Emilie Ritter Saunders was StateImpact Idaho's multimedia reporter until the project merged with the Boise State Public Radio site in July 2013. She previously worked as the Capitol Bureau Chief for Montana Public Radio and was a Senior Fellow with NPR's Economic Training Project from 2009 until 2010. She graduated from the University of Montana School of Journalism in 2007.
There are about 44,000 Idahoans currently receiving WIC benefits.
Starting July 1, more low-income parents with young children will be eligible for food assistance.
The supplemental nutrition program Women, Infants and Children, or WIC provides certain foods to pregnant or breastfeeding moms and families with children under age five.
Tom Shanahan with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says the eligibility change is a cost-of-living adjustment, and it’s unclear how many more people in the state will be able to sign up for WIC. Continue Reading →
Professional students practice their welding skills in Meridian, Idaho.
Two-year postsecondary certificates hold more economic value in Idaho than in most other states. That’s according to a report released today that measures the value of vocational certificates. But, at the same time, Idaho ranks among the bottom ten U.S. states when it comes to the number of people with two-year postsecondary certificates.
The report released by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce examines the value of two-year colleges, calling certificates “the gateway to gainful employment and college degrees.” Continue Reading →
In April, nine homes were under construction at one of Coleman Homes' developments outside of Boise.
Boise’s local NBC affiliate, KTVB, reported on a handful of recent rankings that put Idaho’s biggest city among those whose housing markets are making a come-back. The TV station (and one of the recent rankings) use the term “boomtown” to describe what’s going on with Boise real estate.
By definition, Boise isn’t a boomtown. At best, Boise’s housing market might be seeing a “boomlet,” but even that term is a stretch. Continue Reading →
Each week we look back at the five posts that got the most clicks, comments and shares. Before you head out for a weekend adventure, take a look, let us know what you think, and pass it along!
Summer Tomato / Flickr Creative Commons
We couldn't resist this bowl of fresh raspberries and we think you'll like this week's top posts too!
Transform Solar will lay-off at least 250 employees, shutting down its Nampa, Idaho facility.
Earlier this week, Micron-owned Transform Solar, a maker of high-tech solar cells, announced it’s closing and laying-off at least 250 people over the next three months.
We first reported Transform has been reimbursed for just over $1 million of its $3.6 million workforce development training grant from the state of Idaho. That was using data from January 29. The Idaho Department of Labor reports as of May 30, Transform has been reimbursed for $1.68 million of that grant. Continue Reading →
Courtesy Idaho Nonprofit Center | Adam Cotterell (BSPR)
Idaho Conservation League, Ride For Joy, Idaho Dance Theatre and Step Up are four Idaho nonprofits.
Nearly 50,000 people are directly employed by charitable nonprofits in Idaho, earning on average $43,350 per year. Those positions equal about 8 percent of all Idaho jobs. That’s all according to a recent report by University of Idaho economist Steven Peterson, and commissioned by the Idaho Nonprofit Center.
The ten-page report looks at the economic impact nonprofits have on the state. What Peterson found, surprised him. “Any way you slice these numbers up, if you take a look at the impact on Idaho’s economy, they’re huge,” says Peterson. Continue Reading →
Transform Solar makes Photovoltaic solar cells. The Nampa manufacturer has about 250 employees.
This story has been updated, you can read the updated version right here.
A Nampa-based solar company partly owned by Micron Technology will close its doors and lay-off about 250 people over the next three months.
Transform Solar was a joint venture between Boise-based Micron Technology and Australian energy company “Origin.” The company launched in 2009, making high-tech solar cells.
Micron spokesman Dan Francisco says Transform Solar hasn’t been able to withstand the ongoing challenges in the solar industry. He says it’s an industry that’s been hard hit by the down economy.  “The solar industry continues to be a very challenging environment,” Francisco says, “with a really unfavorable worldwide supply and demand situation.” Continue Reading →
Memorial Day weekend means the unofficial start to summer. Teens across Idaho will soon graduate or head out on summer break. Some of those teens, undoubtedly, are looking for a summer job.
The Employment Policies Institute took a closer look at U.S. Census Bureau data that shows the average teen jobless rate among states is almost 25 percent. In Idaho, April’s teen jobless rate was more like 28.4 percent. Only six states, plus the District of Columbia, have a higher percentage of teens out of work.
So, what does that mean for teens who want to make a little cash and get some job experience during June, July and August? EPI says competition for jobs is tougher and there are fewer options for this generation of teens. Continue Reading →
Stateline, a news service from Pew Center on the States, recently posted this colorful look at jobs across all 50 states.
According to Stateline, the U.S. has 4.8 million fewer jobs today than it did back in 2008. The interactive data chart shows Idaho lost the bulk of its jobs in 2009 and 2010.
Jesse Guyett, 32, works part time at Boise State Public Radio as an operator technician.
Jesse Guyett fits unwillingly into a crumby statistic. He is one of about 20,000 Idahoans laid off from a construction job since the economy tanked after 2007. Idaho Department of Labor data show about 45 percent of the state’s construction jobs have been cut since 2007.
Guyett is a journeyman electrician. He went to school for four years, then apprenticed for five to get that certification. “I became a journeyman electrician in the fall of 2008 and in the spring of 2009, in March, I ended up getting laid off from my job,” Guyett says. He was making good money, about $16.75 an hour plus benefits. “Unfortunately, we specialized in specialty homes, multimillion dollar homes,” Guyett says, “and those were the first to go when the economy tanked.” Continue Reading →
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