January 2021
Newsletter

Private Investors Growing Southern Idaho's Economy


Business Plus First Quarter Meeting

You are invited to attend our Business Plus First Quarter Meeting:

Strategies and Challenges
Dean Fisher, President, College of Southern Idaho
Connie Stopher, Executive Director, Southern Idaho Economic Development

Friday, February 26, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Zoom (limited capacity)

RSVP by email here

Join our Leaders!

Network with the most influential leaders in the valley while growing your business and the local economy. Business Plus leverages growth by focusing on economic activity that results in job creation and talent attraction. We support a strong regional workforce, employment security and diversity. 

Business Plus is a unique network of local business leaders that are solely committed to growing business in the Magic Valley. Give me a call!


Rebecca Wildman - Director
BUSINESS PLUS, INC.
208-539-6470

A Word from Chris Seibold, Business Plus Board Member
"
Remarkable growth in the Magic Valley over the past 20 years was no accident; the recipe was thoughtful planning, promotion, and key partnerships with organizations like Business Plus. Community leaders had a vision long ago to invest in our communities; the result has been a vibrant economy with unprecedented growth. Investing in Business Plus provides the means to continue that vision into the future."

Chris Seibold, United Electric Co-op
 

Innovation in the Magic Valley

Lava Ridge Wind Farm
Read Times-News Article Here
"A massive, $1 billion wind farm could net Magic Valley governments nearly $4 million a year once its turbines are up and spinning," Times-News reporter Colin Tiernan writes in The windy windfall: LS Power releases timeline, economic projections for $1billion wind farm. 

Tiernan outlines this project and how Lincoln, Jerome and Minidoka counties would benefit from tax revenues, jobs, housing and the multiplier effect.



Magic Valley Food Innovation Study
Read Times-News Article Here
"The Magic Valley is already one of America's biggest agricultural hubs, but a new project could take the region's food innovation capabilities to the next level" Tiernan reports in Investing in innovation: New facility could grow Magic Valley's ag renown. 

The feasibility study was funded by a $25,000 Chobani grant, a $20,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and $5,000 each from Region IV, Southern Idaho Economic Development, Dairy West and Business Plus. 



Innovative Food and Packaging
Read Times-News Article Here


"A Mini-Cassia company that packages beans in a new way is building a new 12,000 square-feet food processing plant in Rupert," Times-News reporter Laurie Welch reports in Kicking the can: New Rupert plant offers beans in a new way. 

Bare Beans Founder and CEO Michelle Huff has developed an innovative way to package fresh beans.

 
What do the Economists Say?

Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Economist

Great overview of the national economy with a closer focus on Utah and Idaho.
Spendlove's Presentation Slides


Bonang Seoela, South Central Idaho Economist

Seoela's snapshot of our region's demographics, industries, labor force, employment and wages.
Seoela's January 2021 Report


US News, Best States - Idaho #16
U.S. News ranks Idaho #16 overall as best state, with a #6 ranking for its economy, #8 for crime & corrections, and #11 for fiscal stability.
Overview for Idaho




Safety Fest March 9-11, 2021
The College of Southern Idaho is hosting its 11th Annual Safety & Business Fest on March 9-11, 2021. Workshops will be live and online and are free to the public. Subscribe now to the CSI Workforce Development & Training newsletter. Registration opens on February 10th.
Click Here to Subscribe


Workforce Development & Training Catalog
January - April 2021
CSI Workforce Development has a variety of class categories including: Business & Professional Development, Computer Technology, Health Care and Trades & Safety.
Click Here for Catalog


Southern Idaho Economic Development 
Promotes Business Growth and Talent Attraction

Southern Idaho Economic Development promotes business growth and that includes talent attraction. Follow on social media and share posts to help increase visibility for attracting talent to our region.
See More Here

Thank you to our New and Renewing Investors!





Click for Q4 2020 Report


      

                 


 

                 

Campaign Investors

PLATINUM
First Federal*
D.L. Evans Bank*
Idaho Central Credit Union
KMVT*+
Magic Valley Media*+
Project Mutual Telephone (PMT)*
  
GOLD
Clif Bar
Cooper Norman, CPAs*
Dairy West
Idaho Dairymen's Association
Idaho National Lab (INL)*
Idaho Power*
McCain Foods
St. Luke's*
Woodbury Corporation - Magic Valley Mall, 
   Target, Best Buy & Dick's Shopping Centers
  
SILVER
American Real Estate and Appraisal*
NEW NAME & LEVEL! Atlas Technical Consultants (formerly Materials Testing & Inspection)
NEW! Crossroads Point
Dot Foods
EHM Engineers, Inc.
Farmers Bank
Intermountain Gas Company*
Mountain West Realty
Mr. Gas*
Northwest Bank
NOVOLEX / Hilex Poly
Oasis Stop 'N Go / Travelers' Oasis*
PBC Petersen Brothers Construction
PCA Packaging Corporation of America*
Starr Corporation*
TitleOne*
United Electric Co-op, Inc.
Watkins Distributing*
Wells Fargo Bank
WillTran, Inc.
 
BRONZE
Banner Bank
BBSI
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Idaho 
   Homes & Properties
Best Western Burley Inn
Blue Cross of Idaho
Blue Lakes Inn / Snake River Pool & Spa
Cassia Regional Hospital - Intermountain Healthcare*
Chobani
Collins Connection - Kent & Cindy Collins 
   Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices*
Con Paulos Chevrolet
Farm Bureau Insurance
First American Title Company*
Goode Motor Auto Group
NEW! Ireland Bank
K&T Steel Corp*
Lytle Signs*
McKinlay Klundt Appraisal Co.
Minidoka Memorial Hospital
Nelson & Co.
NEW LEVEL! North Canyon Medical Center
Nu-Vu Glass
Safari Hospitality - Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn
    Express & Suites, Quality Inn and Suites
SimplicIT
Thornton Oliver Keller
Titlefact, Inc.*
U.S. Bank
Ward Orthodontics
Westfall & Westfall CPAs / Impact Athletic 
   Club*
Wills Toyota*
Zions Bank*
COMMUNITY
Devil's Corral
Family Health Services
Gem State Welders Supply*
Moss Greenhouses
New Leaf Properties
Oregon Trail RV Park
Sparklight (formerly CableOne)
Stevens Pierce & Associates CPAs*
Stratus Communications, LLC
United Way of South Central Idaho
Watco (Eastern Idaho Railroad)*
 
LEGACY LEADERS
Rep. Maxine Bell, Retired
Doug Brown
Rep. Lance Clow
Jeff Harris
Rep. Stephen Hartgen, Retired
Alan Horner
Ruth Pierce
Jan Rogers
Lee Wagner
NEW! Debra Wilson
 
IN-KIND SUPPORT
(past 3 years)
BBSI
Best Western Burley Inn
Darigold
Elevation 486
Idaho Central Credit Union
KeyBank
Mr. Gas
Nu-Vu Glass
Packaging Specialties of Idaho
PCA Packaging Corporation of America
PerforMix Nutrition Systems
Minidoka Memorial Hospital
Mountain West Realty
Oregon Trail RV
Soran Restaurants, Inc.
Starr Corporation
Stone House & Co.
Stratus Communications
Thornton Oliver Keller
Watkins Distributing
Willamette Dental Group
WillTran, Inc.
 
*Indicates 10+ years of support since 2003
+includes additional promotional investment

State and Local Resources for COVID-19

Governor Brad Little and Idaho Rebounds
Idaho Department of Commerce COVID-19 Page
Idaho Department of Labor Idaho@Work Blog and Unemployment Dashboard
Idaho Economic Development Association (IEDA) COVID-19 Resources
Southern Idaho Economic Development COVID-19 Links
Region IV Development Website with Links to Loan Assistance
South Central Public Health District Information on Coronavirus
St. Luke's COVID-19 Information
United Way of South Central Idaho Website

Become an Investor!
Give me a call! 
208-539-6470

Rebecca Wildman
BUSINESS PLUS, INC.