Idaho Business Review, Boise articles from July 2007

Idaho Business Review, Boise archives from July 2007

Boise-based Micron Technology posts $225 million loss.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Micron Technology announced a net loss of $225 million ($0.29 per diluted share) on net sales of $1.3 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2007, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange...

Firms plans $2B energy, ag center near American Falls.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff Southeast Idaho Energy announced it is moving ahead with plans to construct a $2 billion agricultural products and energy facility in Power County. Named the Power County Advanced Energy Center, it will produce...

Correction.(Correction notice)
July 2, 2007... The owner of the IIB Plaza at 401 W. Front St. in Boise was incorrectly printed in the Idaho Top Projects magazine, published in the June 18 issue of the Idaho Business Review. The owner is actually Brighton Corp.

Entries sought for '07 Stoel Rives Idaho Innovation Awards.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff Nominations are now being accepted for the second annual Stoel Rives Idaho Innovation Awards. The Idaho Innovation Awards are designed to recognize technology innovations and the Idaho companies that created them. The...

Idaho Youth Ranch completes move to Nagel Center in Boise.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson The Idaho Youth Ranch recently completed its move to the 110,000-square-foot Nagel Center, 5465 W. Irving St., Boise. The nonprofit youth services agency on June 8 moved headquarters employees from 7025 W. Emerald...

'No-bid' trend in Idaho Division of Public Works construction projects wanes.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson As construction materials prices rose, so did the number of no-bids on Idaho Division of Public Works projects, said Grant Schoeneweis, a project coordinator with the state construction agency. But the trend...

Idaho Business Review will appeal court's decision over legal notices.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The Idaho Business Review has appealed a judge's ruling in a dispute with the Idaho Statesman over whether publishing legal notices in the Idaho Business Review provides sufficient legal notification. The court's...

Bank of America provides $44K in grants to nonprofits in Idaho.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff In the first quarter of 2007, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation provided $44,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Grants were awarded to the following non-profit organizations: ...

Commentary: Closed primaries 'close out' independents.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Steve Ahrens Are you a Republican, or a Democrat? Or an independent? Relax - I don't care how you vote. And you're right - your personal politics are no one's business. If you're like most Idahoans, you want to keep it that...

Treasure Valley Litho in Boise gets new ownership.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Local printer Treasure Valley Litho has new owners. Lance Reiber and his wife Lynne have sold the Boise business to Chris and Brooke Haechrel. Chris Haechrel said that Treasure Valley Litho will carry on...

Riverside Medical Center: Name chosen for new physician-owned hospital in Boise.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The physician investors behind a new physician-owned hospital in Boise have chosen a name for their new facility: Riverside Medical Center. Bobbie Kale, a spokeswoman for the investors, said they expect to receive...

Wells Fargo Economist Michael Swanson predicts food inflation will be with us for a while.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson Higher-than-usual food inflation will be with us for a while, Wells Fargo Economist Michael Swanson said in a June report. With $4 (per bushel) corn projected out through 2010 by the futures market, it's clear that...

Interview with Mark Rudin: New vice president for research at Boise State University.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Mark Rudin is the new vice president for research at Boise State University. He began working at Boise State in January. His last job was the interim vice president for research and graduate dean for the University of...

Plywood plant in Weiser plans to boost staff count.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson Robert Weed Plywood Corp. expects to boost staff to about 50 at its new plant in Weiser within a year. The Bristol, Ind.-based company established a western-U.S. presence in late April by acquiring the plant for an...

Fruitland OKs four subdivisions.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff More growth is on the way in Fruitland, where city officials approved four sizable subdivisions in the past two months. Fruitland Zoning Administrator Rick Watkins said the city recently approved the 56-lot Northview...

Idaho Energy Division seeking biofuel grant proposals.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff The Idaho Energy Division is accepting grant proposals from fuel retailers to install or upgrade biofuels infrastructure projects in Idaho. Grants covering up to 50 percent of projects ranging from $1,000 to $100,000...

Interview with Doug Haneborg: Owner, Express Personnel Services.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Gaye Bunderson Doug Haneborg is the owner of Express Personnel Services, serving the Treasure Valley. He answered the following questions about the demographics of different generations of workers and how each has changed - or will...

Building Permits.
July 2, 2007... BUILDING PERMITS CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPE    OWNER    BUILDER    LOCATION    VALUE 01576-alteration    Weeks, Keith A    C & C Salvage ¶...

Idaho Dept. of Education offices in downtown Boise to undergo remodeling.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff The State Dept. of Education offices in downtown Boise will undergo a modernization project this summer. The goal of the project is to foster teamwork among the department staff and cut costs by consolidating the...

Boise State to offer MBA in IT management.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff Boise State University will begin offering a new master's of business administration in information technology management this fall. The Idaho State Board of Education recently approved the new program. The MBA will...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: July 2, 2007.
July 2, 2007... Byline: IBR Staff Brady Industries Inc. leased a 26,500-square-foot warehouse / office building at 5198 Chinden Blvd., Garden City, from Unisource Worldwide Inc. Gary Buentgen of Intermountain Commercial Real Estate brokered the...

Bid Briefs.
July 2, 2007... LCF Enterprises plans a new office-warehouse building in Riverbend Commerce Park, Post Falls. Details of the two-story, 28,000-square-foot project are available from ML Architects & Associates, Ashley Kira, 444 N. Bay St., Post Falls, Idaho...

Contracts Awarded.
July 2, 2007... BGM Builders, American Falls, is general contractor for an American Falls Library addition and remodel. Cost not listed. CCI, Hayden, is general contractor for an office building at 27843 N. Highway 95, Athol. Cost estimate: $310,691. ...

Boise Italian restaurant Louie's closes today.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert Louie's Pizza & Italian Restaurant's downtown Boise location will close today. But General Manager Lou Mallane said the move is unrelated to an Old Spaghetti Factory that recently opened next door. Several...

Meridian-based MWI Vet Supply busy with acquisitions, facilities, services.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson It has been a busy few months for MWI Veterinary Supply Inc. On June 8, the publicly traded company based in Meridian bought the assets of two businesses. Also last month, it leased a Kansas City-area building of...

Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves federal assistance for wireless company.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Edge Wireless has become the first cellular company in Idaho to qualify to receive federal funds to provide service in areas already served by rural telephone companies, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission said in a...

Bypass 'Angel' donors, utilize federal grant money, advises Boise Valley Economic Partnership.
July 2, 2007... Byline: Rick Carpenter You've got a great innovative idea that will benefit national interest or a major segment of society, but the only one willing to invest in your project wants a major share of your profits to invest in you. You...

Idaho Cobalt Project planners say most comments favorable.
July 3, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson The company that proposed the Idaho Cobalt Project mining venture near Salmon today said most official public comments to the U.S. Forest Service have been favorable. Canada-based Formation Capital Corp. said in a...

Boise one of 30 fastest cities in the world.
July 3, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The magazine Fast Company released its list of the 2007 Fast Cities in its most recent issue. (Thank you Tac for the tip.) The survey covers cities around the world. Boise made the cut as one of three high-tech hot...

Saint Alphonsus Medical Group hires new CEO.
July 5, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Saint Alphonsus has hired Dr. Michael Patmas as the new CEO of the Saint Alphonsus Medical Group. As chief executive officer, Patmas will provide clinical and administrative leadership to the physicians of the Saint...

The Idaho Statesman files contempt motion against IBR over legal notices.
July 5, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The Idaho Statesman has filed a motion for contempt against the Idaho Business Review, claiming that the IBR is ignoring a court's decision by continuing to publish legal notices. The court's decision, issued by Judge...

Water Resources Director accepts mitigation plans, cancels curtailment.
July 5, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Idaho Department of Water Resources Director David Tuthill today issued orders accepting mitigation plans submitted by the Idaho Ground Water Appropriators and the Idaho Dairymen's Association, and rescinding the...

Goldman Sachs says dump your McClatchy stock.
July 5, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky More bad news for McClatchy - the Sacramento-based publisher that owns the Idaho Statesman. Earlier this week, an analyst for Goldman Sachs lowered McClatchy's stock rating to sell, saying that "online growth will...

Labor Dept.: Idaho unemployment may have hit bottom.
July 6, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert Idaho's unemployment rate was 2.5 percent in June, marking the fifth straight month it has been under 3 percent. But there are reasons to believe the low jobless rates could end soon, according to the Idaho...

Sun Valley workforce housing ordinance ruled unconstitutional by Idaho district court.
July 6, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert An Idaho district court has declared Sun Valley's workforce housing ordinance unconstitutional. The ordinance required builders and developers to build a portion of their lots as housing affordable to workers in...

Boise-based Ox-Gen founder forms new company.
July 7, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Frank Fosella, the founder and former president and chairman of Ox-Gen, has formed a new company - Oxon Medical Lifesystems. Oxon will be developing a non-pressurized and non-explosive emergency breathing device...

Idaho Statesman files contempt motion against IBR over printing of legal notices.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The Idaho Statesman has filed a motion for contempt against the Idaho Business Review, claiming that the IBR is ignoring a court's decision by continuing to publish legal notices. The court's decision, issued by Judge...

Donors move plan for Treasure Valley Family YMCA camp toward fruition.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson Businesses, foundations and individual donors have the Treasure Valley Family YMCA more than halfway toward its goal to build a 330-acre camp at Horsethief Reservoir, about 10 miles east of Cascade. We have close...

India delegation visits Idaho in interests of trade exchange.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson Idaho is a bit more prominent on India's foreign-trade radar screen after an Indo-American Chamber of Commerce delegation of 16 business and government leaders visited the Boise area June 28-29. Our mission is to...

$75M mixed-use Meridian Gateway planned for Eagle, Franklin roads intersection.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson Three multi-story office buildings and a hotel with convention space would anchor Meridian Gateway, a mixed-use project slated north of St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center. The 34-acre site lies in the southeast...

New Ada County development director sees budget challenges.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert John Traylor was appointed as Ada County's new director of Development Services in May. He previously worked as the county's director of Indigent Services, a position he has combined with his new one. Before that, he...

Economic growth continues in Idaho, but slows.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Idaho economic growth should occur at a more subdued pace in the next year to 18 months on limited labor availability and moderating home price gains, economist Jeff Thredgold says. Even so,...

Idaho economy stats.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report * Unemployment: 2.3 percent in May * Job gains: Nearly 16,000 net new jobs in most recent 12-month period (up 2.4 percent, ranking Idaho eighth in U.S.) Idaho added 28,300 jobs in 2006. * Home...

Micron Technology's impact on Idaho sizeable.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Without a full account of the number of jobs Micron plans to eliminate following its quarterly loss, it's difficult to say precisely what the economic impact on the Treasure Valley will be. But we do know what...

Idaho Small Business Development Center partnership designed to stimulate small business growth.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The Idaho Small Business Development Center is partnering with other statewide public and private agencies to pool resources and work together to ensure startups and growing businesses have access to every available...

Idaho hotels renovating rooms to capture visitors' imaginations.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert Theme hotels occupy a special niche in the lodging industry, but they often require some tinkering every few years in order to capture visitors' imaginations. Anniversary Inn in Boise is transforming two of its...

Modern Hotel in Boise prides itself on independence.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert The Modern Hotel opened in a renovated TraveLodge in David Hale's Linen District June 1 and held its grand opening June 29. Renovating the 41-room hotel cost $2.5 million. The hotel is locally owned and operated by...

Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau turns 25.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert The Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau celebrated its 25th anniversary in June, and during its history has brought millions of tourism dollars to the city of Boise, according to a press release. In 1979, the...

Zions Bank extends 'Smart Women Grants' application deadline to July 16.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report The application deadline for Zions Bank's Smart Women Grants has been extended to July 16. The new series of micro-grants totaling $20,000 will be provided to women candidates who excel in a...

Building Permits.
July 9, 2007... CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPE OWNER BUILDER LOCATION VALUE 01645-misc. not listed Classic Design Studio Inc 276 W Bobwhite Ct 8,000 01119-addition Anderson, Peter R J & B Construction 2802 S...

Bid Briefs.
July 9, 2007... The Sun Valley resort plans a golf and Nordic ski clubhouse on Trail Creek Road, Sun Valley. Details of the three-story, 45,000-square-foot project are available from Intermountain Construction, P.O. Box 2319, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83403. A bid...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: July 9, 2007.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Capitol Business Centres recently opened its second Boise executive suites facility, on the fifth floor of University Plaza, 960 Broadway Ave. Facilities include 42 offices, three conference rooms,...

Contracts Awarded.
July 9, 2007... PKC Construction, Kansas City, Mo., was awarded a contract for a Charles Schwab office at 905 N. 9th St., Boise. Cost not listed. River City Construction, Post Falls, was awarded a contract for an office and manufacturing facility for Boise...

What if Boise-based Micron suffered massive layoffs?
July 9, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson Ken Cortez appreciates that Metalcraft, his east Boise precision metal fabrication and machine shop, counts Micron Technology Inc. as a major customer. But like Micron itself, Metalcraft has seen its share of ups...

Boise-based Micron Technology chief financial officer Wilbur Stover to retire in Aug.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Micron Technology announced July 2 that Wilbur Stover, vice president of finance and chief financial officer, would retire after the completion of the company's fiscal year - which ends in August....

Idaho Business Review: Send us your Health Care Hero nominations.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Steve Martin We all know someone who's made a difference. Those people working in the area of health care do it every day, yet often go unrecognized outside of their peers. We want our readers to know them, and you can help. ...

Residential lull drags U.S. construction spending.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson U.S. construction spending for the first five months of the year decreased by 3.9 percent from a year earlier, according to a Census Bureau report released June 29. Spending fell by 0.9 percent in May from May 2006....

Saint Alphonsus Medical Group in Boise hires new CEO.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Saint Alphonsus has hired Dr. Michael Patmas as the new CEO of the Saint Alphonsus Medical Group. As chief executive officer of Saint Alphonsus Medical Group, Patmas will provide clinical and...

Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry selects Agri Beef Co. for Environmental Excellence Award.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report The Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry presented Agri Beef Co. with the 2007 Environmental Excellence Award during IACI's 33rd annual conference. First presented in 1997, the IACI...

Wisconsin-based Plexus faces two class action suits.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Shareholders of contract manufacturer Plexus have filed two separate class action lawsuits against the Wisconsin-based company. The suits accuse the company and three of its officers of insider trading and...

Amerisuites to become Idaho's first Hyatt.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert The manager of an Amerisuites on Milwaukee Street in Boise is remodeling the hotel and plans to reopen it as the first Hyatt in Idaho. Hyatt purchased the Amerisuites chain two years ago, but waited to convert many...

Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves Avista rate adjustment.
July 9, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved a yearly adjustment to rates charged by Avista Corp. The adjustment is designed to allow the utility to recover power supply expenses not already included in base...

Idaho unemployment increases.
July 10, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate moved upward in June from a questionably low 2.3 percent in May as job creation fell short of normal levels during the spring-to-summer transition, the Idaho Department of...

Idaho Insurance and Arson Crime Task Force reports results.(Financial report)
July 10, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson The Idaho Insurance and Arson Crime Task Force secured 10 felony convictions in its first full year of operation, according to a statement from Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and state Department of Insurance...

Tech manufacturer moves from Southern California to north Idaho.
July 10, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Titan Spring Co. is relocating its manufacturing facility from Southern California to a new building in Hayden, Idaho, according to a statement from the Inland Northwest Economic Alliance. Titan Spring is a...

Former Micron subsidiary in Nampa must pay the rent.
July 11, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky MPC Computers owes Micron Technology more than $2 million in back rent for the lease of MPC's manufacturing facility in Nampa. Times are tough for MPC - the company recently reported a net loss of $5.2 million for the...

Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves Avista energy savings program.
July 11, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved a pilot program proposed by Avista Utilities to reduce the need to buy power during peak demand times. The two-year pilot that would enlist volunteer customers to...

Boise-based Washington Group International buyout clears an anti-trust hurdle.
July 11, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson URS Corp. today said the federal anti-trust waiting period associated with its plans to buy Boise-based Washington Group International has expired. San Francisco-based URS and Washington Group announced the deal May...

Idaho-based Micron on cuts: "We're not done by any means".
July 12, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert Micron officials hinted that more cuts and layoffs are to come at its Boise, Singapore and Xi'an, China, assembly and test facilities. While explaining that this round of layoffs has been much more targeted by...

Washington employer recruiting Idaho-based Micron talent.
July 13, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Recruiters from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, in Pullman, Wash., are expected to be in Boise Monday for a job fair at the Idaho Department of Labor. The company, which is trying to fill more than 100 jobs at...

Boise-based Stinker C-stores change corporate structure, name.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson The Boise-based chain of convenience stores that primarily sells Sinclair fuels has a new name and structure, and an additional fuel brand - Chevron. Majority owner Charley Jones and partner Shawn Davis in 2002...

Berkley Aviation Investors buying Boise-based Western Aircraft.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Western Aircraft has a new owner. Berkley Aviation Investors Inc. is buying the Boise aircraft sales, service and charter company in a stock transaction expected to close this month. A...

St. Luke's to participate in patient care project.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report St. Luke's is one of 68 hospitals chosen for a two-year project designed to improve nurses' bedside care of patients, according to a press release. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation gave $1...

Commentary: Young voters shifting away from GOP?
July 16, 2007... Byline: Steve Ahrens I have a confession to make... I'm a poll junkie. There are lots of us around. Better and/or newer information gives you an advantage over your opponents. A good poll tells you more than just which candidates are...

Newest Tully's Coffee opens in Eagle River.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Tully's Coffee recently opened its fourth Treasure Valley location in the Eagle River development at 150 E. Riverside Drive in Eagle, across from the Hilton Garden Inn and Bardenay. The chain plans...

Green interior design can be a challenge in Idaho.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert Green interior design can be a challenge in Idaho, where there are few local suppliers of green building products, Cornerstone Design President Suzie Hall said. Much of what constitutes green interior design comes...

Building Permits.
July 16, 2007... BUILDING PERMITS CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPE    OWNER    BUILDER    LOCATION    VALUE 01721-unknown    not listed    Sue A Cook Design  ...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: July 16, 2007.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Stanley Consultants, a civil engineering firm, leased 12,338 square feet in the Granada Square building, 2264 S. Bonito Way in the El Dorado Business Campus, Meridian. Move-in is expected in...

Bid Briefs.
July 16, 2007... Navy Operation Support Center minor repairs are planned at Gowen Field, Boise. Project details are available from Engineering Field Activity NW, John Gerber, contracting officer, 2000 West View Drive, Everett, Wash. 98207. A bid opening is...

Sun Valley workforce housing ordinance ruled unconstitutional by Idaho district court.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert An Idaho district court has declared Sun Valley's workforce housing ordinance unconstitutional. The ordinance required builders and developers to build a portion of their lots as housing affordable to workers in...

Consumer drops false advertising suit against Corey Barton Homes.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert A consumer who brought a false advertising lawsuit against Corey Barton Homes and its subsidiary CBH Home Loans has voluntarily dismissed the case. Aaron MacSween Hill sued Corey Barton for not including the phrase...

Analysts like Boise-based Micron Technology's plans but see tough road ahead.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Brad Carlson Micron Technology Inc. stock opened at $12.49 June 29, a day after the memory chip maker announced a $225 million quarterly loss as well as plans to cut costs and restructure. The stock closed at $13.84 July 11,...

Boise-based Micron Technology on cuts: 'We're not done by any means'.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Lora Volkert Micron officials hinted that more cuts and layoffs are to come at its Boise, Singapore and Xi'an, China, assembly and test facilities. While explaining that this round of layoffs has been much more targeted by...

U2ML founder finds TechLaunch 'murder board' educational.
July 16, 2007... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Jason Christensen was not prepared to pitch his IT company to potential investors. Christensen is a hardware guy - not someone skilled in the art of the sales pitch. Until recently, he was a software architect...