Idaho Business Review, Boise articles from September 2003

Idaho Business Review, Boise archives from September 2003

Idaho Legislative Sales Tax Task Force considers options for broadening the tax base.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Steven Anderson The next time a doctor, lawyer or accountant bills you for professional services, imagine tacking on to the amount a state sales tax.It's been discussed before in Idaho, most recently about a decade ago, and now the...

Boise's Downtown Business Admin. sponsors First Thursday event to attract customers.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin A decade after the Downtown Business Association took over management and promotion of First Thursday festivities in downtown Boise, there's one thing everyone can agree on: The popular event is a work in...

Parking Task Force prepares to make recommendations for downtown Boise's parking problem.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Decisions about downtown Boise parking - an increasingly hot topic in recent years - may be coming soon.How to remedy a current budget shortfall, whether fees should be raised, and if the subsidized validation program...

Boise-based KeyBank of Idaho names new district president.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Joel S. "Joe" Hickman, a Boise State University graduate and longtime KeyBank of Idaho manager, has been named the bank's new Idaho district president.Hickman last week assumed the top post at KeyBank of Idaho,...

Nampa-based MPC Computers acquires Wis.-based Omni Tech Corp.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Steven Anderson MPC Computers last week announced its purchase of a schools-oriented PC business from a small Wisconsin computer company, Omni Tech Corp.The acquisition of Omni Tech's End User Division for an undisclosed price will...

Boise Cascade Corp. meets standards of Sustainable Forestry Initiative program.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Boise Cascade Corp. says an independent audit certified its Northwest fiber procurement operations conform to standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program.The audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also...

Micron Technology Foundation funds Boise State Univ. College of Engineering microelectronics degree.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Representatives of the Micron Technology Foundation last week pledged $2 million over four years to the Boise State University College of Engineering to start a materials science and engineering bachelor's degree.The...

Liberty Northwest Insurance Corp. plans to move operations to new location in Boise.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Liberty Northwest Insurance Corp. plans to move Boise operations to a nearly 12,000-square-foot space on Chinden Boulevard west of Cloverdale Road, where it also will house North Pacific Insurance operations.A provider...

Construction to begin this fall on a Boise spec office and retail building.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Construction is slated to begin this fall on a Boise spec office and retail building on a half-acre parcel on the south side of Fairview Avenue, near Bryson Road.Don Hutt, a principal of project developer Lone Star...

Boise-based Sunset Sports Center closes; liquidation of inventory begins.
September 1, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin The owners of longtime Boise sports and hunting retailer Sunset Sports Center have decided to close the store and liquidate its assets.Tom Burge, owner of Eagle-based Profession Liquidation Inc., said last week that...

Time Warner sees demand for broadband services mounting.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Time Warner Telecom's recent installation of a faster, higher-capacity Internet system in Boise School District buildings illustrates a couple of trends in the Treasure Valley broadband market.First, local demand for...

Some smaller firms opt for 'bundled' telecom service.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Several telecommunications companies that offer voice and Internet services over their own networks said demand has strengthened recently among businesses and organizations.Matt Dopko, Idaho branch manager for Electric...

Boise Cascade goes green with timber-buying policy.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Ken Miller While even its harshest environmental critics piled praise on its industry-shaking green forestry plan, Boise Cascade Corp. last week played down its decision to stop using wood from the world's endangered and old-growth...

Maverik convenience store to anchor plaza in Caldwell.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Site preparation has begun for construction of a Maverik convenience store at the southeast corner of 10th Avenue and Ustick Road in southeast Caldwell - the first building in Carrington Plaza.The Carrington Co., of...

Idaho Athletic builds anew in Blackeagle.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Construction of Idaho Athletic Club's fourth Treasure Valley unit, and its second in two years, is getting under way in the Blackeagle Center, near Overland and Maple Grove roads in southwest Boise.General contractor...

The Network Group names new CEO, president.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson The Network Group has named Steve Hager its CEO and president.Ray Smelek will remain board chairman but turn over CEO duties to Hager - a longtime Hewlett-Packard Co. executive and recently a leader of In-System Design...

Qwest to add 150 Boise jobs.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Qwest Communications International Inc. plans to add 150 jobs at its Digital Subscriber Line technical support center in downtown Boise, the company announced last week.The company in 2002 opened the center, which...

Office Pavilion completes move following fire.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Office Pavilion is wrapping up the multi-phase relocation of its Boise facilities, made necessary by a fire early this year.The contract furniture business - an office designer, space planner and Herman Miller...

Albertsons net slips, but beats Street.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Boise-based Albertsons Inc. last week reported slightly higher overall sales, but lower profits and lower same-store sales, for its second quarter, ended July 31.The food and drug retailer's $162 million in net...

Procter & Gamble plans office near Albertsons' HQ.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Procter & Gamble intends to open a Boise sales office later this fall.The office, near Albertsons Inc. headquarters, "will support our Albertsons customer team," P&G spokesperson Brigid Short said from the latter...

Protean Technologies, Populus plan moves to Riverside Business Park.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Construction continues in the 5-acre Riverside Business Park, at the southeast corner of Riverside Drive and Glenwood Street, Garden City.Developer and builder Dave Evans, of Dave Evans Construction, said Protean...

Pizza Hut to anchor Cherry Crossing site.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Construction of a Pizza Hut restaurant has started at the northwest corner of Cherry Lane and Linder Road in Meridian.The building of nearly 3,000 square feet is the first project in a 7-acre retail and neighborhood...

Furniture 'villa' debuts in Meridian.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Bella Fina, a furniture and home accessories store, plans a Sept. 22 opening in Meridian, off Interstate 84 on Sonata Lane, near Lee Read Jewelers.The 14,000-square-foot store, designed to resemble a rustic Italian...

Reebok opens store in Boise outlet mall.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Shoe retailer Reebok International has opened in the Boise Factory Outlets mall, its first store in Idaho.The Massachusetts-based company opened the store Sept. 4 in a 10,800-square-foot space on the east side of the...

Four years later, Stellar Technology 'launches' itself.
September 8, 2003... Byline: Steven Anderson Stellar Technologies LLC was created about four years ago as a support entity and holding company for several fledgling firms backed by principals in DBSI Group, a Boise-based commercial real estate firm.Now, with a...

Boise landlords use amenities to lure office tenants.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Some office professionals employed in downtown Boise never have to leave their building to work on their golf game.That's because Boise-area developer Bill Hodges earlier this summer installed a 25-by-30 foot golf...

Advocate to retire from Idaho Bankers Assn.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Barbara Strickfaden, who said she "wanted to make sure bankers in Idaho were well informed, and represented in both political and banking issues nationwide," will retire after a dozen years leading the Idaho Bankers...

WGI continues strong rebound from Ch. 11 filing.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson A diversified workload, and an emphasis on "cost-plus" projects rather than pure bidding, has helped Washington Group International Inc. post better-than-expected results this year.The engineering, construction and...

City of Boise issues Enviroguard awards.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Boise Mayor Carolyn Terteling-Payne last week issued 2003 Enviroguard Pollution Prevention Awards to Boise Consumer Co-op, Companions Animal Hospital, Hewlett-Packard and Zamzows.Recipients "have demonstrated a...

J.R. Simplot closes Nampa meat processing plant; 272 employees lose their jobs.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin J.R. Simplot Co. has closed its Nampa meat processing plant, laying off 272 workers.The plant, which shut its doors on West Railroad Street on Sept. 19, produced boxed beef - primary cuts of fresh and frozen meat...

WGI's Mideast work includes Iraq projects.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Washington Group International Inc. is working and waiting in the Middle East.WGI is involved in building a military base south of Kabul for the Afghan army, part of a $300 million package of Middle East work that the...

Report: Spike in gas prices fuels jump in cost-of-living.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin During August, the overall Boise-area cost of living increased 0.6 percent, the result of another substantial hike in gasoline prices, according to the Wells Fargo Boise area Cost of Living Report."Other than...

Air Guard to upgrade support squadron facilities at Gowen.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Construction of training and other facilities for the Idaho Air National Guard Air Support Operations Squadron - to cost about $5 million - is slated to start by mid-October or early November at Gowen Field in...

Great West Casualty plans April move to Meridian.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Great West Casualty Co. plans an April move to a building under construction in Meridian's El Dorado development.The building of 30,000 square feet, at 2950 E. Goldstone Drive, will serve as the company's new regional...

Former eBay strategist shares insights at Innovator awards.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Being innovative is not something that just happens overnight.J. Richard Rock should know. As the founder of San Jose-based XIAN Advisors LLC, Rock earns his living consulting with high technology and life science...

State and Bloom center adds bakery outlet.
September 22, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Wonder / Hostess Bakery Outlet opened recently in a 2,871-square-foot endcap space at The Shops at State and Bloom, bringing the shopping center to approximately 60 percent occupancy.The center of 15,540 square feet...

The Boise Centre on the Grove has a slightly better year largely due to room rentals/ food service.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Boise's existing convention center, the Boise Centre on the Grove, is faring slightly better financially this year, compared to 2002.For its fiscal year starting Dec. 1, Centre total net revenues were $1,054,179...

Boise-area lodging industry holds its own in first part of year.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin As debate continues over plans for a new Boise convention center, numbers point to general stability in the Boise-area lodging industry.Ed Pilkerton, general manager for Boise Centre on the Grove, said last week that...

Two new hotels slated near Boise Spectrum complex.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Two more hotels are planned near the Boise Spectrum complex, near Cole and Overland roads - and near two other hotels of similar size.Boise developer B and A Development LLC has received conditional use approval from...

Ogden-based Amalgamated plans to shift HQ to Boise.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Amalgamated Sugar Co. LLC plans to move its headquarters from Ogden, Utah, to Boise over the next two years.The company started early this month by occupying about 8,200 square feet of an office building at 3184 Elder...

Fifteen companies invited to present at Intermountain Venture Forum-Boise.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Fifteen companies from six states have been invited to make formal presentations to venture capital firms participating in the Intermountain Venture Forum-Boise, scheduled Oct. 1-2 at Boise Centre on the Grove."The...

Boise's Intermountain Venture Forum participants announced.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Here are the companies to be featured at the Intermountain Venture Forum Oct. 1-2 at the Boise Centre on the Grove: * Acclima Inc., Meridian, involved in moisture-sensitive irrigation control.* American Semiconductor...

Boise-based Micron Technology posts large FY loss but better quarter.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Brad Carlson Micron Technology Inc. reported a net loss of $123 million, or 20 cents per share, for its fiscal fourth quarter (ended Aug. 28) on sales of $888.5 million.The Boise-based chip maker's results compared to a net loss of...

Using the appropriate tools to search for files on the computer.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Rick Edvalson I wonder who first uttered the phrase, "like finding a needle in a haystack." I suppose it was a woman, since a man probably would have been looking for something like a hammer in the haystack - which just doesn't...

Nancy Lemas named Woman Entrepreneur of Year by Idaho Business Review.
September 29, 2003... Byline: Steve Martin Nancy Lemas, principal and managing broker of downtown Boise commercial real estate firm Commercial Northwest, has been named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year for 2003 by the Idaho Business Review.Lemas, 49, was selected...