Idaho Business Review, Boise articles from August 2003

Idaho Business Review, Boise archives from August 2003

Trademark infringement lawsuit against Boise-based Compass Commercial Properties heads for trial.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin A trademark-infringement lawsuit against a Boise commercial and residential real estate company is headed for trial in Fourth District Court early next year.Compass Commercial Properties, Boise, has sued Compass Inc. -...

Walgreens plans store near State, Glenwood in Garden City.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Walgreen Co. plans to start construction this fall on its ninth Valley store near the intersection of Glenwood and State streets in Garden City.Brian Huffaker, pre-development manager for project developer Hawkins...

Idaho economists cite signs for cautious optimism for the rest of this year.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin "Guarded optimism" is the outlook for Idaho's economy the rest of this year, according to the state Division of Financial Management.While the previous quarterly Idaho Economic Forecast projected that non-farm...

Commercial real estate developers and lenders not yet concerned about rising interest rates.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Commercial real estate observers aren't overly concerned - yet - about the recent rise in 10-year U.S. Treasury note interest rates, which largely determine rates on building loans.Yields on the 10-year Treasury hit...

University-based group, TechHelp, offers Idaho manufacturers advice on efficiency.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson TechHelp, the university-based group that helps Idaho manufacturers gain efficiency and competitiveness, finds itself taking a broader approach.It hasn't seen the size of its client base change much in the past couple...

Boise-based Bearmakerz Blvd. allows customers to craft their own stuffed animal.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Tammi Leman comes to work to play with stuffed animals - and earns a living at it, too.Leman and her husband Michael own Bearmakerz Blvd., which allows young customers to craft their own stuffed four-legged creatures -...

Six buildings planned in Boise-based Southpark Business Center.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Buildings for neighborhood retail services and professional offices are planned on a 5-acre site at the northwest corner of Cloverdale and Amity roads in southwest Boise.Southpark Business Center is to comprise six...

Boise-based Extended Systems posts first profit in four years.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Extended Systems Inc. posted its first quarterly profit in four years by earning $118,000, or 1 cent per share, in its fourth fiscal quarter (ended June 30).That compares to a $2.2 million loss in the year-ago quarter,...

San Francisco-based Building Materials Holding Corp.'s net earnings drop in second quarter.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Building Materials Holding Corp. has reported earnings of $5.6 million, or 42 cents a share, for the second quarter, a decline of 23 percent from the $7.3 million, or 55 cents a share, cleared a year earlier.The...

Nampa's Plexus reports $14.7 million loss.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Plexus Corp., a contract electronics manufacturer that employs about 300 in Nampa, reported a $14.7 million loss for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30, or 35 cents per share, on sales of $196 million.The loss...

Nampa-based Zilog reports pro-forma gain but GAAP loss for second quarter.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Zilog Inc. reported pro forma net income of $600,000 for the second quarter of 2003 - excluding one-time charges and reorganization items - down from $3.5 million a year ago and $500,000 in the previous quarter.The...

Boise-based Sundance plans to double the size of its SilverStone commercial real estate complex.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson The Sundance Co. plans to nearly double the size of its SilverStone commercial real estate complex in eastern Meridian.Boise-based Sundance (principal: Roger Anderson) has asked Meridian to annex more than 80 acres...

Idaho's Ada County apartment vacancy rates drop slightly.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Ada County apartment vacancy rates dropped in the most recent quarter, but stayed at double-digit percentage rates and well above levels considered a balance between supply and demand.The apartment market still...

Upscale brands help push Idaho liquor sales up nearly 6%.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Steven Anderson A stagnant economy and higher taxes haven't kept Idahoans from buying upscale liquor in the past year or so, but more people may be drinking it at home, new sales data indicate.Liquor sales in fiscal 2003, ended...

Work begins at El Dorado commercial complex in Meridian.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Steven Anderson Construction has started in El Dorado, an 85-acre commercial complex in the southwest quadrant of Eagle and Overland roads, Meridian.Winston Moore, principal in W.H. Moore Co, said a building of 30,000 square feet...

Boise-based Treasure Valley's two big medical centers continue growing.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin The Treasure Valley's two largest health-care providers continue to grow, with no slowdown in sight.Hiring activity at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center remains steady and no layoffs are planned, according to Derek...

Boise-based IEC Group and AmeriBen Solutions plan move to Meridian's SilverStone Corporate Center.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson IEC Group and AmeriBen Solutions, which provide management consulting services and administer employee benefits plans, aim to move from southeast Boise to a building under construction south of Interstate 84 in...

Walgreen's store to occupy former Sav-on Drug bldg. in Boise.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson A Walgreens store is expected next spring to occupy a former Sav-on Drug building at the northeast corner of Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20-26) and Eagle Road.Brian Huffaker, pre-development manager for Hawkins Cos., which...

Boise couple plan to build gymnastics academy on Cloverdale Road.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson A Boise couple plan to build a gymnastics academy this summer on the west side of Cloverdale Road, south of Fairview Avenue.According to plans filed with the City of Boise, Chad and Katie Babcock seek conditional use...

Idaho banks maintain staff levels and even grow slightly.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Banks, no strangers to staff shake-ups and consolidation in the past decade, may represent one of the few bright spots in the current job market.At the banks with the largest share of Idaho deposits, staffing levels...

Hampton Inn construction begins in Twin Falls.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Construction of a 75-room Hampton Inn began recently in Twin Falls, at Pole Line Road and Fillmore Street.It will be the 54th hotel owned by The Summit Group. The company based in Sioux Falls, S.D., also operates a...

New jobs remain scarce among major employers in Idaho.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Tough times in the job market aren't over yet.Despite the state's recent projection of a gain of about 2,200 jobs this year, concerns about the slow rate of job creation remain. And next year - for the first time in...

Craft Warehouse sited at Crossroads center.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Craft Warehouse, a Washington state-based chain, plans a 21,000-square-foot store in the Meridian Crossroads shopping center, at the southeast corner of Eagle Road and Fairview Avenue.Manager Hank Brotzman said he...

Couple from Belgium to open chocolate shop in Boise.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Steven Anderson From Belgium to Boise, they plan to bring the world's best chocolates.In their opinion, of course.Margaret and Pierre Carre plan to open Carre Chocolates in a 1,100-square-foot shop on Bannock Street near Eighth...

Old cabling surfaces as issue for office buildings.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson A revision to the National Electrical Code that took effect in January requires that unused data cabling in a commercial space must be removed before a new occupant gets a permit to move in.The new rule -?enacted to...

MWI Veterinary Supply leases part of ex-Micronpc call center.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson MWI Veterinary Supply Co., based in Nampa, has leased part of the former Micronpc call center on Stratford Drive in Meridian.MWI, a wholesale distributor to veterinarians, employs 448, including 122 in Nampa and 13 in...

Application deadline for Intermountain Venture Forum-Boise extended to Aug. 27.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Organizers of the fifth annual Intermountain Venture Forum-Boise have extended the deadline for applications from fund-seeking businesses from Aug. 8 to Aug 27.The forum, slated Oct. 1-2 at Boise Centre on the Grove,...

Commercial bldgs. set for Victory Rd. in SW Boise.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Three commercial buildings totaling 17,900 square feet are planned on a 2-acre site at the southwest corner of Victory and Cole roads in southwest Boise."It's going to be a typical bank-commercial-retail site," said...

Boise firm markets oxygen device.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson A Boise group believes certain people will breathe easier with an emergency oxygen-supply device it is developing.Ox-Gen Flexible Life Systems plans to market its Flexible O2 System as a lighter, easier-to-use...

Capital City Development Corp. to reclaim site of Boise Tower.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Steven Anderson The Capital City Development Corp. will act to reclaim the 26,000-square-foot Boise Tower site at Eighth and Main streets from Boise Tower Associates, CCDC Executive Director Phil Kushlan said last week."My...

Boise architecture firm builds HQ on State St.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Longtime Boise architecture firm Petersen-Staggs Architects LLP has begun construction of an office building on State Street and plans to relocate there by January.Bruce Petersen, a principal in the firm, said a need...

Mountain West Bank plans Kuna branch.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Mountain West Bank plans to open a branch in Kuna, pending regulatory approval.Final negotiations were under way for the site, the banks said last week. A temporary facility will be utilized until a new branch is...

WaMu to open store-style branch in south Nampa.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Washington Mutual plans to open a consumer bank branch near the intersection of 12th Avenue Road and Greenhurst Road in Nampa, just north of Wal-Mart.The bank aims to serve a growing population base in Nampa,...

Homebuilders see little letup in housing demand.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Ken Levy Residential and commercial builders remain upbeat about the new-construction market despite the recent rise in interest rates.John Eaton, spokesman for the Building Contractors Association of Southwest Idaho, said...

Permit values stay steady in Boise.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Except for an active apartment sector, the City of Boise's construction statistics through July are holding steady.Construction in various categories is essentially similar with year-ago levels, except for an apartment...

HVAC installers see sales rising.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Ken Levy After a somewhat cool business period in 2002, heating and air conditioning firms are reporting hotter sales this year."We had about 7 percent growth in 2002," said Toby Ashley, president, Ashley Heating & Air...

Contractors NW capitalizes on public works projects.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Ken Levy Slow growth in the retail and food-processing construction markets shouldn't keep Contractors Northwest, Inc. from meeting its growth projections for the upcoming year."Our key clients in the food processing and retail...

Hedge funds draw investor interest despite risks.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson The H-word - hedge - is coming up more often in investment consulting offices nationally and locally.Several Boise-area money managers who offer access to hedge funds and "alternative investments" say more clients have...

Mexico, Asia trade reps recruit new Idaho businesses as exporters.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Ken Miller Idaho's international exports slipped 7 percent last year, but the state's trade representatives in Mexico and Asia say they're optimistic that Idaho companies will reverse the trend by tapping unmet high-tech and niche...

Pres. of KeyBank of Idaho named new pres./CEO of Boise-based Farmers & Merchants State Bank.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Ken Miller KeyBank of Idaho President Mike Mooney has moved to Boise-based Farmers & Merchants State Bank as president.Clarence Jones, board chairman of Farmers & Merchants, announced that Mooney had been named the bank's president...

Downtown Boise to get new wine bar/art gallery this fall.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Ken Miller Downtown Boise is slated to get another wine bar this fall when Lisa Villano opens Piazza di Vino Art Gallery and Wine Bar at 212 N. Ninth Street, north of Idaho Street.The 1,500-square-foot, two-level space, which...

Commercial Tire leases industrial building in Meridian for its headquarters and warehouse.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Commercial Tire Inc. recently signed a lease with option to buy an industrial building of 27,000 square feet in Meridian, where it plans to move its headquarters and consolidate warehousing.The move will eliminate the...

Boise-based SCP Global Technologies secures order from DRAM company in Taiwan.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson SCP Global Technologies (SCP), a Boise-based designer and manufacturer of semiconductor capital equipment, recently secured an order for eight 300-millimeter automated wet process tools from a DRAM company in Taiwan....

Boise-based Washington Group International reports higher net, lower revenues.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Washington Group International reported second-quarter earnings of $18 million, or 72 cents per share, compared to $9.2 million, or 37 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.The worldwide construction, engineering...

Wash.-based Mutual Materials Co. to launch a concrete paver plant in Boise in 2004.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Mutual Materials Co. plans to launch a concrete paver plant in Boise early next year.Bellevue, Wash.-based Mutual recently signed a lease-purchase option for a southeast Boise building of 13,500 square feet on 4 acres...

President and CEO of Boise-based Extended Systems decides to step down to pursue other interests.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson "It was pretty quick," Extended Systems CEO and President Steve Simpson said last week of his decision to step down, but "it looked like the timing was pretty good."Simpson, 56, left the post he's held since January...

Boise-based Eagle River complex may accelerate construction after inquiries from potential occupants.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson After more than three years of planning, infrastructure work and initial marketing, the Eagle River complex has several buildings under construction and some new inquiries from potential occupants.Some changes to the...

Workshop on hiring skills set for Aug. 27 at Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Knowing what questions to ask prospective employees is only one of the skills an employer needs for hiring the right people. The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce plans to explore hiring skills at a workshop Aug. 27...

Boise attorneys to instruct at seminar about landlord-tenant law.
August 25, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson "Landlord and Tenant Law In Idaho" is the title of an all-day seminar slated for 8 a.m. Aug. 28 at DoubleTree Hotel Riverside, Garden City.Dealing primarily with multi-family housing, it will cater to property owners...