of America students at Aberdeen High School raised $6,250 for their program through items donated and sold from local merchants. Source: Aberdeen Times
• Aberdeen Senior Center and thrift store is currently funded at only 17% by the Southeast Idaho Council of Governments, AAA and Bingham County. There is a staffing shortage for volunteers, as well as a need for a new roof. In 2023, it served over 7,300 meals, nearly half to homebound seniors, covering 88 square miles. Source: Aberdeen Times
• Median home listing prices for April in Bingham County decreased 2% from last month to $404,625, as well as 9% over the year. The county increased 10% month-over-month and 25% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased two days to 53. New listings were up 67% from the month prior. Listing prices for 30 homes in inventory dropped in April, up 7% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Caribou County

• Grace High School students started a business, Grizzly Gear, to fund their Business Professionals of America Program. Source: Idaho State Journal
• The Healthy Schools Grant funded by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid, and administered by the Idaho Department of Education, will award $400,000 in grants over the next three years for school districts to fund either full-time or half-time equivalent nurse. Grace Joint School District and Soda Springs Joint School District are both grant recipients. Source: Idaho Department of Education
• Caribou Medical Center in Soda Springs bought two new pieces of robotic equipment to enhance its surgical floor — the da Vinci System and Stryker’s Mako. Source: Rexburg Standard Journal
• Median home listing prices for April in Caribou County increased 3% from last month to $356,750 and 12% from this time last year. Active home listings decreased 6% month-over- month and 25% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by 49 days to 82. New listings were up 100% from the month prior. Listing prices for four homes in inventory dropped, unchanged over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Franklin County

• New businesses opening in Preston include SodaLove, Preston Farmers Market Inc., Susana Jewelry, Practikal Apothecary, Outlaw Vapor, SweetLux Aesthetics and Mama D’s Bakery. Source: Preston Citizen
• The Healthy Schools Grant funded by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid, and administered by the Idaho Department of Education, will award $400,000 in grants over the next three years for school districts to fund either a full-time or half-time equivalent nurse. Preston Joint School District is one of the grant recipients. Source: Idaho Department of Education
• Franklin City Park Renovation Committee announced the construction of a new walking path and playground in Preston with targeted completion in September. Source: Preston Citizen
• There are preliminary plans for a new Franklin Fire Station to include space for a fire engine, ambulance, parking spaces and inside facilities for the crew. Source: Preston Citizen
• Stotz Equipment donated $6,000 toward Preston pickleball court lighting. Source: Preston Citizen
• The Idaho Rural Water Association awarded Hayden Kimpton, a city of Franklin public works employee, the $2,000 Tony Elfering Memorial Scholarship. Source: Preston Citizen
• Median home listing prices for April in Franklin County marginally decreased from last month to $471,000 but increased 3% from this time last year. Active home listings increased 29% month-over-month and 71% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by 17 days to 41. New listings were up 100% from the month prior. Listing prices for 10 homes in inventory dropped, up 150% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Oneida County

• Median home listing prices for April in Oneida County decreased 43% over the month to $288,650 and 7% over the year. Active home listings increased 83% month-over-month but decreased 31% year-over-year. Median days on the market increased by three days to 27. New listings were down 25% from the month prior. There were no homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Power County

• The National Park Service, in collaboration with partners and the public, will celebrate Craters of the Moon National Monument’s centennial from May through September this year by hosting a variety of public activities and events each month. Activities will include exhibits at the Robert Limbert Visitor Center, star parties, full moon, wildflower and geology hikes as well as activities led by five Artists-in-Residence. Source: East Idaho News
• Recent tax relief legislation will pay $600,000 of a supplemental levy for American Falls School District. The upcoming expansion of the Lamb Weston plant is reportedly expected to decrease the tax rate for this levy by nearly 20%. Source: Power County Press
• Power County approved its solar ordinance. Personal, small and large-scale solar projects would be worded in the language and allowed. Any objection will be answered case-by-case for each permit application, such as yields for farms replacing crops with solar panels and non-irrigated land preferences. Source: Power County Press
• American Falls School District is one of 31 local education agencies awarded the Vape Detector Pilot grant to install vape detectors in high school restrooms and locker rooms. Source: Power County Press
• Median home listing prices for April in Power County increased 6% from last month to $402,000 and 6% over the year. Active home listings increased 9% month-over-month but decreased 43% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by 28 days to 73. There was no data reported for new listings over the month. There were eight homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2347

Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties

Region

• Figure 1 shows labor force estimates for April 2024 from the Idaho Department of Labor’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) had both total employment and unemployment decreasing in the nine-county eastern region. Seasonally adjusted, April’s preliminary estimates have labor force participants decreasing by 531 people, with 455 fewer employed and 76 fewer unemployed. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 2.8% over the month, 0.3% higher than it was April 2023.

Figure 1.

• Looking at Figure 2, there were an estimated 1,122 unique job postings in the eastern Idaho labor market for April 2024, according to the Conference Board: Help Wanted Online. (Note: This is regional online job postings data and not necessarily job openings data). Postings increased 10% from 1,006 the prior month and 6% from 1,050 year-over-year. Retail salespersons lead the top occupations by a slim margin of unique (deduplicated) job postings in the region for April. Customer service representatives and magnetic resonance imaging technicians replaced retail supervisors and sales representatives in the top five job postings by occupation since last month. Licensed practical nurses, radiologic technicians and postsecondary administrators replaced cashiers, tellers, secretaries and administrative assistants in the top 10. Employer hiring demand from a job postings perspective was down 32% for retail salespersons and 21% for retail supervisors. Conversely, there was a 22% increase in postings for registered nurses, a 37% increase for heavy truck drivers, a 14% increase for customer service representatives and a 12% increase for driver and sales workers.

Figure 2.

• Figure 3 shows professional, scientific and technical services remained in the top 10 for April in eastern Idaho regional rankings of industries by unique job postings. Retail trade swapped with health care and social assistance in the rankings. The same industries remained in the top five since last month. Industries that increased in job postings included health care and social assistance, retail trade, manufacturing, education services, finance and insurance, construction as well as the professional, scientific and technical services. Conversely, public administration, accommodation and food service industries decreased in job postings. The transportation and material handling industry were new to the list this month.

Figure 3.

• As shown in Figure 4, April data from the Conference Board denotes the hardest-to-fill occupations in eastern Idaho, in terms of combination of time to fill (median job posting duration) and multiple unique job postings. These included magnetic resonance imaging technicians, retail salespersons, human resource specialists and customer service representatives. Hardest-to-fill job posting challenges in April by occupational family were health care practitioners, technicians, sales and related, and office and administrative support. All occupations except human resource representatives and software developers were new to the list.

Figure 4.

Region News

• The College of Eastern Idaho will break ground in June on a $36.4 million, 88,000-square-foot Future Tech Building to teach cybersecurity, energy systems technology, nuclear technology, as well as battery and solar technologies. In addition to classroom space, it will host business and civic events, as well as provide a collaboration space for students and bay space. Source: East Idaho News
• Yellowstone National Park opened for the season on April 19. Additional roads will be open throughout May, weather permitting. Source: Yellowstone National Park news release
• A new 970-acre landfill in Newdale will serve 80,000 people in Madison, Fremont, Teton and Clark counties. The project cost is $30 million funded by a $3 million Department of Environmental Quality grant and a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Source: East Idaho News
• The Natural Resources Conservation Service reported Lost, Wood and Upper Snake basins range from 91 to 105% of normal for the total water year. Reservoir storage is at or above normal, with the exception of Mackay Reservoir, sitting at 79% of normal storage. Snowpack caught up to normal in March in the Lost and Wood basins, with precipitation ranging from 110 to 150% of normal last month. Streamflow forecasts for the Middle Fork Salmon River and main Salmon River are pegged at 81% and 86% of normal, respectively. Source: Challis Messenger

Bonneville County

• Two Men and a Truck, a moving company based in Michigan, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
• 710 Spectrum, a CBD store, opened a new storefront in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
• The Chaplains of Idaho opened an office for first responders in Idaho Falls, sharing a space with Heroes Defense. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• East Idaho Trailer Parts, specializing in parts for utility camp trailers, opened in Idaho Falls. Source: East Idaho News
• Bingham Crisis Center is expanding into the Idaho Falls area. Source: News-Examiner
• The Idaho Falls Police Complex had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open as the first consolidated, stand-alone facility for the Idaho Falls Police Department. Source: KPVI
• The State of Idaho purchased a new 37,844-square-foot office building in Idaho Falls. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Arctic Spas of Idaho Falls LLC will be moving into a new building. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Westrock, a printing company in Idaho Falls, permanently closed their business. Source: the Idaho Department of Labor
• AAA American Healthcare LLC in Idaho Falls permanently closed their business. Source: the Idaho Department of Labor
• Idaho Falls School District 91 approved a new four-day school week that calls for secondary students to learn online one day a week, with the exception of students attending in person for extra help or instruction. Source: Idaho Education News
• Idaho Falls School District 91 attributes the $4 million funding shortage to an overspending of $1 million in software that allows parents to track the location of students on buses, state funding based on attendance instead of enrollment, hiring more staff members than they received state funding for and expiring Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund dollars. Source: Idaho Education News
• Idaho Falls School District 91 cut staffing due to the budget deficit. This includes 20 full-time teachers (via attrition), three elementary school principals, a counselor, advocate, dean and/or career adviser at Idaho Falls High School and middle schools, two clerical positions, health technicians and a technology staff. Source: Idaho Education News
• Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s Family Self-Sufficiency program had 97 participating families that were receiving one-on-one case work in April. Also, four participating families completed the program successfully. Source: Idaho Housing and Finance Association
• Fundraising for the $6.4 million renovation of theFrontierCenterfor the Performing Arts in Idaho Falls has been successfully completed. The City of Idaho Falls can now begin the project. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• A groundbreaking ceremony was held May 16 for a new adolescent residential mental health treatment center, Jackson House Idaho Falls Center, to open summer 2025. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• The Idaho Falls City Council approved a Wastewater Facility Plan. It is expected to serve over 125,000 people by 2035, compared to its current service population of less than 100,000. The plant’s digester would be over capacity within one to two years. Source: Post Register
• The projected cost for the new water tower in Idaho Falls was$9 million, funded through the city water rates. The biggestadditional cost will be time spent in delays due to bedrock under the foundation. Projected completion is August. Source: KIFI Local News 8
• The Career Technical Education Center had a ribbon cutting of a new greenhouse, donated to the school after Farm Bureau and Martin Brothers Farms made donations. Source: Post Register
• A new police officer position within the Idaho Falls Police Department will focus on the downtown area. Another neighborhood police officer will start in June for the city’s numbered and lettered streets.Source: East Idaho News
• The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce announced ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies at Grocery Outlet and Downtown Bridal and Dress Shop. These establishments met one of the following criteria including opening their doors within the past six months, moving to a new location due to expansion or have remodeled or expanded their current location. Source: Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
• The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce organized the first-ever Hispanic Committeeat an event with 68 Hispanic businesses. Source: East Idaho News
• District 91 approved a $3 million, 40-year naming rights agreement with Frontier Credit Union for their 44-acre Idaho Falls High School Tiger Athletic Complex. Source: East Idaho News
• The April Bonneville County median home listing prices increased 4% to $479,450 from last month and 4% from this time last year. Active home listings increased 14% month-over- month, but marginally decreased year-over-year. Median days on the market increased by one day to 38. New listings were up 100% from the month prior. Listing prices for 94 homes in inventory dropped in April, up 114% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Butte County

• The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality awarded a total of $5.2 million in construction grants to three water systems throughout the state, including Butte City for $600,000. The grants will help improve water supply, the installation of a new well, and a tank and booster pump station. Source: Idaho Business Review
• The National Park Service, in collaboration with partners and the public, will celebrate Craters of the Moon National Monument’s centennial from May through September this year by hosting a variety of public activities and events each month. This includes special exhibits at the Robert Limbert Visitor Center; star parties; full moon, wildflower, and geology hikes; and activities led by five Artists-in-Residence. Source: East Idaho News
• The April Butte County median home listing prices increased 7% to $257,750 over the month but decreased 6% from this time last year. Active home listings increased 21% month-over-month and 55% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by 69 days to 67. New listings were up 50% from the month prior. There were no homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Clark County

• The Healthy Schools Grant funded by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid, and administered by the Idaho Department of Education, will award $400,000 in grants over the next three years for school districts to fund either a full-time or half-time equivalent nurse. Clark County School District is a recipient. Source: the Idaho Department of Education
• Clark County residents have signed a petition on a ballot initiative to separate the county from a local cloud seeding business, Let it Snow Inc. As a result, the business’ employees will no longer be W-2 employees on Clark County’s payroll and will self-secure the required insurance and contract directly with High Country RC&D and Idaho Power. Source: Jefferson Star
• The April Clark County median home listing prices reported no change from last month, nor over the year at $240,000. The county reported no change in active home listings month- over-month nor over the year. Median days on the market increased by 32 days to 47. There was no data reported for new listings, nor homes that reduced their listing prices over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Custer County

• Connecting all customers to fiber by 2030 is one of the big goals for Custer Telephone Cooperative, including every member in Challis, Clayton, May and Elk Bend by the end of 2030. It will require the cooperative to secure grants or find other funding sources and to boost revenue by adding new subscribers. Source: Challis Messenger
• The new 9,000-square-foot diesel repair/maintenance and animal science building planned for Mackay High School is projected for completion by early 2025. Source: Capital Press
• The April Custer County median home listing prices increased 12% to $543,000 over the month and 9% from this time last year. Active home listings increased 6% month-over- month and 20% year-over-year. Median days on the market increased by 14 days to 163. New listings were up 50% over the month. There were six homes that reduced their listing prices over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Fremont County

• Hardrock 50 Rentals, 17 new vacation suites, opened in Island Park. Source: East Idaho News
• The April Fremont County median home listing prices decreased 4% to $685,000 over the month and 4% over the year. Active home listings increased 15% month-over-month and 55% year-over-year. Median days on the market increased by 37 days to 78. New listings were down 17% over the month. Listing prices for 10 homes in inventory dropped in April, up 150% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Jefferson County

• The Healthy Schools Grant funded by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid, and administered by the Idaho Department of Education, will award $400,000 in grants over the next three years for school districts to fund either a full-time or half-time equivalent nurse. West Jefferson School District is a recipient. Source: the Idaho Department of Education
• Jefferson School District 251 broke ground on a new 30,000-square-foot Career Technical Education building on the Rigby High School campus. The building will house an auto- mechanic shop, robotics, cybersecurity and certified nursing assistant program to be completed by the end of December. The project is funded by a $5.3 million Idaho Career Ready Students Program grant. Source: East Idaho News
• County Planning and Zoning reported higher numbers for building permits. There were 54 reported this April and 49 in April 2023. Source: Jefferson Star
• The April Jefferson County median home listing prices decreased 4% over the month to $539,000 and 2% over the year. Active home listings increased 2% month-over-month but decreased 7% year-over-year. Median days on the market increased by three days to 46. New listings increased 75% from the month prior. Listing prices for 14 homes in inventory dropped in April, down 13% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Lemhi County

• Upper Carmen Public Charter School is closing permanently, having taught 56 students in grades K-3 this school year. Source: Idaho Education News
• Connecting all customers to fiber by 2030 is one of the big goals for Custer Telephone Cooperative. It will require the cooperative to secure grants or find other funding sources and to boost revenue by adding new subscribers. Last year 156 homes between Salmon and Baker were connected to fiber. Plans call for connecting 359 homes along U.S. 93 north of Salmon in the next three years. Source: Challis Messenger
• Jervois has resumed underground extension drilling at the Idaho Cobalt Operations Sunshine deposit site, funded by the $15 million U.S. Department of Defense grant. Source: Challis Messenger
• The April Lemhi County median home listing prices decreased 19% to $551,500 over the month and 23% over the year. Active home listings increased 10% month-over-month but decreased 9% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by 62 days to 89. New listings were up 200% over the month. There were two homes in inventory that reduced their listing prices, no change over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Madison County

• Skies & Shine, an airplane cleaning and detail business, opened. Source: East Idaho News
• The Idaho Department of Commerce awarded $6.7 million in Community Development Block Grants and the Rural Community Investment Fund to improve public infrastructure in Idaho, including $500,000 toward a county firetruck and $150,000 for new heating, ventilation and air conditioning at Altura Community Consulting and Business Finance. Source: Idaho Business Review
• Madison High School junior Lachlyn Golder earned the top prize at a business pitch competition. Her business, Lachlyn’s Closet, launched in October and repurposes old quilts and blankets into clothing. Source: East Idaho News
• The April Madison County median home listing prices increased 4% to $432,250 over the month and marginally over the year. Active home listings increased 17% month-over-month and up 22% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by 14 days to 42. New listings decreased 15% over the month. Listing prices for 32 homes in inventory dropped in April, up 60% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Teton County

• Depot Square affordable housing project in downtown Driggs officially opened. The building is home to 34 residential units (one, two and three-bedroom units, 30 of which are limited to 30%-60% of area median income), three live-work units, four “proof-of-concept” commercial spaces and one large commercial space. Source: Teton Valley News
• Morning Dew Mushrooms and Micros in Tetonia is expanding into a new 4,500-square-foot facility. As they’ve marketed to 45 restaurants, weekly mushroom production will go from 50 pounds to 3,000 pounds. Source: Capital Press
• Grandma’s Candy Shop reopened for the season in Driggs. Source: Teton Valley News
• The Community Foundation of Teton Valley awarded 19 competitive grants to Teton Valley nonprofits- $80,000 in support of programs and projects and $10,000 to a health and human service-oriented nonprofit. Source: Teton Valley News
• Teton County Idaho Search and Rescue team had 21 operating volunteers and has now added 13 more to meet the needs of the number of calls coming in, which averages around 12-18 per year. Source: Teton Valley News
• The Community Resource Center (CRC) of Teton Valley will bring food, applications to programs, household goods and clothing to Tetonia City Park monthly as part of their food rescue distribution program. The CRC has also converted its extra office to a home-goods pantry where those in-need can receive donated items and goods. Source: Teton Valley News
• Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s 29-mile trail project from Tetonia to Ashton on the old railroad trail was set to be paved and finished by 2026. Instead, they have opted to resurface with gravel rather than pave the trail for the time being. Grant money for the project was for paving only. Source: Teton Valley News
• The April Teton County median home listing prices increased 3% to $867,750 over the month but decreased 3% over the year. Active home listings increased 7% month-over- month and dropped 13% year-over-year. Median days on the market decreased by 13 days to 48. New listings increased 7% from the month prior. Listing prices for six homes in inventory dropped in April, down 50% over the month. Source: Realtor.com

Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2347

This Idaho Department of Labor project is 100% funded by USDOL as part of$695,785 in Workforce Information Grant funds from the Employment and Training Administration.