Sectors

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Whether it’s agriculture, tourism or energy, a look at the industries that shape Idaho’s economy and how they are affected by state policies.

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December 1, 2011

Scentsy, Deer Valley Trucking Make Forbes List

Meridian-based Scentsy has landed a spot on Forbes Magazine’s list of America’s Most Promising Companies. The only other Idaho company to join the no-flame scented candle maker on this year’s list is Idaho Falls-based Deer Valley Trucking, which transports water and oil on North Dakota’s Bakken shale formation. Scentsy stands out on the Forbes ranking […]

November 3, 2011

Assessing the Local Impact of the New Mortgage Refinancing Plan

We here at StateImpact have been trying to get a sense of the potential local impact of the expansion of a federal mortgage refinancing program, announced last week. The program is intended to allow underwater borrowers to refinance, but only if they are up-to-date on their payments, and only if Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac […]

October 31, 2011

Small Banks May Be More Likely to Sue Former Homeowners

Bank of America is the bank mentioned in our recent story about lenders suing homeowners for the amount of the mortgage that remains after a foreclosure, but it may be that smaller banks are more likely than large ones to pursue what are called deficiency claims. Terri Pickens, an attorney with Pickens Law in Boise, […]

October 26, 2011

Many Realtors, Builders Lost Homes in Idaho’s Housing Market Meltdown

After several weeks of reporting on the Idaho housing market, it’s impossible not to notice just how many of the people who have lost their homes in the downturn are real estate agents and builders, or do other kinds of work related to housing. In our first broadcast story, for example, we met Carmel Crock, […]

October 25, 2011

In the Wake of Foreclosure, a Debt That Won’t Die

Month in and month out, Idaho’s foreclosure rate remains one of the highest in the nation. For many, losing a home is the definition of hitting bottom. But some former homeowners are finding themselves in an even tighter spot than they thought possible. They’ve lost their homes and wrecked their credit ratings. Now lenders are […]

October 17, 2011

A Mixed Bag for Idaho’s Energy Economy

The Idaho Department of Labor is touting the state’s energy economy and reports a four percent growth in jobs between 2007 and 2010. At the same time, a study released today by the department in collaboration with the Center for Regional Development at Purdue University, shows a 15 percent decline in jobs over that three year […]

October 13, 2011

Idaho’s Foreclosure Crisis Continues, Foreclosure Counselors Fear Funding Cuts

RealtyTrac, a company that tracks foreclosures nationwide, released September data today. In Idaho, the total number of foreclosures dropped from August to September, from 1,860 to 1,654. The state had the seventh highest foreclosure rate in the nation in September, with one out of every 391 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing. A map of […]

October 12, 2011

In Idaho’s Depressed Housing Market, Dueling Dreams

Idaho has the unwelcome distinction of having one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. Nearly 2,000 Idaho homeowners lose their homes each month, according to RealtyTrac’s count of foreclosure filings. But that’s not the whole story. Even as many homeowners work their way through foreclosure, low prices draw new buyers in. It’s a […]

October 5, 2011

Idaho Dairymen Push for Reform

The Idaho Business Review is reporting the President of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association Mike Roth said without reforming the dairy industry it’s headed “for a serious wreck”. The Dairy Security Act of 2011 is being sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. Dairy is one of Idaho’s agricultural staples, the state […]

September 23, 2011

The Economic Power of Idaho’s Nonprofits

The Idaho Nonprofit Center is holding its annual conference in Boise this week. University of Idaho economist Steve Peterson gave one of the headline presentations this morning, unveiling the preliminary results of his Idaho Nonprofit Sector Economic Impact report. According to Peterson’s study (funded, in part, by the Idaho Nonprofit Center) nonprofits are a big […]

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