News

Inland Northwest Economic Developments, Summer 2007

The following are projects, initiatives and economic developments that are making news in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. This email is distributed by the Inland Northwest Economic Alliance (INEA) http://www.inlandnorthwestregion.com on behalf of its regional partners.

Lincoln County, Wash. – A biodiesel cluster has emerged in Lincoln County. In addition to the opening of the Creston, Wash. Columbia BioEnergy, the first permitted biodiesel refinery in the state, the Odessa Public Development Authority has partnered with Inland Empire Oilseeds to build the first large scale canola seed crushing facility in the Pacific Northwest. Beginning in early 2008, the new facility will crush 45,000 tons of canola seeds per year and refine it into highly efficient biodiesel. The facility will create 14 new jobs. By 2008, the Washington renewable fuel standard mandates that all petroleum diesel contain two percent biodiesel. This will require at least 20 million gallons of biodiesel production, and the two Lincoln County facilities can provide about half of that. http://www.co.lincoln.wa.us/edc.

Moscow, Idaho & Pullman, Wash. – Private bioscience firms are growing in the knowledge-rich region surrounding these two university communities. Pullman-based Amplicon Express, a molecular biology service company, features expert scientists in genome research and protein characterization working from a 6,000-square-foot facility equipped with state of the art robotics and instrumentation. Anatek Labs is a full service, multi-state certified analytical laboratory providing environmental, agricultural, residential, and industrial testing services. A new firm, BioTracking, produces BioPRYN a non-invasive, quick response, pregnancy test for cattle, sheep, elk, goats, bison and other livestock. Alturas Analytics, a competitive provider of analytical testing services for pharmaceutical companies is adding 10,000-square-feet to its operation, and anticipating its current staff of 20 will grow by 3-4 scientists per year in the next couple of years. Visit: http://www.alturasanalytics.com

Silver Valley, Idaho – New Jersey Mining Company announced it will commence a feasibility study for a 5,000 tons per day flotation mill in the Murray, Idaho area. The study will investigate the economics of a central mill processing copper-silver ore from the Niagara deposit and gold ore from the Golden Chest mine, and possibly other sources. Currently, the company has 17.3 million tons of gold, silver and copper resources and reserves in the Murray area. To learn more, visit http://www.newjerseymining.com.

According to an article in the Spokane Journal of Business, Boise-based Clearwater Lodging plans to build a $10 million 32-unit luxury condo complex called Bunker Hill Condominiums near Silver Mountain Resort. The four-story, 36,000 square foot building will include a private spa and fitness facility. Units will range in size from 600 to 1,200 square feet and prices are expected to be between $290,000 and $500,000. View the article at http://www.spokanejournal.com/spokane_id=article&sub=3114.

Spokane Valley, Wash. – Precision Countertops of Portland, Ore., recently opened a manufacturing facility in the Spokane Valley, where it will employ up to 25 people. The new plant, the counter-top maker’s third, is a 40,000-square-foot space in the Spokane Business and Industrial Park. For more information, visit http://www.spokaneedc.org.

Liberty Lake, Wash. – Itron announced that it has completed the acquisition of Luxembourg-based Actaris Metering Systems for approximately $1.7 billion. The acquisition will not only double Itron’s annual revenues, it will give the company 6,000 employees in addition to its current 2,500 workers and nearly 30 additional manufacturing facilities worldwide. To learn more visit http://www.spokaneedc.org. The company also reports it signed a new $100 million contract to supply electricity and gas metering equipment to two utilities – MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company and Rocky Mountain Power. http://www.itron.com.

Spokane, Wash. – Jubilant Organosys, an integrated pharmaceutical industry player and India’s largest Custom Research and Manufacturing Services Company, announced the acquisition of Spokane’s Hollister-Stier Laboratories. To learn more visit http://www.hollister-stier.com.

Los Angeles-based BlueRay Technologies announced that the company is launching a 12,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in downtown Spokane, creating 15 to 20 manufacturing jobs initially, eventually reaching more than 100 employees. Details at http://www.spokaneedc.org.

Ferry County, Wash. – The Ferry County Public Hospital District received the USDA Rural Utility Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant in the amount of $111,722 to purchase videoconferencing units within the tri-county region. Ferry County also received notice of approval for a Rural Business Enterprise Grant totaling $72,844 for a rural business assistance project. Additionally, the Republic Public Development Authority received notice of approval for a Rural Business Enterprise Grant totaling $96,458 to purchase property for light industrial park development. Visit the Tri-County Economic Development District’s website for more information – http://www.teddonline.com/tedd_newsferry.html.

Lewiston, Idaho – The economic development organization Valley Vision has announced plans for a new tourism bureau to boost visitor traffic in the picturesque Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. Funded by existing lodging taxes and potentially, a voter-approved auditorium district, the tourism bureau estimates $28 million in tourist spending annually by 2009. Three organizations would combine efforts through the initiative: the Lewiston Chamber, the Clarkston Chamber and the Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau. See http://www.lewis-clarkvalley.com

Regence BlueShield has begun an expansion at their Lewiston office, where steady growth is expected to lead to full capacity of 800 employees within the next seven months. A new employee fitness center and four-story parking garage is being added to the campus in the 1600 block of 21st Avenue. To learn more about news in the Lewis-Clark Valley, visit http://www.lewis-clarkvalley.com/.

Colfax, Wash. – Medical Micro Machining, a small parts manufacturing located Simi Valley, Calif., has announced it will relocate its manufacturing operations to Colfax, Wash. as early as this summer. The company broke ground on a new 4,500 square-foot facility in April and expects to hire up to 10 employees initially, and as many as 20 employees within five years. For more information visit the Palouse Economic Development Council’s website at http://www.palouse.org/news.htm.

Bonners Ferry, Idaho – A new $1 million Bonner’s Ferry Visitors’ Center is set to open its doors this month in this community on the Idaho/British Columbia border. The 2,587-square foot building has a 48-person capacity. For more info, visit http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_7364.shtml.

Kettle Falls, Wash. – With manufacturing firms in Northeastern Washington projecting a 20 percent growth in industrial employment opportunities over the next two years, a partnership effort by industry, educators and the Tri-County Economic Development District is helping students and their influencers learn more about the value and potential of manufacturing careers. Workforce development efforts have been boosted by a DVD produced by high school seniors, and Spokane Community College recently awarded Certificates in Basic Manufacturing to 11 rural students. For more information: http://www.teddonline.com.

Spotlight on Kootenai County, Idaho. One of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S., this picture-perfect county on the western edge of the Rocky Mountains presents a highly competitive business climate and exceptional quality of life. Population has grown 29.3 percent since 2000, registering 140,525. Median income is $47,174; average income is $56,430. Business is booming in Kootenai County. Since 1987, Jobs Plus, Kootenai County’s nonprofit economic development corporation, has recruited more than 73 companies that have invested more than $465 million in capital development. For information: http://www.jobsplusonline.org.

• ALK-Abelló, based in Denmark, broke ground on Biopol Laboratory its largest production site for raw material for its allergy immunotherapy products worldwide. The $30 million research and development facility will be located at the Riverbend Commerce Park in Post Falls, Idaho. The company will develop anti-allergy medications using North Idaho grasses and sell the antigens associated with hay fever around the globe. The facility will employ about 50 when completed in 2009. Learn more at http://www.jobsplusonline.org.

• Titan Spring Company, a high-tech manufacturer of custom precision springs, stampings, wire forms and value-added assemblies for the aerospace, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries, is relocating from North Hollywood, California to a new manufacturing facility in Hayden, Idaho. The firm is constructing a new 15,000 sq. ft. building and expect to begin operations in October 2007. More details at http://www.jobsplusonline.org.

• The Coeur d’Alene Press reports that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has plans to build a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for satellite operations of Berg Integrated Systems that will create 150 to 200 jobs. The tribe acquired the company, which makes mobile steel structures, in 2006. http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2007/04/06/news/news02.txt.

• Coeur d’Alene Mines, Bolnisi and Palmarejo announced that they have entered into agreements to merge, creating the world’s leading primary silver producer. Pursuant to the agreements, Coeur will acquire all of the shares of Bolnisi, and all of the shares of Palmarejo not owned by Bolnisi, in a transaction valued at approximately US$1.1 billion. For more information, visit http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=86472&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=995047&highlight

• Hecla Mining Company last year reported the highest earnings and lowest cash costs for silver in the history of the 116-year-old company. During the first quarter in 2007, the company saw a 200% increase over first quarter earnings in 2006. For more information visit, http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=63202&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=994226&.

• Kootenai Medical Center plans to expand its satellite location in Post Falls. The first phase of the project will include a two-story, 15,000-square-foot outpatient cancer care clinic to be completed in spring 2008. The second and third phases of the expansion will add two medical buildings and two structure parking garages. For more information visit http://www.kmc.org/workfiles/wwwroot/vigor/shapingup2.pdf.

• Jobs Plus, Kootenai County’s economic development corporation, has been a powerhouse for growth and development. Over the past ten years, companies recruited by Jobs Plus, including manufacturers, high-tech, food service, medical, and professional and support firms have paid nearly $32.3 million in real and personal property taxes. Year-end 2006, the organization reported 4,594 net new jobs over 1987, and an annual wage increase of 5.6 percent. Unemployment has been reduced from 14% in 1987 to 2.6 percent currently. To learn more about Jobs Plus, visit their website at http://www.jobsplusonline.org/.

About the Inland Northwest Economic Alliance (INEA) – Backed by the assets of two states and several counties, the INEA markets the considerable advantages of doing business in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Recruiters travel regularly to California, selectively targeting companies for relocation and expansion project in the Inland Northwest. Members include a total of 11 economic development agencies representing 14 counties in the two states. To learn more call (866) 495-8877 or visit http://www.inlandnorthwestregion.com.

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