Idaho Business Review, Boise articles from March 2008

Idaho Business Review, Boise archives from March 2008

Gambling on fuel prices.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Robb Hicken Congressman Bill Sali gushed with anguish over increasing gasoline prices that may be forthcoming. Raising taxes, discouraging domestic oil production and turning to foreign dictators like Hugo Chavez for our...

Low home prices in Idaho keep buyers at bay.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Higher conforming mortgage limits will impact the Idaho housing market indirectly, for the most part. Median home prices remain too low in most areas of Idaho to enable homebuyers, and owners seeking to refinance,...

Id. Gov. Otter's aide says vehicle fees to fund transportation needs, shortfall.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Gov. C.L. Butch Otter plans to make up the state's $200 million shortfall in transportation funding in just three years. Closing that gap, and the continued appropriation of GARVEE, are the governor's two goals for...

Free conference in Boise keeps tech workers up to speed.(Conference news)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Local tech workers will have an opportunity to learn about the latest in software and technology trends next weekend at the third annual Boise Code Camp. The free event is intended for software developers, business...

Idaho real estate market figures into Cascade.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A slowing Idaho real estate market was factored into fourth quarter earnings reports by the Bank of the Cascades, Cascade Bancorp CEO Patricia Moss said. Developers and builders are having a more challenging time...

Idaho considers revising cap-gain "pass-through" law.
March 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff House Bill 563 would revise Idaho law on capital-gains taxation for pass-through entities that own property. Sen. Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, on Feb. 25 told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee that clients of his...

Fourth District Court kills McCall housing ordinance.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert McCall city officials are looking for solutions to community housing, after a city ordinance was struck down in Fourth District Court two weeks ago. Without housing in the community for workers who make the...

Legislation in Idaho aims to curb urban renewal abuses.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert Draft legislation that would prevent urban renewal districts from gerrymandering has been introduced by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. The proposed legislation would prevent shoestring additions to...

Urban Land Institute's to host forum in Boise on mixed-use development.
March 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff The Urban Land Institute's 2008 Emerging Housing Trends forum will be from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 4 at the Boise Centre on the Grove. The program will focus on mixed-use development trends. The keynote speaker is...

Meridian Planning and Zoning tables Waltman Lane proposal.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A proposal to build a 38.2-acre commercial development on Waltman Lane, northwest of the Meridian Road interchange with Interstate 84 has been tabled. Developer Waltman LLC wants to annex the property and rezone it...

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 3, 2008... Information in the Feb. 4 edition of the Idaho Construction Review’s TopList: Engineers should have read: CTA Architects Engineers, 1185 Grove St. Boise, ID 83702 www.ctagroup.com Fax No.:  currently 208.84.0016 – change to...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: March 3, 2008.
March 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Walgreens leased a 15,000-square-foot pad, for building construction, at the southwest corner of Findley Avenue and Federal Way, Boise. Move-in is planned June 1. Colby Hawker and Ken Benoit of Hawkins Cos. represented...

Bid Briefs.
March 3, 2008... Theophilus Tower dormitory roof improvements are planned at the University of Idaho, in Moscow. Project details are available from Associated Architects, 129 W. 3rd St., Moscow, Idaho 83843. A bid opening is scheduled at 2 p.m. March 13. Cost...

Contracts Awarded.
March 3, 2008... Hoffman Construction Co. of Oregon, Portland, is the construction manager and general contractor for a new Biopol facility at 448 S. Lochsa St., Post Falls. Cost estimate: $10 million. Sawtooth Construction, Ketchum, is the owner, builder...

Building Permits.
March 3, 2008... BUILDING PERMITS CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPE    OWNER    BUILDER    LOCATION    VALUE 00279-alteration    Hook Family Trust    Dotson...

Caldwell-based Summit Seed seeks air permit for processing line.
March 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Summit Seed Coatings seeks an Idaho air-quality permit that would enable the Caldwell company to add a processing line. The company plans to add a new, more efficient, coating line in its existing building, said Idaho...

ValleyRide unveils Canyon County fixed-stop locations.
March 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff ValleyRide, the Treasure Valley's bus service, unveiled a new system of fixed location bus stops in Canyon County last week. The new fixed-location bus stops will officially replace the flag-down-the-bus system in...

Approval process continues on Capitol Terrace project in Ada County.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert Capitol Terrace Apartments developer Ken Howell moved a step closer in the construction financing process by filing for plat approval with Ada County. Howell said banks need to have the parcels for the rooftop...

All fired up.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Gaye Bunderson Will Gigray has a wife, three kids and two jobs. At one job he wears a dress shirt, sits at a desk, and helps customers with commercial loan applications. At the other, he wears safety apparel, can expertly...

Old, new media best ad mix, say the experts.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Gaye Bunderson See what's left of the world from the bow of a boat built so sturdy it can survive a flood. On board a three-story floating zoo called The Ark, passengers can roam throughout three floors of a 300-cubit-long ship...

Boise Place developer files reorganization plan.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert Charterhouse Boise Downtown Properties has filed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan. Charterhouse had planned to build a more than 30-story tower at Eighth and Main called Boise Place, but declared...

Idaho-based Supervalu reaffirms '08 guidance, looks for gains in '09.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Supervalu Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Noddle today said he expects the grocery company to notch low single-digit sales growth, and 1 percent to 2 percent growth in identical-store sales, for the fiscal year that began...

Micron Technology and Taiwan-based Nanya Technology announce DRAM partnership.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Micron Technology and Taiwan-based Nanya Technology announced this morning that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore potential technology sharing, joint technology development and...

Durcon commits to new fabrication plant in Boise.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Micron officials told employees this morning it will build a new, wholly-owned 300 mm production facility in Boise. Micron President and COO Mark Durcan expanded on details surrounding a joint-venture agreement...

Idaho Senate approves second real estate disclosure bill in close vote.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert A bill requiring home buyers to report to county assessors the sale price of their property passed the Idaho Senate 19-15. Under the bill, purchasers would be required to send a property transfer certificate - a...

Idaho district judge approves bonding for McCall.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert A district judge has authorized the city of McCall to issue bonds to pay for a $6 million judgment. Approval for the bonds was granted on Feb. 29. The city lost a lawsuit with wastewater treatment facility contractor...

Senate committee recommends amendments to energy-efficient state buildings bill in Idaho.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert A bill that would require most new state buildings and major remodels to be more energy-efficient made it through the Senate State Affairs Committee. The committee voted, Monday morning, to send the bill to...

Appropriations committee in Idaho tightens belt on Commerce budget.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky A $33.8 million budget for the state's Department of Commerce in fiscal 2009 was approved Monday by the Legislature's Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. The appropriation is a steep reduction from last...

Personal property tax proposal in Idaho moves ahead.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A proposal to eliminate the personal property tax on businesses will be printed into bill form, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted today. Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry President Alex LaBeau...

City of McCall threatens bankruptcy on March 5.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert The timer is ticking down. The McCall mayor and city council have threatened to declare bankruptcy on March 5 if Employers Insurance of Wausau does not withdraw its motion to hold the city in contempt of court and...

Boise-based Micron renames imaging division.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Micron's imaging business is being reorganized under a new name: Aptina Imaging. The company made the announcement this morning at an analyst event in San Jose. Aptina will initially operate as a division...

Pocatello-based AMI settles shareholder lawsuit.
March 5, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky AMI Semiconductor has entered into a memorandum of understanding to settle a shareholder class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed in Bannock County on Dec. 27 on behalf of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union...

American Vanguard buys Marsing manufacturing facility.
March 5, 2008... Byline: Robb Hicken Newport Beach, Calif.-based American Vanguard has bought the Bayer CropScience production facility in Marsing. The sale included the self-contained production facility that mixes and packages a number of ingredients...

Rocky Mountain Power proposes increase in efficiency rider.
March 7, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Rocky Mountain Power is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to allow the company to increase its rider on customer bills that pays for the utility's energy efficiency programs, the commission said in a press...

Idaho House panel tables infrastructure district bill.
March 7, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson The House Revenue & Taxation Committee today tabled, until March 10, legislation that would allow creation of community infrastructure districts. House Bill 578 would create a financial tool to allow new growth...

Boise chamber plans to endorse constitutional amendment for local option tax.
March 7, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The endorsement from the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce is conditional on the implementation of the transportation bill proposed by the Moving Idaho Forward coalition. The chamber executive committee will take a...

Idaho considers revising cap-gain 'pass-through' law.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson House Bill 563 would revise Idaho law on capital-gains taxation for pass-through entities that own property. Sen. Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, on Feb. 25 told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee that clients of his...

Blackhawk, a believer in U.S. manufacturing, staffs up Meridian plant.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Blackhawk Products Group in the next year plans to nearly double the workforce at its Meridian plant - where the headcount totals 82 already - and then keep growing, officials said. Norfolk, Va.-based Blackhawk...

Idaho-based Micron looks ahead, sets plan.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Micron's plan to build a new, wholly-owned 300 mm fabrication facility in Boise depends on what happens in the marketplace, President and COO Mark Durcan said. Micron's announcement came one day before the Idaho...

Idaho Senate panel OKs $20M aquifer deal.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A $20 million proposal to launch a 10-year study of Idaho's aquifers is headed to Gov. C.L. Butch Otter's desk. The Idaho Senate on March 5 passed House Bill 428 unanimously. The House on Feb. 6 approved the bill...

Idaho Senate passes labor exemption specifically for Capitol renovation.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert An exemption for Capitol renovation contractors is awaiting Gov. C. L. Butch Otter's signature. The Senate passed a bill last week that would exempt contractors from the requirement that they employ 95 percent...

Idaho irrigation district LID bill passes.
March 10, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report An Idaho Water Users Association proposal aimed at increasing property owners' access to irrigation water passed the state Senate. Senate Bill 1424 on March 3 passed 27-6. Two senators were absent for the...

Banks eye loan-loss reserve increases.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson In February, Cascade Bancorp officials announced that they were revising the loan-loss reserve for its fourth quarter of 2007. According to bank officials, the reserve was moved to 1.81 percent of loans, up from...

Personal property tax proposal moves ahead in Idaho House.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A proposal to eliminate the personal property tax on businesses will be printed into bill form, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted last week. Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry President Alex...

Urban renewal bill sent to Idaho Senate for amendment.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert A bill that prevents urban renewal agencies from collecting revenue from new voter-approved bonds has been sent to the full Senate to be amended. Urban renewal agency representatives asked the Senate Local...

Bill on 'shoestring' additions dies in Idaho legislative committee.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert A bill that would prohibit so-called shoestring additions by urban renewal agencies died in committee last week, but committee members urged the bill's spsonsor, Rep. Phil Hart, to return with a revised version. ...

Committee tightens belt on Idaho's commerce budget.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky A $33.8 million budget for the state's Department of Commerce in fiscal 2009 was approved March 3 by the Legislature's Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. The appropriation is a steep reduction from last year's...

McCall passes resolution to pay off debt.
March 10, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The McCall City Council has unanimously passed a resolution saying the city will issue 30-year municipal sewer bonds to get $6.2 million to pay off money it owes construction and insurance companies that built and...

Commentary: A look at Idaho's competitiveness.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Steve Ahrens Competition is all around us, in every phase of our lives. Yet it's often difficult to get a fix on how Idaho measures up against the other states that are aggressively playing the same game we're playing. So,...

Idaho wheat producers cautiously optimistic.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Wheat prices likely will stay at historically strong levels for at least another year, Idaho Wheat Commission Executive Director Blaine Jacobson said. He said two of the three drivers of last year's record highs...

Small Boise law firm in big arena.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Gaye Bunderson Benefits accrue from association memberships, but advantages can often trickle down to members' customers and clients as well. Fred Shoemaker of Boise law firm Greener Burke Shoemaker feels ALFA International is an...

Iron works in Boise tests its mettle.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone When most of us think of an iron works, images of flame-belching smokestacks, cauldrons of molten metal, and showers of sparks come to mind. Following that, if you told people there was an iron works at 8624 W....

Boise Real Estate Briefs: March 10, 2008.
March 10, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Gallagher Bassett Services Inc., a health care services provider, leased 1,916 square feet in the Washington Group Plaza Building, Boise. Jennifer McEntee and Tim Reid of Grubb & Ellis Idaho Commercial Group...

Bid Briefs.
March 10, 2008... Bickel Elementary School remodeling is planned at 607 2nd Ave. E., Twin Falls. Project details are available from Beniton Construction Co., 340 Falls Ave., Twin Falls, Idaho 83301-3373. Bids from selected subcontractors and suppliers are to be...

Contracts Awarded.
March 10, 2008... Knife River, Coeur d’Alene, was awarded a contract to rebuild and realign Mullan Avenue from Greensferry to State Highway 41 in Post Falls. Cost estimate: $1,879,764. Reiber Construction Co., Missoula, Mont., was awarded a contract...

Geneal Christensen helps Idaho businesses bring focus to chaos.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Rick Carpenter When Chelsea Terry was laid off as a project coordinator for Rocky Ridge Homes in Meridian - a victim of a slumping housing market last June - she turned to someone who had coached her through tough times. She...

Building Permits.
March 10, 2008... BUILDING PERMITS CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPE    OWNER    BUILDER    LOCATION    VALUE 00329-alteration    Nguyen Huong NGOC    Mountain States...

Idaho Power wants rate increase to pay for new plant.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Idaho Power has filed an application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to increase rates by 1.4 percent for all Idaho customers. The increase would cover construction costs of a new 170 megawatt natural...

Idaho-based NW Nazarene University names new president.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Northwest Nazarene University on March 8 named Dr. David Alexander its 12th president. He will replace Dr. Richard Hagood, who plans to retire July 31, the Nampa-based university said in a release. Hagood has...

Mapping Boise's tech universe.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Economic growth in the Treasure Valley depends heavily on investing in research and development and attracting and retaining talent, according to a study by Virginia Tech University. Education is a key component to...

Pinebridge Medical-Technical Park opens way to med-tech corridor in Meridian.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson When completed, Pinebridge Medical-Technical Park will consist of some 4 million square feet, but will only be part of a major expansion on the Pine Street expansion in Meridian. Developer Dennis Baker, speaking to...

New investment, plan raise hope for Boise Place.
March 10, 2008... Byline: Lora Volkert The rebar is beautiful this time of year. The snow has melted away, exposing each twist of steel. Its tinge of rust meets the sunrise. From the depths of the hole at Eighth and Main, it reaches its knotted fingers...

Mortgage office opens in steady market in Malad, Idaho.
March 10, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Kathy Kerstetter, manager of the new Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corp. branch in Malad, said this slice of Idaho has avoided a real estate rise-and-fall scenario for the most part. The community of 4,100-plus...

Boise-based Micron signs distribution agreement with Bell Microproducts.
March 11, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Bell Microproducts Inc., a distributor of storage and computing technology, announced it has signed a distribution agreement with Micron Technology to distribute Micron's line of DRAM modules, embedded NAND flash...

Idaho scrap dealers deserve a break.
March 11, 2008... Byline: Robb Hicken Two bills that will make recycling scrap metal a bit easier moved through the House and Senate Monday. A Senate bill (SB 1372) shifts prosecution solely from the scrap dealer to the person who is transporting the...

ValleyRide opposes constitutional amendment for public transportation in Idaho.
March 11, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The Valley Regional Transit board of directors on Monday voted to oppose an amendment to the Idaho Constitution that authorizes counties and cities to levy a sales and use tax. The board's decision was based upon the...

Power County officials oppose personal property bill.
March 11, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Power County officials oppose a bill aimed at relieving businesses of paying personal property tax. The bill will widen the gap between rich and poor, and big and small, said Power County Commissioner Vicki Meadows...

Governor says water situation in Idaho has improved.
March 12, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Idaho's available water resources have improved since last year, Gov. C.L. Butch Otter said at a meeting of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council March 11. It's been a good four months for water, the governor...

House panel endorses removing personal property tax in Idaho.
March 12, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A bill to eliminate personal property tax on businesses is headed to the House floor. The House Revenue & Taxation Committee today, the second day of debate, voted 11 to 7 to send House Bill 599 to the floor with a...

House leadership in Idaho plans alternative public transit bill.
March 12, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, plans to introduce his own public transportation bill this week. Moyle, who is also the House Majority leader, said he will introduce a constitutional amendment for local option tax on...

Idaho Senate committee approves Areva bills.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky After more than three hours of testimony and debate, the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee approved two tax incentive bills designed to attract the French nuclear energy firm Areva to eastern Idaho....

Treasure Valley could exceed EPA's new ozone limits.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky An extraordinary effort will be needed to prevent air pollution in the Treasure Valley from violating new air quality standards that were released by the Environmental Protection Agency last week. Meeting the new...

Who pays for public transit in Idaho?
March 17, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky The two-year effort to expand public transit, both in the Treasure Valley and around the state, was close to collapsing last week. Two of the member organizations of the Moving Idaho Forward coalition could not...

Idaho Senate committee OKs tax incentives for Areva plant.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky After more than three hours of testimony and debate, the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee approved two tax incentive bills designed to attract the French nuclear energy firm Areva to eastern Idaho. ...

Business consultants can help - if it's not too late.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Dick Growitz provides independent consulting to businesses - when he can. A lot of times when a business comes to me, it's already too late, said Growitz, who owns DG Associates in Eagle. A slower economy can...

Idaho House panel endorses removing personal property tax.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A House panel last week endorsed a bill that would eliminate personal property tax on businesses. The House Revenue & Taxation Committee on March 12, the second day of debate, voted 11 to 7 to send HB 599 to the floor...

Treasure Valley could exceed new ozone limits.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Eddie Kovsky An extraordinary effort will be needed to prevent air pollution in the Treasure Valley from violating new air quality standards that were released by the Environmental Protection Agency last week. Meeting the new...

Client-appreciation events are an art form.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Craig Verdi and his staff did a nice job with their third annual Spring Fever Fly Fishing Experience at the Grove Hotel ballroom in downtown Boise. Craig owns an investment firm. He and his colleague, John...

AGC economist predicts uneven growth ahead.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Non-residential segments, including power and energy, will continue to grow in the coming year, even as the construction industry faces increased material costs and labor shortages, a construction...

A-1's Dan Long named Idaho Small Business Person of Year.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson A-1 Plumbing & Emergency Rooter Inc. President Dan Long is the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2008 Idaho Small Business Person of the Year. I was humbled, he said. The people who really do the work are the...

What's inside is what counts.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Robb Hicken At a recent Christmas party in the St. Luke's Idaho Elks Rehabilitation pediatrics clinic, a hush fell across the room as the children expressed what they wished from Santa. Each child expressed with candor some...

Sustainable Innovations helps hospitals, businesses and Idaho's landfills -- Focus.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Gaye Bunderson Corporations contribute a lot to a community: jobs, revenue, stability, prestige. And waste. It's a fact of life that very little is accomplished without producing some by-products that need to be, whenever...

New Idaho-based business teaches cooking arts to kids.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Tracy Widner Food, fun and education are all part of the plan for success at the Young Chefs Academy, A Cooking School for Kids. Located at the corner of Eagle Road and Chinden Boulevard in the Eagle Marketplace, the business...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: March 17, 2008.
March 17, 2008... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Power Engineers Inc. leased 52,678 square feet in the Diamond Point Building, 2041 S. Cobalt Point Way, in the SilverStone development, Meridian. Move-in is expected this summer. Bill Beck of...