Idaho Business Review, Boise articles from October 2008

Idaho Business Review, Boise archives from October 2008

Pine Street extension in eastern Meridian to open around month's end.
October 1, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson The Pine Street extension in eastern Meridian is expected to be completed by the end of October. The project involves adding a segment of roadway from Locust Grove east to a point near heavily traveled Eagle Road. ...

St. Luke's Boise earns top honors in national health care survey.
October 1, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report For the eighth consecutive year St. Luke's Boise and Meridian Medical Centers have been awarded top honors in the National Research Corporation's (NRC) Consumer Choice Awards. Based on the NRC's Healthcare...

N.D. resources firm finalizes acquisition of Boise-based Intermountain Gas Co.
October 1, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone MDU Resources Group Inc., a North Dakota-based diversified natural resources company, announced today it had finalized a $328 million deal to acquire Boise-based natural gas firm Intermountain Gas Co. The deal,...

Idaho Business Review, KTVB News Group & partners to air three live Idaho debates.
October 1, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The Idaho Business Review, along with KTVB News Group, will sponsor three live debates between candidates for key statewide races to be aired in October. Candidates for the U.S. Senate will square off on Oct....

Boise State begins construction management certificate program.
October 1, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report In response to years of requests from the construction industry, Boise State now offers a non-credit program that allows participants to earn a construction management certificate by March. The program covers the...

Boise-based Kount Inc. receives U.S. Patent for proxy piercing technology.
October 1, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Kount Inc., a leading provider of fraud control for ecommerce merchants, has received a U.S. patent for its proxy piercing technology. This is the second Kount technology to receive a patent. The first, announced...

Boise-based Micron Technology posts big Q4 losses, announces executive pay cut.
October 1, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Micron Technology released its fourth quarter 2008 and fiscal year-end numbers on Wednesday, reporting a higher-then-expected net loss of $344 million on net sales of $1.45 billion for the quarter, and a net loss...

Study gives Idaho metro areas low risk for decreasing home values.
October 2, 2008... Byline: Dani Grigg A study released yesterday calculates that home values in the Boise-Nampa metropolitan statistical area (MSA) have a 14.6 percent chance of being lower in two years than they are now. The PMI Group, which used data from...

Boise Valley Economic Partnership reports plenty of projects looking at the Treasure Valley.
October 2, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone The Boise Valley Economic Partnership says that despite a generally gloomy national business climate, Idaho's pipeline of potential projects is healthy, with 16 solid, active projects taking a look at the Treasure...

Coeur d'Alene listed in top 5 most lucrative second home markets.
October 2, 2008... Byline: Dani Grigg The October/November issue of Robb Report Vacation Homes, released in late September, lists Coeur d'Alene in its top five cities in the United States for buying a second home. The report includes four other cities in...

Integrity in tough times: Business ethics panel discussion set by NNU in Boise.(Discussion)
October 2, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff The Northwest Nazarene University Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team, Better Business Bureau, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Idaho Department of Finance will cosponsor a panel discourse on business ethics...

Eagle Ventures International seeks Chapter 11 Reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Boise.
October 2, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Eagle Ventures International Inc., a holding company parent to various subsidiaries including TelExtreme International Inc. and Hydrate2O Inc., has filed for reorganization, pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy...

Builder constructs human-sized doghouse for Idaho fundraiser.
October 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Builder Ted Mason of Ted Mason Signature Homes builds dog-friendly residential communities, but this weekend he's reversing the roles and introducing a human-friendly doghouse. The 10-foot-tall, 64-square-foot...

Trade mission will bring Idaho companies to four Asian cities.
October 3, 2008... Byline: Simon Shifrin Gov. C.L. Butch Otter will leave the country next week for his fourth trade mission as governor in a visit to four Asian cities. Fifteen Idaho companies have signed up for the trip, which has scheduled stops in...

Retail food prices rise 10.5 percent.
October 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Retail food prices in the third quarter rose by 4 percent from the second quarter and by 10.5 percent from the third quarter of 2007, the American Farm Bureau Federation reported. High energy prices boosted the...

Idaho utilities commission approves rate hikes for Intermountain Gas.
October 3, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone Hundreds-of-thousands of Idahoans will see their gas and electricity bills increase this fall after the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved a slate of rate hikes for Intermountain Gas Co. and Avista Utilities...

URS Corp.'s Boise unit lands nuclear work.
October 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report URS Corp. on Oct. 3 announced that SGT LLC, an equal-share joint venture between URS' Washington Division - based in Boise - and AREVA NP Inc., was awarded an approximately $120 million nuclear contract by Entergy...

Idaho unemployment rises to 5 percent.
October 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Idaho employers reduced jobs from August to September for the first time in over 30 years, accelerating the increase in the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate four-tenths of a point to 5 percent. ...

Small business group lauds financial rescue bill.
October 3, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) applauded Congress and President Bush Oct. 3 for approving the $700 billion financial rescue bill, H.R. 1424, releasing a statement from the lobby group's...

Idaho State University Informatics Research Institute to host academic conference.(Conference news)
October 5, 2008... Byline: IBR staff report University faculty from 19 universities will gather at Idaho Sate University this week as part of an information-organization conference. The faculty members will be hearing presentations on information...

Idaho Falls-based North Wind CEO takes challenges, turns them into successes.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilcox Fighting terrorism. Cleaning up after hurricane Katrina. Starting an animal shelter. Soothing employees who are shaken up after a coworker is murdered. Installing solar panels and wind farms. Chasing down children. It's...

Building Permits.
October 6, 2008... BUILDING PERMITS CITY OF BOISE PERMIT/TYPE    OWNER    BUILDER    LOCATION    VALUE 02090-sign    not listed    Image National Inc  ...

Tourism dollars are major part of southwest Idaho economy.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Roxanne Gail Beach & Paul Hosefros Idaho has put a new face to visitors with a $1 million renovation and addition to its visitor's center on a bluff with a commanding view of the Snake River Situated on Interstate 84, just east...

Idaho Falls designer corners career in crop mazes.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilcox Q: What do you get when you cross Sarah Palin, a 30-acre cornfield, a graphic artist, a rototiller and a GPS system? A: Lost. Granted, the GPS system is only used for guidance in carving Sarah Palin-themed maze into...

Father, son sales team in Idaho hopes business heats up for Fire Away.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Gaye Bunderson Shane Gilbert, 53, and his father Myron, 77, hope to fan the flames of success with the launch last December of a business called Fire Away. Shane Gilbert is a Blaine County resident who also owns a company...

When does it hit home? Idaho bank leaders weigh in on market issues, outlook.(Industry overview)(Company overview)
October 6, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson We asked some bank leaders based in Boise about the outlook for the banking industry in Idaho and for their bank. They responded during the early and middle parts of last week as Congress continued to craft and debate...

U.S. Congress approves rail package, clears way for Amtrak.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone Despite its overarching concern with the financial rescue bill, the U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives last week in approving a comprehensive rail package that would, among other things, authorize $13...

Tax credits underscore need for renewable energy subsidies.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone Part of more than $100 billion in tax breaks squirreled away in Congress' $700 billion financial rescue bill are two measures worth a combined $7.7 billion that are the life's-blood of the country's - and Idaho's -...

U.S. Bank draws alumni for recognition in Boise.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson About 300 people attended U.S. Bank's first alumni luncheon in Boise, held Sept. 30 at Boise Centre on the Grove. Boise-based Regional President Tony Olbrich said the event - part of an initiative by CEO Richard...

Billboard company hits Hayden with federal lawsuit.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Simon Shifrin A Utah billboard company has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Hayden, claiming the municipality has violated the company's constitutional rights by rejecting permit applications to install four signs on...

Sunnyslope Food begins processing in new production facility in Caldwell.
October 6, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Sunnyslope Food and Wine Co. LLC started production Sept. 23 in a remodeled former onion packing shed at Homedale and Plum roads west of Caldwell. The principals control more than 160 acres of vineyards in the immediate...

WaMu stockholders eye capital-loss opportunities.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Most - but not all - was lost to Washington Mutual stockholders after federal regulators in late September took over huge savings and loan Washington Mutual, which had a major presence in the Boise area. Stock in...

Spokane-based Northwest Farm Credit steering clear of credit crunch.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Northwest Farm Credit Services so far hasn't seen major impacts from the near-freeze of U.S. credit markets. Its lenders keep lending to commodity producers and other agribusinesses, and rural homeowners. We still...

Commentary: Can anyone govern this country?
October 6, 2008... Byline: Steve Ahrens We all know Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama want to be president of these United States. What's less obvious is, WHY? To normal folks, after enduring the throat-cutting partisanship, bald distortions and...

Sundance starts building Silverstone Corporate Plaza in Meridian.
October 6, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff The Sundance Company recently started building the 124,000-square-foot Silverstone Corporate Plaza at 3421 E. Overland Road, Meridian. The upscale office-condo building, in the Sundance-developed Silverstone complex in...

Growth adds dimension: Pocatello stretches wings to make airport regional hub.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Mark Mendiola Moving to Idaho from Alaska, David Allen took control as the Pocatello Regional Airport's manager in June 2007 when turbulence was buffeting the nation's airline industry and smaller community airports were facing...

Idaho State University professor selected as Erskine Fellow by New Zealand University.
October 6, 2008... Byline: April Robinson Kathy Lund Dean, a business professor at Idaho State University, recently received notification that she was selected as an Erskine Fellow by a New Zealand university. The Erskine, one of New Zealand's most...

Boise Real Estate Briefs: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff LaQuinta Hotels purchased nearly 3 acres at 3501 Elder St., Boise. Ramona Hildebran of Capital Commercial Group represented the buyer. Grove Hummert, Pat Shalz and Mark Cleverley of Thornton Oliver Keller represented the...

Bid Briefs.
October 6, 2008... The University of Idaho, Moscow, plans to replace the roof of its golf course clubhouse. Project details are available from Associated Architects, Charles Mabbit, 129 W. 3rd St., Suite 29, Moscow, Idaho 83843. A bid opening is scheduled at 2...

Contracts Awarded.
October 6, 2008... Intermountain Property Development, Garden City, is the general contractor for live/work buildings at 3823 N. 36th St., Boise.  Cost not listed. Petra Inc, Boise, is the general contractor for tenant improvements at a medical office...

BBB honors businesses with Integrity awards Oct. 30 in Boise.
October 6, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff The Better Business Bureau and KeyBank have announced the list of businesses that will be recognized at the 2008 Integrity Counts! business honors program on Oct. 30, according to Dale Dixon, president of the BBB in...

Hickory Avenue office building nears completion in Meridian.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson Construction of the 1020 Office Building is nearing completion at 1020 N. Hickory Ave., Meridian, officials with Caldwell-based project general contractor Sage Construction said. The single-story building of nearly...

Whitetail Club and Resort in McCall becomes Shore Lodge again.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Dani Grigg The new owners of McCall's Whitetail Club and Resort today announced their intent to restore the resort back to its former character, symbolized by a name change. Shore Lodge, as it will once again be known, was a...

URS Corp.'s Boise unit lands nuclear work.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report URS Corp. on Oct. 3 announced that SGT LLC, an equal-share joint venture between URS' Washington Division - based in Boise - and AREVA NP Inc., was awarded an approximately $120 million nuclear...

Ugobe's relocation boosts Eagle tech corridor.(Company overview)
October 6, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone The company that makes Pleo, a sophisticated interactive robotic dinosaur, has moved back to Idaho. Officials at Ugobe announced on Saturday the firm would pull up stakes in Emeryville, Calif. to consolidate sales and...

Rural-urban water conflicts topic of summit in Boise.
October 7, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The Idaho Water Users Association said about 150 attendees already have registered for the group's first Summit on Rural & Urban Water Delivery Challenges, slated from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Holiday...

Women's financial conference set Oct. 16 in Boise.(Conference news)
October 7, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Best-selling author Marci Shimoff and women's financial expert Mary Hunt are among presenters scheduled at the ninth annual Smart Women, Smart Money conference slated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at Boise Centre...

Idaho Hispanic Chamber named among nation's best.
October 7, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has been named among the top Hispanic chambers in the country by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Idaho chamber won its honors in the Small Chamber category. ...

Bureau of Land Management announces awards program for eco-friendly energy development.
October 7, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The Bureau of Land Management is accepting nominations for its third annual Oil, Gas, Geophysical and Geothermal Development Environmental Best Management Practices awards, the agency announced Monday. The...

Developer resolves major issues tying up development of Gem Noble building in Boise.
October 7, 2008... Byline: Simon Shifrin Developer Gary Christensen has resolved several major issues in the bankruptcy case tying up development of the Gem Noble building in downtown Boise, securing new funding by refinancing one of his parking garages and...

Omniflight Helicopters acquires Airlink of Idaho Falls.
October 7, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Omniflight Helicopters Inc., a leading national provider of air medical services, acquired Airlink Inc. of Idaho Falls on Oct. 6. Airlink provides aviation services for Air Idaho Rescue, the air medical program...

Merger creates Idaho lumber product giant.
October 7, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The merger between two northern Idaho forest product companies has resulted in the creation of the largest such producer in the state. Idaho Forest Group is the name of the recently merged Bennett Forest...

ID theft compliance deadline among seminar topics in Boise.
October 8, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Identity theft, business liability, and a looming federal compliance deadline are to be discussed in a seminar in Boise. Treasure Valley Consultants' Network (TVCNet) plans the event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct....

Gov. Otter supports 'user-based pay' to solve transportation funding shortfall.
October 8, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone As Idaho continues to face a transportation funding shortfall, Gov. C.L. Butch Otter pointed to a possible solution on Oct. 6 that would require drivers to pay a fee based on how many miles they drive each year. ...

Planning group recognizes Boise's North End success story.
October 8, 2008... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report American Planning Association named Boise's North End as one of the Top 10 Great Neighborhoods in America, calling it a singular example of the American inner-ring suburb. The association sites...

Boise-based e-fraud control firm hires new sales directors.
October 8, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Shortly after announcing it had received a U.S. patent for its proxy piercing technology, Boise-based ecommerce fraud control firm Kount Inc. said it had hired Scott Lewer and Brad Canavan as national account sales...

Cooperation, broader view, could smooth rural-urban water conflicts in Idaho.
October 8, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson They won't solve urban-rural conflicts over water delivery in one day, but panelists at a summit on the issue said greater cooperation among all parties involved is possible. The Idaho Water Users Association hosted...

Idaho.gov's innovative PayPort solution receives national award.
October 8, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The Center for Digital Government recently named Idaho's flexible payment solution as one of the best government-to-citizens solutions in the nation in its 2008 Best of the Web Digital Government Achievement...

Idaho Department of Labor to aid dislocated Micron workers.
October 9, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson The Idaho Department of Labor plans to open its Boise, Meridian and Caldwell offices specifically to provide service to dislocated Micron workers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through Nov. 8, department Director...

Idaho government official react swiftly to Micron announcement.
October 9, 2008... Byline: Simon Shifrin Editor's note: Idaho government officials are acting quickly to respond to the announcement that Micron Technology will lay off 1,500 employees in Boise in the next two years. Here are some of the comments we've...

Micron president says company will stay in Boise.
October 9, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone Editor's note: As reporters for the Idaho Business Review piece together different aspects of the Micron story, we are posting those pieces for the public to be aware of the latest development. This is the latest...

Micron layoffs in Boise add another blow to residential development.
October 9, 2008... Byline: Dani Grigg Developer Frank Martin of Hidden Springs fame described the effect of Micron layoffs on the development sector in one word: Ouch. It's not a good time for the Treasure Valley, period, he continued. It's unfortunate....

State of Idaho prepares for impact of Micron job cuts.
October 9, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff When Boise-based Micron Technology announced Oct. 9 it would be discontinuing the production of a certain type of memory chip and cutting 1,500 local jobs by 2010, state officials and agencies responded by expanding...

U.S. Rep Bill Sali, R-Idaho: Micron announcement shows why Congress should reconvene.
October 9, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff U.S. Rep Bill Sali, R-Idaho, on Oct. 9 said Congress should return to work right away and pass legislation that will really help the economy and restore confidence in the credit and stock markets, in a statement from his...

Idaho connects to national high-speed computer network.
October 9, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone When Idaho Gov. C.L. Butch Otter throws the switch on the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) today, the state will have its own on ramp to the ultra high-speed National Lambda Rail network - a nationwide fiber...

MeadowCreek resort in Idaho auction fails to draw bidders.
October 9, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson MeadowCreek Golf Resort remains in the hands of the McNeal Family Limited Partnership after an Oct. 3 auction failed to attract registered bidders, General Partner Carey McNeal said. Continued bad news about global...

Micron announces shutdown of Boise NAND manufacturing.
October 9, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Boise-based memory chip giant Micron Technology announced this morning it would undertake a restructuring of its memory operations that would include the discontinuation of NAND flash memory manufacturing at its Boise...

Idaho National Laboratory hydrogen breakthrough could have big impacts on oil industry.
October 9, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone A breakthrough at the Idaho National Laboratory may lead the way forward for the commercial use of hydrogen produced through high-temperature electrolysis (HTE), specifically in the area of oil production. The...

Idaho aims to join Countrywide settlement.
October 9, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is negotiating with Countrywide Financial Corp. to participate in an $8.4 billion agreement to provide relief to borrowers with various subprime mortgages. Hopefully, we will be...

National scorecard puts Idaho in top 20 energy efficient states.
October 13, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Idaho's ranks in the top 20 states on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) 2008 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, making it the most improved since the group started keeping track in...

Micron layoffs add another blow to residential development in Boise area.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Dani Grigg Developer Frank Martin of Hidden Springs fame described the effect of Micron layoffs on the development sector in one word: Ouch, he said. It's not a good time for the Treasure Valley, period, he continued. It's...

State says funds from nuke waste agreement have created 5,000 jobs in E. Idaho.
October 13, 2008... Byline: IBR staff report The state reported it had completed distribution of $30 million in federal funds to assist economic development in eastern Idaho Oct. 9, as part of a broad-ranging agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy,...

Boise-based Norco becomes sponsor for 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
October 13, 2008... Byline: IBR staff report The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games said Boise-based welding, safety and medical supply company Norco Inc. an official partner of the Games. Norco's sponsorship will contribute $42,500 and 2,400 volunteer...

Idaho Labor Department offices extend hours further.
October 13, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report The Idaho Department of Labor said it will further extend the hours of its local offices in the Boise metropolitan area in response to increased demand for services as the economy continues to struggle - compounded...

Boise-based Micron to purchase Qimonda share in Taiwan joint venture.
October 13, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Report Shortly after announcing the closure of a NAND flash memory plant in Boise, and the elimination of 1,500 Idaho jobs, Boise-based Micron Technology made it public Oct. 12 that it had entered into an agreement with...

Dean of Idaho State University appointed by governor to Idaho TechConnect board.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report Kenneth A. Smith, dean of the Idaho State University College of Business, has been appointed to a two-year term on the board of Idaho TechConnect, Inc. by Gov. C.L. Butch Otter, accoridng to a...

Micron chips are down: Boise memory chip production, workforce cut.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone Boise-based semiconductor giant Micron Technology announced Oct. 9 it would undertake a global restructuring of its memory chip operations, resulting in the discontinuation of its NAND flash memory manufacturing in...

Idaho Department of Labor to defray impact of Micron cuts.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson The Idaho Department of Labor plans to open its Boise, Meridian and Caldwell offices specifically to provide service to dislocated Micron workers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through Nov. 8, department Director...

Boise-based Micron COO Mark Durcan goes on record about situation.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone Excerpted quotes from a phone conversation with Micron President and COO Mark Durcan Does this signal a complete retreat from the Treasure Valley? Absolutely not. We're a big, big part of the employment base her...

Faster than light: Idaho gets connected.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone When Idaho Gov. C.L. Butch Otter threw the switch on the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) Oct. 9, the state got its own on ramp to the ultra high-speed National Lambda Rail network - a nationwide fiber optic...

WITCO occupies long-planned facility in Caldwell.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Brad Carlson WITCO, formerly Western Idaho Training Co., recently occupied a new building of nearly 20,000 square feet at 3919 E. Ustick Road, Caldwell. The nonprofit organization, whose mission includes providing employment...

Hickory Avenue office building nears completion in Meridian.
October 13, 2008... Byline: IBR Staff Construction of the 1020 Office Building is nearing completion at 1020 N. Hickory Ave., Meridian, officials with Caldwell-based project general contractor Sage Construction said. The single-story building of nearly 9,000...

Christensen resolves Gem Noble development issues in Boise.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Simon Shifrin Developer Gary Christensen has resolved several major issues in the bankruptcy case tying up development of the Gem Noble building in downtown Boise, securing new funding by refinancing one of his parking garages and...

Idaho Public Utilities Commission OKs hike for Intermountain Gas, Avista.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Zach Hagadone Hundreds-of-thousands of Idahoans will see their gas and electricity bills increase this fall after the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved a slate of rate hikes for Intermountain Gas Co. and Avista Utilities...