Bundles of newly printed 20 dollar bills prepare for distribution.
If fewer Idahoans have jobs, that means the state doesn’t collect as much revenue. That in turn can determine how much money is available for schools, road repair and health services.
So we took notice last week when the governor’s budget office revised down its estimate of revenue coming into the state’s bank accounts.
The Division of Financial Management typically evaluates its forecast for the coming fiscal year in August and again in January.
In past years, a downward revision in August has meant hold-backs — that’s when the state cuts agency budgets midway through the fiscal year. But legislative budget and policy analyst Keith Bybee doesn’t anticipate hold-backs this time around. Continue Reading →
While farmers across the U.S. are suffering through the worst drought in decades, Idaho farmer Jim Tiede's irrigated wheat field promises a bumper crop.
Today brought new information about the unrelenting drought that’s affecting a broad swath of the country.
Here in Idaho, the drought has been less pronounced than it has been in many parts of the U.S. The national drought monitor says conditions across the southern part of the state are “abnormally dry” or experiencing “moderate drought.” Continue Reading →
If you’re hungry for raw economic statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau has launched its first mobile app.
The app is available for Android users now. Apple users will have to wait a few weeks.
The Census app promises info on 16 key economic indicators including; wholesale and retail trade, unemployment, construction and personal income.
The Census Bureau plans to unveil three apps for mobile phones and tablets over the next several weeks in an effort to give people “faster and easier access” to the government-collected statistics.
RealtyTrac data released today illustrates a mixed picture of Idaho’s housing market.
The foreclosure tracker looks at two things each month: annual changes, and month-to-month changes. In Idaho, the annual trends are positive. It’s the month-to-month data that tends to be more volatile.
Idaho’s foreclosure rate ticked up slightly by just under one percentage point from June to July according to RealtyTrac. Continue Reading →
Chobani will open its Twin Falls facility later this year. The company has been approved for $3.3 million in training grants.
The Idaho Department of Labor has approved another round of workforce development training grants for eight companies, totaling $4.8 million dollars.
The biggest chunk of that goes to three businesses, Chobani, Central Garden and Pet, and ATK.
New York-based Greek yogurt maker Chobani is currently building its Twin Falls, Idaho manufacturing facility. It’s already started training managers, and the company is eligible for reimbursements of up to $3.3 million from the Idaho Department of Labor. The Department estimates Chobani will train 583 people, costing on average $5,700 per person. Continue Reading →
Steve Spletstoser, who oversees quality control for Idaho Forest Group’s Laclede mill, straightens the lettering on a sign welcoming Japanese buyer Koji Fujiwara.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course boasts “the world’s only floating green.”
Idaho Forest Group’s Mike Henley tells buyer Koji Fujiwara and consultant Paul Owen how the company sorts timber for the Japanese market.
Freshly cut lumber awaits the dry kilns at an Idaho Forest Group mill.
Before the recession hit, the sawmill in the North Idaho town of Laclede was known for its reliability. It had never seen a shutdown, not in Steve Spletstoser’s nearly 30 years of working there. Then came 2008.
“It was really eye-opening to see,” Spletstoser says. “Your livelihood is hanging in the balance.” Day after day, the mill cut lumber, and day after day it piled up. Very little left the lot. Continue Reading →
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air to add Boise flights.
Allegiant Air, known for its low cost direct flights, will now fly out of Boise. The airline announced new flights from Boise to Las Vegas starting in October and Boise to Honolulu beginning in February.
Here’s the press release from Allegiant:
Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) announces new, nonstop jet service between Boise, Idaho and Honolulu beginning February 10, 2013, and Las Vegas beginning October 26, 2012. To celebrate, the carrier will offer introductory fares to Honolulu for as low as $180.00* one way and fares to Las Vegas as low as $62.00* one way, including taxes and fees. Flights and vacation packages are available for booking through April 16, 2013. Continue Reading →
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