BizMojo Idaho

Idaho Falls indoor trampoline center opens

2012-03-16T21:20:00.001-06:00

iJump owner Jacob Lundquist and his son Ezra. Lundquist and his wife, Natalie, have opened an indoor fun center with nearly 6,000 square feet of trampolines and foam.

iJump, an indoor trampoline center with close to 6,000 square feet of bounce, opened this evening at 6. The address is 2670 E. 14th North, which means you turn off Hitt Road at Majestic Auto Body and proceed east for about 1/4 mile.

Owners Jacob and Natalie Lundquist got the idea for the business from similar places in the West, and wanted to run a business where kids and families could have fun and enjoy physical activity. iJump features a Wee Jump area, a dodge ball court, an open jump area and foam pits. There is a mezzanaine area for birthday parties and an eating area.

Everyone must have a signed waiver to jump. Those under 18 must have their parents sign and complete the waiver and those over 18 must have current ID with them.

To visit the Facebook page, go to https://www.facebook.com/ijumpidaho. They will be giving away free jumps when they hit 1,000 likes.

The regular Web address is http://www.ijumpidaho.com. For more information, call (208) 881-5108

AmeriTel begins rebranding Ammon, Idaho Falls hotels

2012-03-16T12:25:00.003-06:00

The new lettering at Ammon's La Quinta Inn was half-finished Friday at lunchtime. The Boise-based AmeriTel chain is rebranding most of the hotels it owns. While the Teton Spectrum hotel is now a La Quinta, the Lindsay Boulevard hotel will become a Hampton Inn next month.

The new signs went up Thursday and today, and the AmeriTel Inn at the Teton Spectrum in Ammon is now a La Quinta Inn. In mid-April, the AmeriTel on Lindsay Boulevard will become a Hampton Inn.

This doesn't mean AmeriTel has left the business. "We still own the hotels," said Chuck Everett, the Boise-based chain's vice president for operations. "We needed to reinvest in the properties, and we decided the best way to leverage the reinvestment costs was to rebrand the properties. It's increasingly difficult these days to operate as an independent hotelier."

The Lindsay Boulevard hotel opened in June 1996 and the Ammon hotel opened in May 2000. Since then, the local environment has become increasingly competitive, especially since the openings of the Fairfield Inn and the Hilton Garden Inn.

The conversions have been in the works for two years, and are part of a company-wide rebranding. The Ameritel in Twin Falls recently became a La Quinta Inn and the hotel at the Boise Spectrum will be a Hampton Inn & Suites by May. By this summer, the only AmeriTels left will be in Pocatello, Coeur d'Alene and Boise.

La Quinta and Hampton Inn are both owned by the Blackstone Group, but operate independently.

Given the Hampton Inn already on Channing Way, the Ammon AmeriTel couldn't be rebranded a Hampton Inn. There are a lot of considerations that go into rebranding and remodeling a hotel, Everett said. The other main thing is whether a franchise can be fit into an existing property.

To convert the Lindsay Boulevard hotel into a Hampton Inn & Suites, which they would have liked, it would require a two-story lobby and tearing out rooms to generate more suites. Nevertheless, the look and feel of the Hampton Inn on Lindsay Boulevard is going to be completely different from the AmeriTel, Everett said.

REAL ESTATE SNAPSHOT | FEB. 2012

2012-03-16T07:51:00.000-06:00

Bonneville County

Active listings in January-February 2012 were 309 compared to 270 in 2011.

There were 143 closings compared to 107 the previous year.

Median price of sold homes was $123,125 in compared to $145,125 in 2011.

There were 149 new properties under contract in February 2012, up 21% from February 2011.

Year-to-date closings were 33.6% above January-February 2011.

Median price of sold homes was 17.8% below January-February 2011.

                        2007          2008          2009          2010          2011          2012
UNITS SOLD               242            169            108            103            107            143
MEDIAN PRICE         $146,700   $160,450   $152,225   $144,750   $145,125   $123,125
NEW LISTINGS          273            318            342            427            270           309
DAYS ON MARKET    101            102            125            109            114           133

Source: Snake River MLS

Ball Ventures hires new asset manager

2012-03-15T07:47:00.000-06:00

Tahri Molifua

Tahri Molifua has joined Ball Ventures as an asset manager. He was most recently with The Richman Group, a large, privately held multi-family residential property owner. As an associate, he performed acquisition and property management for the company's Orange County team.

He attended Brigham Young University - Idaho, where he majored in communications, then went on to study at Cornell University, where he received an MPS Real Estate degree. He returns to Idaho with his wife, Kehaulani, and their three children.

FleetPride buys out Trane's Diesel

2012-03-14T12:43:00.000-06:00

FleetPride, Inc., the nation's largest independent aftermarket distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, announced Monday that it has acquired the assets of Trane's Diesel Service, Inc. in Idaho Falls. This acquisition includes a 23,000-square-foot facility with 14 service bays located at 683 East Iona Road.

Trane's Diesel is a full-service repair, maintenance, service and parts facility founded in 2002 by Cal Trane and his sons Joel and Andy Trane. Cal Trane will stay on in a consulting role and both Joel and Andy Trane will join FleetPride in management roles. Employment offers were extended to all employees.

The company recently acquired six other locations in Idaho and Utah. "This is a well-run business in a location FleetPride has been interested in for some time," said Lee Stockseth, FleetPride's chief operating officer.

A sweet surprise from the past

2012-03-13T16:25:00.001-06:00

I could sing the praises of Sarah's Candy Cottage for any number of reasons -- the truffle and fudge samples, the dozen-plus different kinds of licorice -- but nothing compares to the excitement I felt last month when I discovered they had Bonomo Turkish Taffy.

"I thought they stopped making this years ago!" I thought, as I loaded up the bucket with the individually wrapped pieces.

Based on my rhapsodizing about the Slurpee in a previous post, you've probably figured out that anything sweet from my childhood is going to get me going pretty good. As many Baby Boomers can attest, Turkish Taffy is probably best remembered for the way we smacked a bar of it in its foil wrapper against a tabletop or sidewalk. Harder than salt water taffy, it could keep you occupied for a while and take a few fillings from you in the bargain.

Turns out it did disappear in the 1980s, after Hershey's bought Bonomo, monkeyed with the formula and renamed it. It was resurrected in 2010 by some fifty-somethings with fond memories. Here's to them, and here's a link to a story than ran in Fortune Magazine: http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/10/27/bonomos-turkish-taffy-returns/

Contractor seeks subcontractor bids for BYU-Idaho apartment project

2012-03-13T13:45:00.000-06:00

The 43-unit apartment, as rendered above, will be at West Fourth South and South Fourth West.

Brigham Young University-Idaho is building a five-story, 43-unit apartment project to be used as women’s housing.

Headwaters Construction is seeking subcontractor bids by March 22 for Birch Legacy Apartments, an off-campus project planned for West Fourth South and South Fourth West streets in Rexburg.

Headwaters, which is based in Victor and has a Rexburg office, has built other housing for BYU-Idaho, including a larger complex completed in December for women.

“They have asked the community to come up with housing,” Headwaters President Stan Marshall said. “They are basically increasing enrollment as housing is built.”

Project architect Douglas Gibson, of Eagle-based DG Group Architecture, said the site is in a Rexburg zoning overlay district that calls for higher-density residential uses and pedestrian access close to the BYU-Idaho campus.

The apartments will be owned by The Pacific Companies and Braintree Development, both of Eagle, and Rexburg resident Trent Birch.

Construction on the $5.5 million, 75,000-square-foot building will start in April and is expected to take about a year. The complex will have exercise and tanning rooms, common-area meeting space, a media room, and on-site storage for each unit, Gibson said.

IAAP seeks vendors for April 19 semiar, exhibitors fair

2012-03-13T11:27:00.001-06:00

The Eagle Rock Chapter of Idaho Association of Administrative Professionals is seeking vendors for the exhibitors fair at its annual professionals seminar, April 19 at the Red Lion on the Falls. Vendor space is $60.

The seminar offers a great opportunity for professionals to network with each other, said event coordinator Natalie Hebard. For a vendor packet, email her at natalie.hebard@inl.gov or call 526-9332 and leave your name, type of business and contact information. Anyone interested in being a sponsor is welcome to call as well, she said.

The theme of this year's seminar is "Making The Leap To Remarkable." The featured speaker is Jasmine Freeman, chief executive assistant to Joan Burge, CEO of Office Dynamics. As a strategic business partner to Burge, Freeman is involved in a number of the business' aspects, including the company's social media initiative. Freeman is the company's blogger, and has contributed to the books "Life Choices: Putting the Pieces Together," "Life Choices: It's Never Too Late" and the recently published "Who Took My Pen ... Again?"

Registration, due no later than April 9, is $125 and includes lunch and refreshments. If you have questions or concerns, contact the registrar, Anita Thompson, at 526-9528, or email anita.thompson@inl.gov.

Mayor's Scholarship Fund winners announced for 2012

2012-03-12T10:13:00.000-06:00

Twenty-seven local students have been named recipients of the Mayor’s Scholarship Fund for 2012.

In its seventh year, the program was expanded to include 15 Senior Scholarships to graduating high school seniors (previously there were 12) and a dozen Promise Awards to scholars in eighth through 11th grade.

Recipients of the Senior Scholarship receive $1,500 to help cover tuition at an accredited institute of higher learning in the state of Idaho.

The Promise Award is $500 and is given to students who maintain a college-bound path. Promise Award funds can also be used to pay for dual credit classes while students are still in high school.

The recipients will be honored April 25 at the Mayor’s Scholarship Fund Awards Event, at the Red Lion Hotel on the Falls.

Mayor Jared D. Fuhriman launched the scholarship program in 2006 as a way to demonstrate the city’s commitment to its youth. It’s overseen by the Idaho Falls District 91 Foundation and relies on the support of local residents, business owners and corporations.

The money that is raised goes to scholarships; an endowment for the scholarship fund; a College Pathway account to help educate students and parents; and the annual awards event.

The fund has distributed tens of thousands of dollars and awarded 139 scholarships to local students in the “forgotten middle” – those whose families are not able to support them financially through college but who are unable to qualify for financial aid.

Anyone interested in attending the function or in sponsoring the Mayor’s Scholarship Fund is encouraged to contact Cami Smith at 525-7506 or smitcami@d91.k12.id.us.

By school, here are this year's recipients

Senior Awards

Emerson
Andrea Black

Hillcrest
Callie Evans
Emily Edwards
Gabrielle Phillips
Hannah Sarah Scalia
Amy Tracy

Idaho Falls
Ethan Fisher
Alisa Kuharske
Jessica Marboe
Alex Zwahlen

Skyline
Jared Hinckley

Bonneville
Nichelle Hutchings
Asucena Leon
Galilea Lavariega
Roxana Nava

Promise Awards

Taylorview
Nathan Burton

Skyline
Karina Cruz Flores

Home schooled
Isaac Hassel

Rocky Mountain
Logan Holverson

Eagle Rock
Amanda Higley

Bonneville
Jordan Likes
David Rivas
Christie Seedall

Sandcreek
Natalie Mihu
Kaitlyn Peterson
Hailey Saunders
Laurana Wheeler

Deadline is Tuesday for tradeshow booth reservations

2012-03-10T07:41:00.001-07:00

If you are thinking about having a booth at the 10th Annual Area Business Connections Tradeshow, to be held at March 27 at Idaho Falls High School, the deadline is this Tuesday (March 13).

As part of the annual Mayor's Business Day, the show offers area businesses and organizations the opportunity to display their products and services to a wide number of people. It will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. in the high school gym.

There will be prizes, including an iPod Touch and $500 in cash, for anyone who visits every vendor booth.

Signing up gets you:

a 10-by-8-foot booth with standard draped back wall and side
an 8-foot table with two chairs
Internet and electrical access
a listing in the flyer and program directory
a listing on Powerpoint to run during the Grow Idaho Falls Luncheon Presentation
live mentions on Riverbend Communication radio stations during event

Click here for an application: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109493549661&s=2718&e=001YD-RMmIb9AEgkR0DPTleFXyFmJwkAARTzUSebdo1OzqVQABE93iYujnZWSYMJBF-JBl8KciQaOyYm0wb5ftgqIVb5ZlyMmwOFIvY3ovnfGZ3VwWx4XXYlPoYb8801Og4yAVt6poPXMD-Y7yqBkHOEqrKCbZQoFDoRf9RBNnBwddeJdQJuiTaz11ArcOzDUHzJNNvfZUNYR8=

For more information, contact Kerry McCullough at the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, (208) 523-1010 or kmccullough@idahofallschamber.com

I.F. dentist building new office

2012-03-09T12:05:00.001-07:00

Considering how few foundations have been poured in the past three years, we thought it might be worth sharing this picture, taken Friday morning on Elk Creek Drive next door to AmeriTitle. This is the site of the new office Morgan Construction is building for Dr. Michael Elison, an Idaho Falls dentist now practicing at 3656 Washington Parkway. Elison's practice will occupy half the building and the other half will be leased.

Chesbro's marketer to speak at Idaho Falls Ad Federation lunch

2012-03-09T07:22:00.002-07:00

Cory Kerr

The Idaho Falls Advertising Federation will have its monthly luncheon Thursday at Stockman's Restaurant at Snake River Landing. The guest presenter will be Cory Kerr, marketing directory for Chesbro Music.

Kerr recently won a 2011 Diamond GEM Award for a 3D direct mail piece titled “Backyard” For a look at him and his mailer click here: http://ifadfed.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/march-15-lunch-learn-with-cory-kerr/

He plans on sharing his story on how the mailer was done, and to offer tips and instruction on how to put together winning sales pieces that won't go “straight into the round file”.

Sign in for the luncheon is 11:30 a.m., followed by club notes at noon. The presentation will be from 12:15 to 1 p.m. The menu is your choice of a chicken salad or BBQ pork sandwich.
Cost is $12.50 to members and $15 to non-members. R.S.V.P. with Tina at 524-1777 or tina@mightymcs.com.

International Isotopes opens distribution deal with California company

2012-03-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Idaho Falls-based International Isotopes has teamed with Alpha-Omega Services of Bellflower, Calif., to be its exclusive worldwide distributor for a new line of radioactive material transportation containers. The deal comes after approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which came last week.

The Type B (U) containers come in three sizes and five different models, addressing a wide range of applications and meeting all of the most current International Atomic Energy Agency regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material. They are suitable to replace many models of radioactive material containers, used by the United States government and commercial interests, that lost their approval for use in October 2008.

Steve T. Laflin, International Isotopes' president and CEO, said getting NRC approval was a long and expensive process dating back to 2007. But the capability to transport "normal form" radioactive materials in addition to "special form" materials brings a significant advantage and "the elegance of their design makes them simple to use and easy to maintain," he said.

INIS will immediately begin taking orders for sales or long-term leases, with the first container deliveries expected by September 2012. Interested parties can learn more at the company's web site, www.intisoid.com.

International Isotopes Inc. manufactures a full range of nuclear medicine calibration and reference standards, a variety of cobalt-60 products, and provides a wide selection of radioisotopes and radiochemicals for medical devices, calibration, clinical research, and industrial applications.

Reader seeks business opportunity; anyone care to help?

2012-03-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

In the BizMojo Idaho mailbox this morning:

Mike DeFord <defordrace@gmail.com> wrote:

Good morning Paul. My name is Mike DeFord I have read your site daily for the past 6 months or so, you do a great job. It is one of only three sites that I MUST visit everyday.

The reason for my email is that I have recently walked away from the world of corporate marketing ... I am in a position to start or take over a business here, my problem is that all of the traditional methods that I have used to find business opportunities in the past do not seem to be used by business owners in the Idaho Falls area. Do you have any resources that local business owners are using locally to list, sell their business?

Thank you for the time.

Naturally, I'm flattered by the praise, but now I'm calling on BizMojo Idaho readers to weigh in with any ideas or suggestions they might have. Post them here or send them directly to Mike. I'm very interested in the power of social media as applied to B2B interactions

P.S.: I'm sort of curious what the other two sites were.

Reed's Dairy scores with non-homogenized milk

2012-03-06T07:26:00.001-07:00

For decades, small family dairies have been disappearing from rural America, but Reed's Dairy of Idaho Falls has managed to buck the trend.

Owner Alan Reed has kept the business local and kept the middle man out of the equation. He's also been attentive to what customers want, such as non-homogenized milk, which the dairy began offering Feb. 1.

"We've got a group of people who really like it," he said. "Some are saying it's easier to digest or it helps with their allergies. Others just like it because it's the more natural kind of product."

With non-homogenized milk, the cream rises to the top. If you're a real stickler for the old-school presentation, you can get it in returnable 1/2-gallon glass bottles. "We've got some people who say it tastes colder and fresher in glass bottles," Reed said.

Reed said sales have leveled off after a month, but the product has a broad demographic, from people in their 20s to senior citizens.

Overall, it's a challenge staying in the business. The price of milk is dropping to where it was in 2008, and feed and hay prices are as high as he's seen them. Reed's had to raise their price $1 a gallon on Feb. 1, but so far there has been drop-off in sales. That's due to customer loyalty.

"Our customers are really understanding about the increase," he said. "We lose some and we pick up some. It's been steady over the past few years."

Reed is partners with his cousin Mike Reed. The dairy, at West Broadway and Bellin Road, was started by their grandfather, Charlie, and then operated for years by his sons, Roy, Larry and Dave.

Will the tablet replace the PC?

2012-03-05T10:46:00.001-07:00

I still have a manual Olympic typewriter that I like to bang on now and again. I like the sound, the feel and the touch. I wrote book reports on it in high school and term papers on it in college, and even used in my early days with the Post Register, 30 years ago.

Nevertheless, I'm under no illusion that the typewriter is going to make a comeback. Technology marches on, and I found this article in today's New York Times interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/technology/as-new-ipad-debut-nears-some-see-decline-of-pcs.html?_r=1&hp

Tablets have a long way to go before they replace the PC, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens faster than some people think.

I decided to drill down into some BizMojo Idaho to see what's happening locally. It was interesting.

Between the first of the year and yesterday, this BizMojo Idaho has had 5,036 visits. Of those visits, 604 have been on mobile devices. That's roughly 12 percent. More than half of those visits -- 366 -- have been on iPhones and iPads.

Somebody ought to be able to make sense of those numbers. If you do, drop me a line.

Vietnam pursues nuclear program

2012-03-05T07:20:00.002-07:00

Given the interest here in all things nuclear, I thought this item from the Vancouver Sun might be worth sharing.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Vietnam+defies+post+Fukushima+qualms+pursues+nuclear+generation+program/6249377/story.html

Undeterred by Fukushima, Vietnam is planning to build its first nuclear reactor by 2020 and 13 more in the ten years that follow. It appears they are getting help from Russia and Britain, but the story makes no mention of the United States.

As a student of history and a fan of irony, I have to wonder whether they are going to name their power station after Ho Chi Minh. Still, I don't hear talk these days of bombing anyone back to the Stone Age, at least in that part of the world. Maybe someone (John McCain?) is talking about sending a few B52s over, just for old time's sake, but I doubt it. After all, your Nikes and the Vox guitar amplifiers I sell at the Piano Gallery are now made in Vietnam. Those factories need electricity.

A lot can change in 40 years, eh?

FHA closing costs to rise April 1

2012-03-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

This was posted on Facebook this morning by my friend Chris Pelkola Lee of Keller-Williams East Idaho, and I thought it worth sharing here.

In a nutshell, the Federal Housing Administration on April 1 is going to raise the up-front insurance premium it charges borrowers by 75 basis points to 1.75 percent of the base loan amount. That means for a $100,000 loan you will have to bring an extra $750 to closing. If you're thinking about a home loan, it might be a good idea to move fast.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/27/real_estate/FHA_mortgage/index.htm

Chris' Facebook page, always a good source of information, is http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/IFListings

Kiwi Loco helps EITC Foundation

2012-03-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

With the snow falling and the roads covered with ice, one may be forgiven for not thinking of frozen yogurt right off the bat. But guess what? It's delicious any time of year, and if you want to support a good cause Kiwi Loco will be donating 10 percent of its sales this Saturday to help the Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation.

The foundation helps fund student scholarships and college programs, and sponsors such fabled fund-raising events as the Great Race for Education.

Stop in between 2 and 6 p.m. if you want to help. Kiwi Loco is at 3198 S. 25th East, in the Sagewood Plaza, near the corner of Hitt and Sunnyside roads.

Mrs. Powell's opens store in downtown Idaho Falls

2012-02-29T10:59:00.002-07:00

Mrs. Powell's, a fixture in the Ammon Towne Square for some time, has opened a second store, on the corner of E Street and North Yellowstone Avenue.

Ryan Hatch

Although the space itself is small, manager Ryan Hatch said they are hoping to do a lot of take-out and delivery business by being so close to downtown Idaho Falls. "We'd been wanting to expand, and we think downtown is a great market us," he said. "Yesterday we took some samples to the DMV office. They're super-excited being right across the street. We're hoping delivery will be a big part of our business."

The menu will be the same as the Mrs. Powell's in Ammon, which Hatch's parents, Sherri and Alban, have owned for seven years. The food is made fresh daily in Ammon, then brought downtown, where it can be reheated if necessary. In addition to bread and cinnamon rolls, the menu features soups, sandwiches, wraps and calzones.

Work on remodeling the location (the actual address is 235 E Street) began in November, but the sign only went up earlier this week. Hatch said he is shooting for a grand opening by mid-March. In the meantime, they are ready to take orders. The phone number is (208) 200-5300. Mrs. Powell's Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/mrspowells

Areva suspends Eagle Rock enrichment work 'indefinitely'

2012-02-28T10:02:00.001-07:00

This broke on Local News 8 last night. Not great news for anyone who pinned their hopes on Areva as the salvation of the local economy. http://www.localnews8.com/news/30555368/detail.html

That One Place grand opening is Wednesday

2012-02-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

That One Place, 552 N. Capital Ave., will be having its grand opening Wednesday.

The restaurant has been at its downtown location since early December, after relocating from a spot on Third Street. Owner Trent Walker said he thought there would be better traffic and he also figured it would be more fun to be part of the downtown scene. The restaurant took part in the downtown open house earlier this month. The menu focuses on sandwiches, soups, wraps and rice bowls, all fresh from scratch.

For the grand opening, customers can buy one entree and get a second of equal or lesser value for free.

Walker said the name "That One Place" came from his 16-year-old son, who'd heard his grandparents talking all the time about places they'd eaten around the world, e.g. "Remember that one place we went to in Italy?"

"He said, 'You ought to call it that,' and we liked the idea," Walker said.

The restaurant manager is Ashley Mueller. They provide catering, carryout and delivery. For more information, call 529-9804

Visit the Web site at http://www.thatoneplaceonline.com

"I feel a great disturbance in the Force ... "

2012-02-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

I'm well aware of BizMojo Idaho readers' never-ending interest in franchise restaurants, so here are a few links I thought might be interesting for a Monday morning.

"Strange Burgers Invade the Fast Food Universe," would be worth reading if only for the description of the "Dark Vador" and one consumer's critique of it. http://www.allbusiness.com/print/16773368-1-9a0bs.html

On a more serious note, next comes an article that explains a lot about franchising, from a Web site I frequently look at for new ideas. http://www.allbusiness.com/wrong-way-franchising-success/16750086-1.html

Explaining Idaho's lower gas prices

2012-02-26T15:00:00.001-07:00

We've gotten five or six entries in the Guess-the-Price-of-Gas contest. You have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to guess the lowest local price of regular unleaded on the Friday before Memorial Day. Whoever comes closest wins a $10 gift certificate to Carl's Jr.

In the meantime, here's some more information on gas prices. Hard as it may seem to believe, Idaho for now has some of the lowest prices in the nation, said AAA Idaho spokesman Dave Carlson.

U.S. demand for oil and refined products has been 5 percent to 7 percent lower this year and supplies are good, yet prices are surging. That could mean there's fear that oil supplies could be disrupted in the Middle East. Or it could mean investors are banking on good growth gains in economies around the world, Carlson said Friday in a statement.

Investors have helped push oil prices well above last year's numbers, and today's national average price for regular grade gasoline is $3.65, a full 42 cents more per gallon ahead of last year's record pace. Idaho's average price is on the rise too, up 8 cents in the past week to $3.23, but 42 cents lower than the average price. Idaho's average price is fifth lowest in the U.S.

"Oil is collecting a premium price, but all you have to do is look at where Idaho is compared to its neighbors to see something is drastically different this year in the regional scheme of things," Carlson said.

Oregon's average price Friday is $3.83 and Washington is at $3.78. But Wyoming ($3.08), Utah ($3.16) and Montana ($3.20) all have prices in the range of Idaho's $3.23 average.

What gives? It's all about where the gas is being refined. Refineries on the West Coast are likely paying more than $125 a barrel for the oil they use, but Idaho and other Rocky Mountain states have access to cheaper oil coming out of Canada and North Dakota, priced closer to $80 a barrel.

"The rapid escalation in oil prices in the past several weeks has yet to be accounted for at the retail level, so prices everywhere will continue to rise," Carlson said. Barring major market changes, gas prices are expected to rise between now and mid-May. Idaho's prices peaked at $3.79 the first week in May a year ago.

"We think it's reasonable to assume that some states will hit average prices well above $4, but barring refinery shutdowns, it's possible Idaho and some states might stay below that mark," Carlson said.

Here's a breakdown on pump prices around Idaho from Friday:

Boise: $3.23
Coeur d'Alene: $3.28
Pocatello: $3.08
Idaho Falls: $3.07
Nampa: $3.24
Twin Falls: $3.20

Send your Memorial Day predictions to bizmojoidaho@gmail.co.

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/24/2008243/idaho-gas-prices-climb-on-higher.html#storylink=cpy

Work planned this summer for Pancheri overpass, Memorial Drive

2012-02-23T16:27:00.001-07:00

It's not too early start looking forward to summer, and one thing we can expect is a couple of big road and bridge projects in Idaho Falls.

Downtown, the remodeling of Memorial Drive is due to start July 5. "We didn't want to tear it up before the Fourth of July celebration, but we'll be getting to it the day after," said Bob Everhart, executive director of the Downtown Development Corp.

The remodeling will reduce Memorial to one lane between A and D Streets and moving parking for the Bonneville County Courthouse to other spots. If all goes as intended, there will be a much more appealing area along the river, with downtown and the Greenbelt fully integrated.

The other big project within city limits will be the replacement of the 50-year-old Pancheri Overpass. That two-lane bridge, especially exciting in icy weather, was built in 1962, the same I-15 reached Idaho Falls, and has long since reached what transportation types euphemistically call its "design life."

The replacement will be a wide structure, featuring two lanes of traffic and a bike/pedestrian path in each direction of travel. The old bridge won't go down until two lanes of the new bridge are open. The replacement bridge will improve traffic safety and flow, reducing congestion between Utah Avenue and Blue Sky Drive, a distance of just under a mile. The transportation department expects to complete the bulk of the work by year end.

The project will also include improving Pancheri Drive through its intersection with Blue Sky Drive and installing storm-water treatment and control systems.

Participants in the federally funded project are the Idaho Transportation Department, Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization, Bonneville County and City of Idaho Falls. The project is part of a plan by BMPO, Bonneville County and Idaho Falls to upgrade the corridor between Yellowstone Highway and Bellin Road in Idaho Falls.

And now for a word on gasoline prices ...

2012-02-22T11:46:00.002-07:00

This week the Dow Jones Industrial Average nosed above 13,000 for the first time since May 2008. Are happy days are here again?

You may recall where gasoline prices were in May 2008: They were approaching $4 a gallon, which is where they appear to be headed now. Yes, by the beginning of summer you may need a second mortgage to gas up the old SUV, pickup or minivan, not to mention your ATV, JetSki or lawnmower.

I don't think there's anything that gets Americans more riled up than high gasoline prices, and I'm speaking as someone who remembers when it cost less than $10 to put 20 gallons in a 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS. Supply and demand and speculator nervousness always get cited as the root causes of rising prices, and that may be true. But there's always a general suspicion among folks at the pump that somehow the fix is in. Of course if Iran's mullahs decide to sink a tanker in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz, all bets will be off.

For your convenience, I've added a gas price widget to the right side of the page so you can keep up. For the next week, e-mail me what you think the price of unleaded regular will be the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The address is bizmojoidaho@gmail.com. Entries will be accepted through 5 p.m. Feb. 29. The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to Carl's Jr.

By the way, I noticed that Stinker has begun selling gas with an octane rating of 85, when the lowest they used to sell was 87. All by itself, this is a sign of the world in decline.

Bannock County Development names new director

2012-02-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

John Regetz

John Regetz has been hired as the new Bannock County Development Corp. director in Pocatello.

Regetz has spent nearly his entire career in economic development in the Midwest and South Dakota. His last stop, at the Michigan City Economic Development Corporation in Indiana, lasted about six and a half years.

The Bannock County Development Corp. lost its director when Gynii Gilliam went to work for the Idaho Department of Commerce.

Regetz said that he has experience working with industries that would fit in well with Pocatello’s economy, including the high-tech and national computing sectors in Urbana, Ill.; and “advanced manufacturing” in Michigan City.

“The whole scope of my career seems to have been preparing me for this position,” Regetz said.

The Bannock County Development Corp. works with companies, governments and other organizations to coordinate economic development efforts within the county.

Regetz will start on March 19.

DeMarco's in Grand Teton Mall closing

2012-02-19T15:33:00.001-07:00

DeMarco's going out of business sale starts Thursday.

After 26 years in the Grand Teton Mall -- almost as long as the mall has been standing -- DeMarco's is quitting business.

In a letter sent out to preferred customers, store owners Dave and Rob Marcovitz said the decision comes "after years of battling such a tormented economy." Given the retail comings and goings since the mall opened in the mid-'80s, I've wondered more than once how a smaller clothing store with such high-quality merchandise could stay in business for any length of time at all.

In an interview with Local News 8, Rob Marcowitz said Americans are looking more to alternative retailers. "The U.S. people are getting to be a little more like Internet shopping-type people," he said.

Starting Thursday they'll be selling their stock off at prices up to 60 percent off. Brands include such designer names as True Religion, Tommy Bahama, Robert Graham and For All Mankind. If you're halfway interested in stylish clothes, this is something you might want to check out.

Copp named head of Missouri cleanup project

2012-02-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Robert D. Copp, until recently the chief executive officer of Nitrocision LLC of Idaho Falls, has been named project director of the Hematite Decommissioning Project in Festus, Mo.

Copp will be responsible for all project operations at the site. For years the facility manufactured uranium fuel for the U.S. Government (including the Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy) and commercial electric power utilities. Westinghouse Electric Co. took over the site after buying the nuclear operations of ABB in April 2000. The Hematite facility was the oldest nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in the United States when Westinghouse stopped fuel manufacturing operations in June 2001.

The NRC approved the site's decommissioning plan in November 2011. The work under way now includes excavating waste burial areas, removing contaminated soil and shipping the material for off-site disposal. This phase of site operations is expected to be completed in 2013.

Second Idaho Falls Carl's Jr. opening set for April 16

2012-02-16T12:45:00.001-07:00

Enough calories to feed a village in India for a week?

It's been almost seven weeks since Carl's Jr. opened on 17th Street, and we're reasonably certain that anyone who cares about a juicy burger has been there at least once.

This morning, in a moment of idle musing, it occured to me that the L.A.-based chain might have finally scheduled an opening for the second restaurant, at 1115 Northgate Mile, well under construction. I could not reach my usual source, Kelly Grieve, who was in a meeting, but her assistant, Cindy, confirmed to me that a tentative date of April 16 has been set.

She said the date could change due to any number of reasons, that it could be sooner or later. But at least those of you who care now have a pretty good idea of when to start salivating. We'll keep you posted.

Labor Department report indicates more benefits offered in 2011

2012-02-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

There's good news in the first report of 2012 from the Idaho Department of Labor, a survey of fringe benefits offered by employers in 2011.

More employers reported providing medical and dental benefits to their full-time employees, ending a decline that began in 2005 and returning the state estimates to pre-recession levels.

There's plenty to look at in the 49-page report, which can be viewed at http://lmi.idaho.gov/ResearchProjects.aspx

Here are some key points from the executive summary:

Employers indicated they were more likely to offer full‐time employees fringe benefits compared with part‐time employees.
Bigger companies offer better and more extensive benefit packages.
Industry sectors requiring more experience and education continued to offer more benefits than their counterparts in natural resources and mining, leisure and hospitality.
Region continued to be a non-factor in determining whether a firm offered any form of fringe benefits to employees.

Young Professionals to hold first mixer of '12

2012-02-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network will have its first mixer of the year today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Teton Toyota.

The group was started in 2008 as a way for future business leaders to network with each other, socially and professionally. YPN is an official committee of the chamber and has a board of directors made up of eight people.

Events like today's mixer are free and open to anyone in the 21-to-40 age range. They often feature guest speakers.

Food and drink will be provided, and there will be live music by Happyville (which, incidentally, got its start two years ago at a chamber event like this. Michelle Ziel and I started singing together when a man appeared on a flaming pie and said to us, "You shall form a band.")

For more information on YPN, visit the Web site, http://www.idahofallsypn.com/

Open houses, fly-tying demo set for I.F. downtown

2012-02-14T16:40:00.001-07:00

Downtown Idaho Falls has some fun coming up, and since it’s not 10 below (remember folks, it’s February and very well could be) it might not be a bad idea to head down that way.

On Saturday morning, Jimmy’s All Season Angler, 275 A St., will be hosting a free fly-tying demo. These go through March 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A complete list of tiers can be found at http://www.jimmysflyshop.com/

In the afternoon, five downtown restaurants and one bar will be having an open house from 3 to 6 p.m.:

3’s Co., 368 A St.
Il Castello, 445 A St.
Snakebite, 401 Park Ave.
Pachanga's, 501 Park Ave.
That One Place, 552 N. Capital Ave.

Also, Vino Rosso, 439 A St., will be open with a no-host bar and appetizers. Start at anyone of these restaurants, and go back and forth as much as you please.

On Saturday morning, Jimmy’s All Season Angler, 275 A St., will be hosting a free fly-tying demo. These go through March 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A complete list of tiers can be found at http://www.jimmysflyshop.com/

Scoresby Farms opens second Idaho Falls store

2012-02-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Produce at the Scoresby Farms Woodruff Avenue store

Scoresby Farms has opened its second store in Idaho Falls, at 1710 South Yellowstone, where the Shell station used to be.

Since they opened their first store, at 2045 North Woodruff, it's been a busy year for Justin Scoresby, his brother, Shawn, and dad, Eric. One or more of them travels to California every two weeks to pick up the freshest fruit and vegetables they can find. This week, they have oranges from the Los Angeles Wholesale Market at 39 cents a pound and avacados from Oxnard at 3 for $1.

"Because we buy from the farmers direct we skip the warehouses," Justin Scoresby said. "Our produce is fresher and better. We for sure have the best oranges in town, and all kinds of really good citrus."

The South Yellowstone store is 2,100 square feet, with about 1,600 square feet of retail space. The expansion will allow them to put a bakery into their North Yellowstone store.

While local produce isn't available this time of year, in the summer the family grows vegetables on 50 acres. "We try to do all Idaho stuff as us much as we can," Scoresby said.

The Scoresby Farms Web site is http://www.scoresbyfarms.com/

Direct Health starts operation in Idaho Falls

2012-02-13T15:19:00.001-07:00

Perhaps you have not heard the term "Superior Benefit Option," but that is the term that Direct Health uses to describe itself.

The Idaho Falls company, which started Feb. 1, aims to give employers a health care option to offer employees, allowing them to put money away for health care expenses and make donations themselves to employees' accounts as well.

It's not health insurance or a cafeteria plan, which would be regulated more vigorously by the Idaho Department of Insurance. Nor is it a health reimbursement account or a health savings account.

"It's a way for people to take control of their health care history and future," said Julie Rae, human resources director for Channel Blend, an Idaho Falls call center company. "It's a very simple concept. Usually when we talk to people about it, they try to overthink it."

Direct Health came about because Channel Blend CEO Jeff Neiswanger wanted something he could offer his employees without getting into the expense and red tape of traditional health insurance.

It is not designed to cover catastrophic health care expenses. It is a program under which people can sock away money for everything from a eye exams to massages to health club memberships. Right now, there are 16 providers in the network and 85 participants with active balances. When it's time to pay, participants show their cards, transactions are done online and providers get their money almost immediately.

There are no co-pays and no premiums. Unlike a flex plan, participants can take their money if they leave a job (although they can't cash out). The money can be rolled over from year to year, so there are no "use it or lose it" deadlines. The downside is it can't be considered a pre-tax contribution.

Rae said they are hoping that as word gets out the numbers on both sides will grow. Providers are already providing deep discounts to Direct Health participants. For employers, it's an option for companies with small numbers of employees or high turnover. Even larger employers that offer health insurance can use it to supplement what they offer.

There is a big emphasis on preventive care and wellness. "We're trying to do a couple of things," she said. "We want to see people being judicious with their health care money. With this, they spend it on what they need."

The link to the Web site is http://www.directhealthofidaho.com/index.html

New East Idaho Classifieds Web site debuts

2012-02-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

As I am writing this, Sunday afternoon, there are six items listed on www.eastidahoclassifieds.net, Riverbend Communications' entry into the world of online want ads.

Will the site be embraced to the extent that it competes with Craigslist or KSL.com? I imagine a lot will depend on promotion and marketing. Dusty Bee's Facebook posting called my attention to it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I go on to Riverbend's NewsTalk program on Tuesday morning to chat with Tim Lewis about what I see going on in the community, in hopes of building readership for BizMojo Idaho. But I would have mentioned this if it had been one of Riverbend's competitors.

From my own point of view, I doubt there's anything that can match what Craigslist has been able to accomplish in the past 10 years, both good and bad. As someone who went into print media more than 30 years ago, I would list Craigslist as one of the big things that knocked the newspaper industry sideways and changed the game completely. Before Craigslist, classifieds were a significant revenue source for newspapers. While they may be still be a significant income stream (I have personal recent experience that tells me an ad in the paper will still get results), the big question remains: "How do you compete with free?"

You're not paying to read this, are you? If I asked you to, I shudder to think how many of you actually would.

Anyway, I may put a guitar up on east idaho classifieds to see what happens. And if something does, I'll put up more.

INL, Fujitsu announce smart grid collaboration

2012-02-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

Fujitsu Laboratories of America announced Thursday a collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory on smart grid energy management.

Under the project's auspices, Fujitsu's security and ad hoc communications technology will be deployed at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies in Idaho Falls to monitor building power consumption and generate vital data on energy utilization. The data they collect will be used as a baseline for measuring efficiency and security with regard to wider smart grid deployments.

Smart grids couple physical power distribution equipment with the IT systems that manage it. Security is essential, since compromise in one could affect the other. Fujitsu will contribute advanced security and cloud services technology from Fujitsu Laboratories of America and WisReed, an autonomous distributed network technology that enables the automatic construction of a network.

"The CAES facility is a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building, and we are trying to ensure we operate at maximum energy efficiency," said CAES Director J. W. Rogers. "Fujitsu's technology will provide us with real-time usage data to measure our efficiency and also supply our researchers with valuable information required for advanced energy system modeling."

"This collaboration will leverage INL's global leadership in industrial control and power system simulation test beds, and Fujitsu leadership in IT services," said Yasunori Kimura, President and CEO of Fujitsu Laboratories of America. "We are delighted to be part of this initiative by providing systems for real time data collection and cloud services for analysis and anomaly detection."

You and the mortgage settlement

2012-02-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Idaho borrowers will receive close to $100 million from the $26 billion agreement struck between government officials and five of the nation’s largest banks. That’s according to the Idaho Attorney General’s office. If you want the specifics, such as they are, go here: http://www.ag.idaho.gov/media/newsReleases/2012/nr_02092012.html

The question you're undoubtedly asking yourself is "will this help me?" Nobody knows at this point. There's been a lot of writing done about it. Here's a digest:

The New York Times: “(The) settlement money will be doled out under a complicated formula that gives banks varying degrees of credit for different kinds of help. As a result, banks are incentivized to help harder-hit borrowers with homes worth far less than what they owe."

The Wall Street Journal: "The settlement will 'remove one cloud of uncertainty that has depressed bank stocks,'' but may do less to help the housing market."

The Washington Post: “The deal is the largest of its kind since a multi-state agreement with the tobacco industry in 1998. But that deal was worth around $350 billion in today’s dollars. It’s also not a lot of money compared to the $700 billion in underwater mortgage debt, or the bailout of the banks that issued and bought the debt in the first place.”

The number of foreclosures dropped in 2011, nationwide and in Idaho, which has had one of the highest foreclosure rates in the county since the start of the housing crisis. But that may be due to the feds putting the brakes on such abuses as "robo-signing," which this week's settlement also addresses. Now that the restraints are off, the foreclosure express could be rolling again.

The plain fact is in the last five years, home prices have fallen by nearly one-third, and the nation now has 11 million homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth, to the tune of $750 billion.

The most pessimistic assessment I've read comes from Dylan Ratigan, who offers this: "America simply has too much mortgage debt to pay back. Serious economic thinkers across the spectrum, from Democrat Alan Blinder to Republican Martin Feldstein to New York Fed President William Dudley, believe that there is only one solution -- writing down the enormous creaking mound of debt. This solution is currently off the table, because writing down these unsustainable debts could cost our fragile banks enormous sums of money and possibly lead to a restructuring of one or more of our major banks. Avoiding this clear policy choice has resulted in our economy falling into a Japan-style 'zombie bank' torpor, with debts carried on the books at full value which everyone knows will not be paid back at par."

Marketing Summit starts Feb. 21 at Idaho Falls Shilo Inn

2012-02-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

Riverbend Communications and Lvate are holding a three-part Marketing Summit at the Shilo Inn, Idaho Falls, covering everything from branding and strategy to media buying to social networking.

The two-hour sessions start Feb. 21 at 8 a.m. and continue March 6 and March 20. Session 1 will focus on the buying process, which includes market identification, primary vs. secondary marketing messages and strategic business "tone." Session 2 is devoted to branding, measuring marketing success and comparing yourself to your competition. Session 3 will be about creating market awareness, leveraging the Internet and search engine optimization.

Cost of all three sessions is $99. For more information, contact Mike Sutton at 208-535-8327.

Tips on naming a business and branding

2012-02-08T08:28:00.002-07:00

Are you at the fateful stage of naming a business? This is a big decision, one that could make a big difference in how well you do, say Jay Conrad Levinson, Jeannie Levinson and Seth Godin in an Entrepreneur.com story. What should you consider?

For starters, don’t listen to everyone. Names created by committee are usually losers, they say.

The first thing you want to do is list your attributes. Are you speedy, experienced, fun, daring, reliable, inexpensive, honest, unique or the best? This list is valuable when it comes to free associating a name that has straight-to-the-forehead memorability.

Consider Nike. What were they want to convey when they chose that name? In Greek mythology, Nike was the winged goddess of victory, in war and sport. Not everyone knows that, but they don't have to for a sense of what the company is about.

On the other hand, you've got generic names (General Foods) and descriptive names (Speedi-Mart). The thing is, whatever you choose, it's the product or the service that ultimately establish your brand. After all, John Lennon's friends thought "The Beatles" was the dumbest band name they'd ever heard.

Last of all, it is absolutely imperative that you do a legal name search to check your rights to the name. If there's anything worse than branding, it's re-branding.

For more on this topic, visit www.entrepreneur.com/article/222532

EITC Dollars for Scholars online auction starts today

2012-02-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

If you want to look to the right of this post, you'll notice the Dollars for Scholars online auction has begun. Yes, we are making easy for you to bid on some fabulous stuff (including a month's worth of advertising on BizMojo Idaho), all to benefit students with scholarships at Eastern Idaho Technical College.

Go to the link and see over 100 items, including:

A signed Boise State University Football
Hotel Packages that can be utilized in Idaho Falls, Las Vegas, San Diego, Salt Lake City and more
Fashion accessories, including Miche Bag, iPhone skins and jewelry
Entertainment, including season tickets for the Idaho Falls Chukars and tickets to the Idaho Falls Symphony
Advertising opportunities including BizMojoIdaho.com and Social Eyes Marketing
Restaurant gift cards, including Pachangas, Texas Roadhouse and Chili's
Services, including oil changes, tire rotations and dry cleaning

Bidding ends Thursday at 7 p.m.

Nuclear Engineer named INL Fellow

2012-02-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Joy Rempe, a nuclear engineer with more than 25 years of research and development experience, has been selected as an Idaho National Laboratory Fellow. This is the labs's top scientific achievement designation, given in recognition of an individual's contributions to the scientific and engineering community. Only nine other people have been named INL Fellows.

She holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During her 23-year tenure at the INL, she has established an international reputation in severe accident analysis, high temperature testing and advanced in-pile instrumentation. She currently leads in-pile instrumentation development for the Advanced Test Reactor's National Scientific User Facility and Fuel Cycle Research and Development programs.

Since 2010, Rempe has been a member of the Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In 2005, she was elected as a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). She is completing a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the ANS. She has held a variety of offices and been professionally active in ANS, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Rempe’s own work is documented in 45 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 80 peer-reviewed conference papers. She also has three patents or patents pending relating to her research.

INL nuclear engineer Joy Rempe at work with a High Temperature Irradiation Resistant Thermocouple

Bonneville County Realtors see better times in '12

2012-02-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

It may be that Jana Merkley took the helm of the Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors at the low ebb of the local real estate market.

At least Merkley, who came on as the association's CEO in June 2011, hopes that's true. She sees it as her job to be optimistic, and she says there have been signs this year that her optimism is warranted.

"We're getting more calls from agents who want lockboxes, we seem to be consumer confidence coming back," she said.

Merkley is also CEO of the Snake River Regional MLS, which is getting ready to post its annual statistics for 2011 on its Web site, www.snakerivermls.com.

Across the board, the numbers were down from 2010.

In light of what has been happening in the rest of the country, "I just think it hit us later," she said. Given the encouraging economic numbers that have been coming out lately, combined with record low interest rates, there is cause for hope this year.

She encourages anyone looking to buy a home for the first time to take Finally Home! class, which is sponsored by the Idaho Partners for Homebuyer Education. "There is a lot you can learn from it, and a lot of mistakes you can avoid," she said. "Most people I talk to say, 'I wish I had taken this earlier in the process."

Motherhood Maternity chain opening store in Idaho Falls

2012-02-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Motherhood Maternity, a Philadelphia-based chain of maternity stores, will be opening in the space on 17th Street between Toys R Us and Down East Outfitters.

Remodelers got to work Thursday on the 2,323-square-foot space. The store will open sometime this spring.

The chain is a subsidiary of Destination Maternity Corp., a maternity apparel retailer with more than 1,000 locations. Founded in 1982 as a catalog business, the company went public in 1993 and has since grown with new stores, the acquisition of existing maternity stores and new brands. In 2008 its sales were reported at $581 million.

For more information on the company, visit the Web page at http://www.motherhood.com/

Employers sought for late March job fair in Idaho Falls

2012-02-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

Eastern Idaho employers and businesses are invited to take part in the Mayor’s Business Day in Idaho Falls, scheduled for March 27 at Idaho Falls High School from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sponsors are the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, the City of Idaho Falls, the Idaho Department of Labor and Grow Idaho Falls, Inc.

The day will begin with the Department of Labor Job Fair, in the small gymnasium from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Employers interested in participating should contact Julie Buttars at the department's Idaho Falls
office, by e-mail at Julie.buttars@labor.idaho.gov or by phone at (208) 557-2500 ext. 3562.

In conjunction with the day's events, the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce will hold its 10th Annual Area Business Connection business-to-business tradeshow, with more than 50 business vendors participating in the large gymnasium from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Any interested vendors should contact Kerry McCullough, the chamber's programs & events coordinator, by email at kmccullough@idahofallschamber.com or by phone at (208) 523-1010.

The Grow Idaho Falls luncheon and presentation with take place in the small gym from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Seating is limited, so anyone interested should RSVP by e-mailing admin@growidahofalls.org or by calling Grow Idaho Falls at (208) 522-2014.

Developer plans May 25 opening for Idaho Falls Marriott Residence Inn

2012-02-03T12:04:00.002-07:00

Work recommenced in January on the Idaho Falls Marriott Residence Inn.

The Salt Lake development company that has taken over the Marriott Residence Inn by the Broadway Bridge in Idaho Falls is shooting for a May 25 opening.

“We feel like we are on track, although there are a lot of things that have to fall in place,” said John Brunt, the project manager for Woodbury Strategic Partners. “We want to have it open for Memorial Day and the summer tourism season.”

Work on the 98,700-square-foot hotel ground to a halt in 2008, when the original developers, McNeil Development, ran into financial trouble in connection with the failure of Arkansas National Bank. Brunt said one thing that made it easier for them to restart the project was the fact that McNeil had enclosed the building, which kept out water that might otherwise have gotten in and caused major damage.

Still, there were repairs to be made and Marriott’s standards had evolved in the time the project was in limbo. Once the six-story hotel is finished, Brunt said the estimated cost will top $20 million.

The hotel has 108 guest rooms, two meeting rooms, a large exercise room and pool. “There’s a lot more common area than a typical Marriott Residence Inn,” Brunt said. Although the exterior is in keeping with the other buildings of the Taylor Crossing development (a style Brunt described as “eclectic classical”), the interior will be more modern and streamlined.

Broulim's receives award for beef marketing efforts

2012-02-03T07:10:00.001-07:00

Broulim's Fresh Foods, a seven-store grocery chain based in Rigby, was recognized Thursday with a National Retail Beef Backer award at the 2012 Cattle Industry Annual Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Nashville.

Funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, the award is given in recognition of grocery establishments that do an outstanding job of marketing and merchandising beef in the meat case.

Broulim's received the award in the Independent Retailer category for the second year in a row. According to the notes in the announcement, "customers shopping at Broulim's can count on employees to have knowledgeable information on new beef cuts, recipes, safety, labeling and even the production process that goes into delivering a quality product."

The Beef Checkoff Program was written into the 1985 Farm Bill. It assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, and a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the program under USDA approval.

Energy Advocate Award winners announced for 2012

2012-02-02T11:38:00.002-07:00

The Partnership for Science & Technology has announced its 2012 Energy Advocate Award winners. The award is given in honor of the winners' committment to energy initiatives, nationwide and in the community. They will be honored at an awards luncheon on Feb. 21 at the Red Lion hotel.

National Energy Advocate Award Winner : DOE Office for Nuclear Energy
Local Energy Advocate Award Winner : Teri Ehresman, INL Liaison for Nuclear Programs
Nuclear Energy Advocate Award Winner : Dr. Kathryn McCarthy, INL Deputy Assistant Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science and Technology
Energy Education Advocate Award Winner : Ken Erickson, Eastern Idaho Technicial College

Idaho Falls seafood restaurant plans Feb. 6 opening

2012-02-01T18:30:00.001-07:00

Captian's Cove, at 2040 Channing Way, announced today on its Facebook page that it plans to open Monday, Feb. 6.

Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are advised. The phone number is (208) 552-0702, the same number the restaurant had when it was Buddy's.

General Manager Sherri Biorn and her head chef, Jon Wilson, have prepared a menu featuring hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood. All sauces, dressings, and desserts are all made fresh every day, in house.

To keep up with their latest postings, the restaurant's Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/buddy's-idaho-falls#!/profile.php?id=100001585400287.

Skyline students seek sponsor for Big Band Jazz Dance

2012-01-31T16:18:00.000-07:00

Time to get your zoot suit out of mothballs. Skyline High School will be having a Big Band Dance on Feb. 18 at the Idaho Falls Elks Club, a benefit to help raise funds for the trip to Anaheim, Calif., that the Jazz and Symphonic Bands plan to take this spring.

As with any benefit, the less they have to spend on the event the more they get to keep for the trip, so they are looking for a sponsor in addition to American Fabrication, Inc., band director Bob Dunmire said.

There is no admission to the dance, but the recommended donation is $5 per person or $8 per couple. Music will be by the EITC Jazz House Big Band, directed by Doug Wareing, and the Skyline High School Jazz Band. Punch and desserts will be provided, and there will be a silent auction and raffle.

The dance begins at 7:30 p.m., but free dance lessons will be provided at 6:30 by Swing Junction (http://swingjunction.blogspot.com/)

If you would like to support the band, contact Dunmire at (208) 525-7770 or by email at
dunmrobe@d91.k12.id.us.

"Super credit" agencies ready to mine social media for the dirt on you

2012-01-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

FreeCreditReport.com may have catchy commercials, but there's nothing cute about where the credit reporting industry is headed. This is a case of Big Brother watching not only you but all your friends on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.

It used to be that a credit reporting agency concerned itself with investigating the creditworthiness of a person who had applied for a loan. That may be part of the mission still, but there's a fair argument to be made that financial institutions are using credit scores to make money. Consider the news that Freddie Mac wants to keep collecting higher interest on your mortgage. How do they do this? By slapping down ordinary people anytime they put a foot wrong. And now they're not only going to be looking at you, but everyone connected to you.

An article last month on AmericanBanker.com titled "9 Trends Reshaping Risk Software" points to the growing use of the super credit score. "One idea banks are toying with is that of incorporating social media data into assessments of credit risk, for instance, by considering the credit scores of a person's friends in addition to that person's own score," it says.

http://www.americanbanker.com/btn/25_1/9-trends-reshaping-risk-software-1045226-1.html

I suppose there are people who might see this as an opportunity to rent themselves out online as "SuperFriends."

Yellowstone Warehouse plans expansion by summer

2012-01-30T03:45:00.001-07:00

The Yellowstone Warehouse, in the old Grand Central/Fred Meyer building, will be doubling its size by this summer.

The Yellowstone Warehouse in Idaho Falls, at 1765 N. Yellowstone, will be doubling its size by this summer, expanding into the rest of what used to be the Yellowstone Mall and the old Albertson's at west end.

At the moment, they occupy 108,000 square feet in the old Grand Central/Fred Meyer store, storing materials for such clients as the Idaho National Laboratory, Restoration Hardware and Sam's Club, not to mention ordinary people who need a whole household's worth of furniture crated up and held between moves. It is the largest controlled environment commercial warehouse in Idaho.

Steven Keim, who started the business in 2004, said the business has grown steadily through the downturn of the past three-and-a-half years. The warehouse is the lynchpin for two companies: Gellings Moving and Storage, the Atlas Van Lines agent for eastern Idaho and western Wyoming, and WestOne Logistics, which handles the receiving and distribution for big industrial and commercial clients.

How do third party logistics work? To give an example, INL is going to break ground this year on a $30 million, 46,163-square-foot, Research & Education Laboratory complex. The slate for that building is already being stored at the Yellowstone Warehouse, and will be available when it's needed.

Suppose Costco decides to build a store in Idaho Falls or Ammon? There has to be a place where all the materials and furnishings can be held as the project moves forward. Keim said he is hopeful that WestOne can get the business. In the case of a company like Restoration Hardware, most of the jobs WestOne does are "last mile" deliveries to custom home projects in Jackson, Wyo., or Idaho's Wood River Valley.

Although thousands of people drive by every day, Keim said he is sure most of them have no idea what is going on in the Yellowstone Warehouse.

You won't have to fly your Lear Jet to Nova Scotia to see a total eclipse of the sun

2012-01-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

I suppose I could try to give this a business spin -- "Utah, Nevada, expect tourism $ from May eclipse" -- but on Sunday afternoon I'd rather just write about something that fascinates me.

If you're thinking about a road trip to Las Vegas, Mesquite, St. George or even Reno, mid-May might be a good time. On May 20, Nevada and southern Utah are going to experience an annular solar eclipse. They don’t happen very often, and when they do they’re usually over the ocean or someplace far from home.

You undoubtedly know that a solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the Sun and the Earth and casts a shadow. An annular eclipse is when the moon is farther away from the Earth and therefore smaller in the sky and a ring of light from the sun shines on the outside.

Thanks to Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, eclipses are easy to predict, so astronomers have known for years this has been coming. Nevada and Utah are on the tail end, which means the sun will be low in the sky when the moon creeps in front of it. Given the locale -- Zion National Park, anyone? -- there could be some epic sunset pictures. If you've got people in Reno or northern California, the eclipse will be in view as well. Near Reno, the eclipse will be in its full glory along southern shore of Pyramid Lake.

After this one, the next time a solar eclipse occurs in North America will be Aug. 21, 2017. And guess what? The path will run right over central and eastern Idaho. Looking at the map, I've come to the conclusion that either Redfish Lake or Menan Butte will be the best places to see it. Mark your calendars. You read it first here.

With an annular eclipse, there's a burning ring of fire around the Moon.

Operation Juicy Burger has begun

2012-01-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Looking at the stats for BizMojo Idaho this past week, I'm kind of curious that the leading pageview is an item I put up Dec. 9, Carl's Jr. plans to open in Idaho Falls by Dec. 31.

Mmm ... look at that juicy burger!

Surely this is old news, yet 97 people looked at that post in the past seven days. Mystifying? Perhaps, if you don't drill down. But looking at the search information, we found that "Carl's Jr." and "juicy burger" were the leading keywords driving traffic to the blog from Google.

It's a Google world. I'm watching AdSense every day, and I'm happy to report that we're inching closer to the $100 threshold that will prompt the Google Gods to send a check directly to the BizMojo Idaho bank account.

I'd be the last person to encourage anyone to engage in an orgy of indiscriminate ad-clicking to get us there faster. But if you should you decide to do it of your own free will, there might be a juicy burger in it for you. Think about it.

Odds and ends from the Idaho Falls development front

2012-01-27T14:15:00.002-07:00

It's pretty quiet on the building front, but there are signs that things could be on the uptick, said Brad Cramer of the Idaho Falls Planning Department.

The city planning and zoning commission and City Council have approved a plat for a 16-lot subdivision called Bristol Heights, located south of Sunnyside Road, on land belonging to Lee Gagner. "We haven't seen a plat that size for years," Cramer said.
Likewise, the City Council on Thursday night approved 22 townhomes at John Adams and St. Clair. "I'm not sure yet if it means a lot," Cramer said. "There must be a decent market for those townhome type properties."

On the commercial front, Cramer echoed what Pentad Properties' Brent Wilson said last week, that everything seems to be on hold as developers wait to see what sort of action might be coming from Costco, which has been eyeballing ground in the Idaho Falls-Ammon area.

March opening planned for indoor trampoline park

2012-01-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

	Trampoline enthusiasts will soon have a new place to jump yearround in the Idaho Falls area. Eyeballing a March opening, iJump Idaho aims to be southeast Idaho's first indoor trampoline park. The address is 2670 E. 14 North, off Hitt Road, near Majestic Auto Body. The business is currently taking applications, and looking for people college-age or older who are trustworthy, honest and fun. Here is a link to the online application form: http://fs9.formsite.com/ijump/form2/index.html. In addition to wall-to-wall trampolines, the complex will also include a dodge ball court, open jump area, a three-trampoline foam pit and a separate area for younger-aged children. We will have a more detailed report as the date draws nearer. Here is iJump Idaho's Facebook listing: http://www.facebook.com/ijumpidaho

Trampoline enthusiasts will soon have a new place to jump yearround in the Idaho Falls area. Eyeballing a March opening, iJump Idaho aims to be southeast Idaho's first indoor trampoline park. The address is 2670 E. 14 North, off Hitt Road, near Majestic Auto Body.

The business is currently taking applications, and looking for people college-age or older who are trustworthy, honest and fun. Here is a link to the online application form: http://fs9.formsite.com/ijump/form2/index.html.

In addition to wall-to-wall trampolines, the complex will also include a dodge ball court, open jump area, a three-trampoline foam pit and a separate area for younger-aged children.

We will have a more detailed report as the date draws nearer. Here is iJump Idaho's Facebook listing: http://www.facebook.com/ijumpidaho

INL engineer named to '40 Under 40' list

2012-01-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Jorge Navarro, 31, of the Idaho National Laboratory, has been named one of the "40 Under 40" by Hispanic Engineer Information and Technology magazine.

Navarro was born in Mexico. After high school he worked as a computer data capture analyst then enrolled in the University of Guanajuato mining engineering school. After switching his major to chemical engineering, he transferred to the University of Utah, where he received his bachelor's degree. He is now pursuing a Ph.D in the nuclear engineering graduate program.

He came to the INL in 2008 as a space nuclear research summer fellow. He has since worked on upgrading methods and codes for the Advanced Test Reactor, developing non-destructive gamma spectroscopy techniques to support the fuel management process.

In 2009, he became a United States citizen.

A good joke could pay off when asking for a raise

2012-01-26T06:48:00.001-07:00

When it comes to asking for a raise, it could pay to have a sense of humor.

As unlikely as it sounds, a recent study from the University of Idaho suggests that when asking for a raise the best approach is to shoot the moon -- but do it with a wink. Psychology professor Todd Thorsteinson found that people requesting implausibly high raises ended up with 9 to 10 percent more on average than those who didn't.

Thorsteinson took 206 college students and asked them to determine the starting salary of a hypothetical administrative assistant who was well qualified and had previously earned $29,000.

Candidates who facetiously asked for $100,000 were given $35,523 on average. Those who simply asked for what they thought was reasonable got an average of $32,463, the Harvard Business Review reports.

Thorsteinson suggested that “mentioning an extreme figure in jest can set a high ‘anchor’ for the final offer while minimizing negative reactions from the employer.”

Dickey's Barbecue Pit opening Friday in Idaho Falls

2012-01-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

Dickey's Barbecue Pit on 17th Street will be opening Friday at 11 a.m., and in observance of the occasion will be giving the first 100 customers free pulled pork big barbecue sandwiches.

"We are happy to be in Idaho Falls and the community is extremely excited for us to open," said local franchise owner Deanne Wilkins, who operates the restaurant with her husband, Bob. The new location is 2,000 square feet and located at 2090 East 17th Street, just west of the Grand Teton Mall and next door to Fiesta Ole.

Bob Wilkins is a business partner of the Dickey's in St. George, Utah. He and DeAnne are currently looking for a site for another location in Pocatello.

Customers are encouraged to check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/DickeysIdahoFalls. On Feb. 6, one lucky Facebook fan will win a $100 Dickey's gift card.

Texas-based Dickey's Barbecue Pit opened in 1941 and began franchising in 1994. It currently has 206 locations in 36 states nationwide.

INL offers virtual tours through mobile app

2012-01-25T08:14:00.001-07:00

In concert with National Nuclear Science Week, the Idaho National Laboratory has launched a mobile app that allows smart phone and tablet users to see what goes on at the lab without investing all the time and expense it would take for an on-site tour.

The idea is to give university and industry representatives, government leaders, and members of the public a new, visually compelling means of finding out what kind of nuclear energy research goes on at the INL.

"Time is a precious resource for all of us," said Harold McFarlane, interim associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science and Technology. "By making this comprehensive app available, we're able to save time and money for our own staff and more importantly, that of prospective research partners and industry representatives who need to know in real time if we've got the assets and abilities they're looking for to develop, test and prove their theses and technologies."

Taking the virtual tour is as simple as loading the free mobile app onto your smartphone or tablet from one of several locations. Currently, the app can be viewed from http://nuclearapp.inl.gov using a browser like Apple Safari or Google Chrome. The Google Chrome frame plug-in makes the app viewable on Internet Explorer as well.

A native Android app for tablets is available on the Android Market, while efforts continue on development of native Android smartphone and Apple iOS apps. A condensed version of the app is available in flipbook form at http://www.inl.gov/publications/the-national-nuclear-laboratory.

The company that was instrumental in the development of this was ComDesigns of Idaho Falls. For company president Mike Hart's account of the work they did (and the work that goes on), go to http://www.comdesigns.com/blog/2012/1/13/publishing-our-first-app.html.

Allegiant Air to start Idaho Falls-Oakland flights in April

2012-01-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

Allegiant Travel Co., which currently runs non-stop flights between Idaho Falls and Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles, has announced it will start service this spring between Idaho Falls and Oakland, Calif.

Company President Andrew Levy said Tuesday the flights will begin April 27. For the first few weeks, fares will start at $40.

“We're just thrilled to add another popular destination market with low-cost flights and inexpensive vacation package offerings to the residents of the Idaho Falls area,” Levy said.

Allegiant already offers service from Idaho Falls to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Nevada. It also offers deals on hotel rooms and rental cars.

http://www.allegiantair.com/

Western Benefit Solutions opens office in Snake River Landing

2012-01-23T14:26:00.001-07:00

Matt Hansen

Western Benefit Solutions is now in its permanent Idaho Falls office, at 950 Pier View Drive, Suite C, next to Liberty Mutual in Snake River Landing.

The Boise-based company is Idaho’s largest employee benefit consulting and brokerage firm, advising clients on how to manage health insurance costs. The head of the Idaho Falls office is Matt Hansen, who before he joined WBS owned and managed Insight Financial, a company he helped found in 2003.

WBS is the state's largest broker in the public sector and the only brokerage firm with Idaho based, in-house legal and HR resources. Among the advantages it advertises are in-house health care reform experts, in-house underwriters, strong leverage in the marketplace and HIPAA compliance. For over five years, it has been ranked as one of the top 10 largest and most productive employee benefit brokerage firms in the United States by the trade publication Business Insurance.

The company's Web address is http://www.westben.com/. The phone number for the Idaho Falls office is (208) 542-1233

EIRMC officer receives appointment as ACHE regent

2012-01-23T05:58:00.000-07:00

Sandee Moore

Sandee Moore, chief operations officer at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, has been appointed to the American College of Healthcare Executives' Council of Regents, its legislative body.

ACHE is an international professional society of more than 35,000 healthcare executives. As a member of the council, Moore represents Idaho healthcare organizations and their interests with the national ACHE organization. She was elected by her professional peers in the state.

Moore will take office March 17, during ACHE’s 55th Congress on Healthcare Leadership, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Moore has been at EIRMC since 2010. In addition to her duties as COO, she directly leads several departments, including medical imaging, pharmacy, laboratory, therapy services, plant operations, nutrition services and environmental services and EIRMC’s Behavioral Health Center. Before coming to Idaho Falls, she was associate administrator at Sunrise Medical Center, a 700-bed hospital in Las Vegas, Nev.

Born and raised in Caldwell, she earned her B.A. in 2003 from Idaho State University, where she still serves on the alumni board. She later earned her M.A. from the University of Colorado, and was named the university’s Outstanding MBA Student and winner of the Health Programs Director’s Award.

She is also a board member of the Idaho Falls Domestic Violence Intervention Center.

Jan. 17, 2012 radio interview

2012-01-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post this all week, but here, finally, is the link to my Tuesday morning conversation with Tim Lewis on NewsTalk Radio, 690 and 1260 on the AM dial. I visit Tim every Tuesday during the 8 a.m. hour to talk about what I see going on around town. The point is to promote this blog.

This has been a big week for BizMojo Idaho. On Friday we had 323 pageviews, smashing the previous high, 210, by a wide margin. I was surprised by the reaction I got to the piece I posted Tuesday about Galen Bush, an agent with Keller-Williams East Idaho who died unexpectedly on Jan. 14. After less than a week, it turned out to be the secondmost viewed story in this blog's history. I had debated posting anything, but figured if it was worth doing if it had any chance of helping Galen's family. Obviously a lot of people knew Galen and cared about him.

I am becoming more and more fascinated by how blogging can serve the purposes of community journalism. I'm not doing much different with this than what I was doing 32 years ago when I was writing, editing and selling ads for the Jeffrey City News in Jeffrey City, Wyo. (a town that no longer exists). Whenever possible, I have always tried to reach out to readers and engage them in conversation, or at least make them feel like they had a relationship with me.

Anyroad, here's the link to my last radio interview, addressing such things as building permits, Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Costco. Give it a listen if you don't have anything better to do. http://www.eastidahonews.com/2012/01/business-expert-talks-about-potential-new-establishments-coming-to-idaho-falls/

Idaho jobless rate continues to drop

2012-01-20T08:55:00.001-07:00

There's no need to print the full story here (the link is posted below), but the Idaho Department of Labor reported this morning that the state's unemployment rate dropped again in December. While 8.4 percent still leaves room for improvement, it's safe to say this counts as welcome news.

Statewide, employers hired just over 11,000 new employees, mainly to replace workers who retired or left their jobs for some other reason. Most significantly, it marked the first month since 2008 that employers reported hiring more new employees than they did then.

http://labor.idaho.gov/news/NewsReleases/tabid/1953/ctl/PressRelease/mid/2527/itemid/2397/Default.aspx

Idaho Falls company plans $125 million facility in New Mexico, seeks NRC license

2012-01-19T08:37:00.002-07:00

Steve T. Laflin, International Isotopes
President and CEO

International Isotopes Inc. is a company I have followed with interest for years not because it's high profile but because I think it exemplifies the sort of business that keeps the local economy humming.

It has its roots in the Idaho National Laboratory, but left the reservation years ago. Located north of Idaho Falls off St. Leon Road, its focus today is on nuclear medicine calibration and reference standards, high purity fluoride gases and cobalt-60 products. The company also provides radioisotopes and radiochemicals for medical devices, calibration, clinical research, life sciences, and industrial applications. It provides analytical, measurement recycling, and processing services to clients.

This week the Nuclear Regulatory Commission started the public notification and comment period on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the $125 million uranium deconversion facility International Isotopes is planning to build in New Mexico. As a part of the comment process, the NRC has scheduled a Feb. 2 meeting in Hobbs, N.M. Comments on the project will be taken until Feb. 27. The application and information about the NRC license review process are available on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/inisfacility.html.

Steve T. Laflin, International Isotopes' president and CEO, said he anticipates a license for the facility sometime this summer. "In the next few months, the exact timing of the NRC license issuance will become much clearer and allow the company to complete financing and start construction on this important project," he said.

Last year the company applied for a $97 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, which approved the first of a two-part application in June 2010. The loan comes from the department’s renewable-energy technology development program, which evaluates whether the technology might reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Our patented fluorine extraction process uses seven times less energy than conventional industrial
processes for making hydrofluoric acid," Laflin told blogger Dan Yurma of Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes. "This means we can show reductions of six million pounds of carbon dioxide a year over the life of the plant."

INL's Whitney accepts post with State Board of Ed

2012-01-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Whitney, former statewide community outreach coordinator for Idaho National Laboratory, has been named the new chief communications and legislative affairs officer for the Idaho State Board of Education.

Born and raised in Twin Falls, Whitney earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boise State University. Prior to joining INL in 2006, she spent nearly 15 years in corporate communications at Micron Technology Inc. and two years at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Job creation incentives vs. actual results -- a delicate matter

2012-01-18T08:37:00.002-07:00

I've watched economic development for a long time. In 1996, when I began reporting on business for the Post Register, the big concern was job cutbacks at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (now just the Idaho National Laboratory.)

With outfits like Initiative 2000 (now Grow Idaho Falls), the Community Reuse Organization and the Regional Development Alliance leading the charge, a lot of money has been spent in the last 20 years on companies promising jobs to our area. Some have panned out and some have laid an egg. There's no need to go into names, but I attended a lot of groundbreakings and openings where officials were singing "Blue skies, shining on me ... " Likewise, I am personally acquainted with people who feel bitter at what they feel to be promises that were not kept.

It has always struck me that economic development is something that communities, states and nations must engage in, if only for the sake of self-protection, i.e. if you don't do it, somebody else is going to eat your lunch.

But putting public money down on what looks to be a great bet can't be for the faint of heart. It's one thing to score transportation funds to get a road widened or improved. But laying out incentives for a factory or power plant -- watch out.

Exit question: When an economic development deal goes sour, who ends up holding the bag?

What got me started this morning was a story that ran today on Bloomberg Businessweek about which states do best at keeping track of job creation incentives vs. actual results. In the study it cites, Idaho ranks 38th, tied with South Carolina.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-18/states-fail-to-verify-that-incentives-produce-jobs-study-says.html

Keller-Williams seeks to aid family following agent's untimely passing

2012-01-17T12:36:00.001-07:00

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Galen Bush, who died Saturday afternoon after suffering a heart attack while riding his bicycle.

Galen Bush

Galen was an agent with Keller-Williams Realty East Idaho, which has set up a fund at Scenic Falls Credit Union to help his family cover funeral and ongoing expenses. This Friday would have been his 45th birthday. He leaves behind a wife, Lisa, and four sons, ages 19 to 7.

Keller-Williams broker/owner Jim Windmiller said the family has a history of heart disease, something Galen was doing everything he could do to guard against by eating right and exercising. "He will be missed," he said. "It was his sense of humor that always got to me."

Galen was a Dave Ramsey Preferred Realtor and had 13 listings at the time of his death. Keller-Williams agents are working to close the deals he had pending and will donate all commissions to the fund that has been set up for his family. "Anything that's in the works goes to them," Windmiller said.

As a footnote, I want to mention that Galen played drums and sang with me three years ago in a band called Obsidian. His talent and attitude were fantastic, and he was a pleasure to know. There may even still be a few videos of us on YouTube. He was reluctant to sing "Night Fever" by the Bee Gees, but he could do the falsetto part like nobody I've ever met. I'm really sorry to be writing this.

Here is a link to his obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postregister/obituary.aspx?n=galen-bush&pid=155518944

Stores try to cope with rising tide of food assistance customers

2012-01-17T07:03:00.004-07:00

The news this week is that a record number of Idahoans are using food stamps -- 235,000 people in December. Currently, federal food benefits totaling $30 million are distributed monthly.

On Monday, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Tom Shanahan went before legislative budget writers to suggest changing the program by staggering the day that benefits become available. Grocery store operators are backing the proposal, claiming the flood of food stamp users at the first of every month causes supply problems. But Shanahan estimated the change would cost an extra $220,000 a year, because four people would have to be added to field calls from recipients.

I've posted a link to a story from Bloomberg Businessweek that suggests how important the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is to the grocery business. Does anyone else find it significant that while they are administered at the state level by Health and Welfare, food stamps originate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture? Our nation's food policy affects not only the people who eat it, but farmers, agribusiness and grocery chains, i.e. a lot of people with jobs.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-17/supervalu-led-stores-chasing-55-billion-in-food-stamps-retail.html

INL buoys Idaho Falls construction numbers for 2011

2012-01-16T08:59:00.001-07:00

It's human nature to want more -- more jobs, more money, more security -- but the plain fact of existence is that adaptation is how the human race has survived.

Suppose the building boom of five years ago was an aberration, and that we are now living in normal times? On a national level, suppose the economy we have right now is how it's going to be for the foreseeable future? In either case, we have to adapt.

Looking at the city of Idaho Falls Building Department's report for 2011, two things stand out. First, building activity and valuation held steady from the previous year. Second, if it weren't for the Idaho National Laboratory, things would be a lot worse.

The multi-million dollar Idaho National Laboratory Testing & Demonstration Facility pushed construction valuation for Idaho Falls to over $30 million for the second straight year.

The overall total, $36.9 million, was down 4 percent from 2010, but was still almost twice the low of 2009, $19.7 million.

It should come as no surprise that residential building was down from 2010 and way down from 2006. The most encouraging news, such as it is, may be on the commercial renovation front. Even though there were fewer projects than 2010 (10 vs. 22) valuation was up nearly 74 percent: $12.7 million in 2011 compared to $7.3 million the previous year.

The 2012 construction year has already got a jump start, thanks again to INL, which will break ground on its $30 million, 46,163-square-foot, Research & Education Laboratory complex, across the street from the INL Testing & Demonstration facility.

Day of reckoning approaches. Am I nervous? What do you think?

2012-01-14T11:00:00.001-07:00

Hey, I got my name in the Post Register Friday! It was the first time in a few years, and considering how many times it appeared in the paper as a byline between 1981 and 2008 I didn't expect it to be a big deal, but it was.

I was interviewed for a story about the Dancing With the Idaho Falls Stars benefit at the Civic Auditorium this Wednesday night from 7 to 9. I will be one of four men dancing with partners from Extreme Ballroom. I meet my partner at 2 this afternoon for a crash course. I don't expect to be asked to wear a tear-away tux or a puffy shirt and satin trousers. Rather, I anticipate my main focus will be to smile and stay upright.

As Lindsey Bush's article in the paper stated, the cause is the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. My personal connection is two-fold: my mother-in-law, Evelyn Juell, died of cancer in August; my wife, Karen Juell, is a cancer survivor (Hodgkin's disease, 1985) who is now looking at chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Yes, it's scary, but don't hang the crepe yet. We are determined to fight, for ourselves and for everyone who faces the challenges of cancer. As I said in a previous post, our purpose in this world is to live.

If you want to contribute money to the cause, here is a link: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GW?px=17013538&pg=personal&fr_id=38333. Contrary to what the page says, I have raised $125 so far, thanks to the kind folks at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

If you want to give, bring your checkbook or spare bills to the event Wednesday. Every dime counts. The women will be dolled up, I guarantee. As for me, I own a tux and people say I clean up nicely.

Oh yeah, here's the link to the local Relay for Life Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/idahofallsrelay.

Hope to see you Wednesaday night!

INL team recognized by DOE for energy saving work

2012-01-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman has recognized a five-person team from Idaho National Laboratory with a DOE Sustainability Award for its work to save taxpayers money and reduce energy consumption at laboratory buildings.

The team -- Stephanie Austad, Kimberly Frerichs, Matthew Hammond, Christopher Ischay and Tad Pearson -- was recognized for the following work:

• Coordinating the installation of energy-efficient white roofs on several INL facilities.
• Securing INL's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certification.
• Revising two building design and planning standards to include sustainability concepts.
• Moving from fuel oil to electricity for steam heating at the Materials and Fuels Complex.
• Increasing the availability and use of alternative fuels by more than 62 percent.

These and other activities resulted in annual cost and energy savings at INL of more than $1.6 million, more than one million kilowatt hours of electricity, nearly 600,000 gallons of fuel oil and about 190,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

President Obama in 2009 signed an executive order calling on the federal government to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and implement aggressive energy and water efficiency programs. In response, DOE established its Sustainability Performance Office to implement the goals. In all, DOE Sustainability Awards have been given to 31 teams and individuals for outstanding contributions in managing pollution, waste, energy, water and vehicle fleets.

Sitting tight until word comes from Costco

2012-01-13T12:51:00.001-07:00

Before Christmas we reported that Costco is looking at locations in the Idaho Falls area. That sort of news is BizMojo Idaho's stock in trade, the stuff that keeps people coming back and the kind of story we'd like to break every day.

With January nearly half over, we figured it was time to check in with Brent Wilson of Pentad Properties and ask whether he had any news that might cause mass Pavlovian salivation.

No such luck, but it doesn't mean nothing is happening. Bound by non-disclosure agreeements, Wilson was limited in what he could say except that there are a number of restaurant chains looking at the T.G.I.Friday's location on Hitt Road.

The big question remains Costco, however. Now that the news is out, any company that might be considering a location in Idaho Falls or Ammon is waiting to see what direction the membership warehouse chain makes first. Some sites that might be out of the question now could become very appealing if Costco decides to plop down in the neighborhood.

Such is the psychology of developers. We have no commitment from Costco, true, but the Magic 8 Ball is answering, "Signs point to yes," and that's good enough for them.

Idaho foreclosure numbers down

2012-01-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

As we've come to expect, there's good news and bad news. Yes, foreclosure filings are down, but it's because the brakes were put on robo-signing. The number could climb this year, but isn't expected to be as high as 2010.

Idaho foreclosure filings fell sharply in 2011 Idaho Economy Idaho Statesman

INL scientist receives international award

2012-01-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Donald M. McEligot

Donald M. McEligot, a longtime researcher at the Idaho National Laboratory, received an international leadership award at the recent International Conference on Engineering Education in Belfast, Ireland.

McEligot, a Ph.D. thermal scientist at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, also a Nuclear Science and Technology Division Fellow at INL, received the International Network for Engineering Education and Research's Leadership Award. He was cited "for visionary leadership in innovative research, consistent scholarship through international collaborations and pioneering contributions to engineering."

McEligot's current research for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science studies fundamental fluid physics and how they relate to energy efficiency and sustainability. Previously he received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Heat Transfer Memorial Award, the highest honor given for heat transfer work by that organization. He is the author of more than 60 archival publications and has completed research projects at institutes of higher education in the United States and Europe.

You should not be blogging if ...

2012-01-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

If you're a small business person, at some point you've probably entertained the thought of starting a blog. There can be any number of reasons. You want your customers to be up to date on your latest services and products. You want to boost your online profile. You have interesting things to say.

Fair enough, but I can't tell you how many blogs I've been to where the latest entries are three or six months old. Blogs die because people lose interest, or because people discover how much work they are.

Here is an article that caught my attention this morning, by Jeff Haden of MoneyWatch. If you are a onetime blogger who groans at the thought of how your blog has died and now just sits there, you have my sympathy. If you are blogging only because you've been sold on the idea, here's what Haden has to say.

You should not be blogging if:

You cringe at the thought of writing another post.
Your page views are flat.
You can't quantify a return.
You don't even feel like trying to quantify a return.
Your readers are not customers or potential customers.
Your goal is to provide valuable resources to customers (high-value content should go on your Web site).

For the full article, click on this link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57349641/should-you-stop-blogging/?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea

BizMojo Idaho on the air. Listen in

2012-01-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

I went on the radio for nearly half an hour Tuesday with Tim Lewis. For those of you who may have missed it, here is a link: http://www.eastidahonews.com/2012/01/business-expert-on-idahos-morning-news-w-tim-lewis/

I would love to hear what you think, and if you have any questions we would love to hear them. It was actually a lot of fun, and good promotion for the blog. We will be doing it every Tuesday morning at the top half of the 8 o'clock hour.

Dickey's BBQ shooting for Jan. 27 opening in Idaho Falls

2012-01-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is shooting for a Jan. 27 opening in Idaho Falls, at 2090 East 17th Street (formerly the location of Taco John's).

The restaurant is being developed by B.J. McDougal, and the local franchisees are Bob and Deeanne Wilkins. McDougal said he chose to go with the Dallas-based Dickey's because "Idaho is a meat-and-potatoes kind of state" and because he believes people will respond well to the fast-casual style of service the chain offers.

If they don't make the Jan. 27 deadline, he said the latest they will open is Jan. 31.

Another Dickey's is opening in Nampa in early February, and McDougal and the Wilkinses are planning to open one in Pocatello. McDougal also said they are looking to open in Rexburg and Twin Falls, and that anyone interested in becoming a franchisee should call him at 208-318-6687.

Dickey's was started in 1941 by Travis Dickey, Sr., whose mission statement (if such a thing existed then) was, "Serve the best tastin' barbecue imaginable, just the way people like it. And don't make 'em wait too long to get it." In the past 10 years, the chain has been expanding aggressively across the United States.

Outdoor journalist Kris Millgate expands to talk radio

2012-01-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

KRIS MILLGATE

TV’s outdoor journalist Kris Millgate is taking on radio in 2012. Wake up with Millgate every Wednesday at 6:35 a.m. on Newstalk 690 & 1260. Idaho's Morning News host Tim Lewis will talk with Millgate about outdoor issues and the upcoming stories she’s working on for her weekly TV news segment Time OUT with Kris Millgate

“It’s important to me to add someone to the show that is qualified to present the outdoors as an expert in a way that is enticing to any of us who want to pick up a fishing rod or hop on a snowmobile,” said Lewis, Newstalk Radio program manager. “It’s a natural thing to have Kris talk about what she’s doing outside and then send people to her website to watch what she’s doing.”

Millgate, owner of Tight Line Media, has 15 years of experience in journalism. She holds honors with Outdoor Writers Association of America for Best Outdoor Ethics and President’s Choice. She also has awards from the Idaho Press Club for 1st place in general news, best documentary and environmental coverage.

She also produces several documentaries annually, and she’ll give radio listeners the inside scoop on what it's like to travel around the country filming wildlife in wild places with wild people.

For a direct link to Kris' work, click on the TIME OUT logo that's posted on the right side of this page.

Areva announces $500 million deal

2012-01-09T06:53:00.002-07:00

Areva has made a $500 million deal with Xcel Energy to supply the utility's Monticello nuclear generating plant in Minnesota. This should be good news, right?

Not so fast. For Idaho Falls, the real news may be at the bottom of a story posted Sunday on http://www.coolhandnuke.com/ and written by Dan Yurman, formerly of Idaho Falls, who blogs Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes (http://djysrv.blogspot.com/).

In December, Areva announced that due to a cash crunch it was suspending construction on the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility near Idaho Falls. Now, the French-state owned nuclear company appears to be considering a stake in the Urenco enrichment plant in southern New Mexico. Urenco is a uranium enrichment firm owned by several German utilities and the governments of Great Britain and the Netherlands.

"This new development suggests the firm is taking a page out of the playbook of the beer brewing industry. The way some brewers have boosted production capacity is to simply buy other breweries with existing plants and swap out the product line. ...

"If that is the case, and this is only speculative, then it could be that Areva is thinking it would be a lot cheaper to take an equity stake in an existing uranium enrichment operation, like the one in New Mexico, than to spend $3 billion on a new plant in Idaho."

http://www.coolhandnuke.com/Cool-Hand-Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/92/Areva-inks-500-million-nuclear-fuel-deal-with-Xcel-for-Monticello.aspx

Of Google ads, Slurpees, Soupy Sales and Richard Nixon

2012-01-08T14:14:00.001-07:00

Wow, do I really want to be a 7-11 franchisee?

Every time I see a 7-11, I have to go in and get a Slurpee. I would never go out of my way for an Icee, but the Slurpee is a whole different animal. I would go five miles for one.

I know what you're going to say. You're going to say, "Idiot! They're the same thing -- ice and syrup! And even if there is a difference, what difference does it make?"

You're absolutely right, but you were not the 10-year-old kid in 1966 who rode his Columbia bike (not a Schwinn Stingray, alas) to the 7-11 on Foulk Road practically every day to get a Slurpee. They had just been introduced, and buying one would get you an "I Have Slurped" button, which was very, very cool. To keep things from getting old -- and to keep kids like me coming back -- 7-11 frequently introduced a new button. If you want to see them all, here is a link: http://sites.google.com/site/slurpeebuttons/home/button-gallery.

(Note to self: Does the Internet have a mind of its own, or has it assimilated mine? As I was writing this, I thought to myself, "What would happen if I Googled "I have slurped button"? Look what I got. This is so cool!)

Slurpees, the Polaroid Swinger, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass ... of such things are Baby Boomer memories made.

Soupy Sales (1926-2009)

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994)

You probably want to know what this has to do with anything, so here's the pitch. The reason I started thinking about 7-11 was because Google put this ad at the top of BizMojo Idaho today:

7 11 Franchise Great Franchise Opportunities From 7-Eleven! Invest & Be Your Own Boss Franchise.7-Eleven.com

Yes, Google looked at the content of this blog and decided this belonged at the top, "above the fold." Was it because I have been reporting so much on franchise restaurants? That would be my guess, but I don't suppose it's important.

No matter how much I might want to be a 7-11 franchisee (I don't, really), because of the agreement I made with Google Adsense I am bound by my sacred honor not to click on this ad. That's because anytime someone clicks on a BizMojo Idaho Google ad, a little bit of the pay-per-click money goes to my account. My grand total for December was $6.03, and I'm already on track to beat that this month.

Let me make this perfectly clear: I would never encourage BizMojo readers to indiscriminately click on the Google ads that are conveniently placed all over this blog.

That would be too much like the late Soupy Sales (another icon of my youth), who on New Year's Day 1965 told his young viewers to go into their hungover parents' bedrooms, find the green pieces of paper with pictures of bearded guys on them, and mail them to Ol' Uncle Soup.

He only collected a few dollars, and he got reprimanded by his television station, but the notoriety was priceless.

Anyway, I would never try anything that brazen to enrich myself. No, I would not encourage anyone to take five minutes out of their day to click on every Google ad on my page, holding out perhaps the promise of a epic party sometime this summer.

In the words of former President Richard Milhous Nixon, "Yes, we could do that -- but it would be wrong."

If, however, you find any Google ads on BizMojo Idaho even remotely interesting ("Wind Generators Generate Your Own Power And Save Money. Learn How It's Done Today. DailyLife.com"), I would hardly discourage you from clicking on them. And if you become a 7-11 franchisee, I will be the first customer to buy a Slurpee from you.

Carl's Jr. eyes spring opening; Dickey's taking applications

2012-01-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

Dickey's Barbecue Pit food, artfully arranged.

Here's the latest on new restaurants: It’s most likely going to be spring before the second Carl’s Jr., at North Yellowstone and Holmes, opens its doors. Meanwhile, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, on 17^th Street, is taking job applications.

On Thursday we called Kelly Grieve, spokeswoman for CKE Restaurants, Inc., to find out if an opening date has been set for Carl’s Jr. Driving by earlier in the day, we noticed the framing was well under way. Grieve said the calendar they keep goes out three months, and the second Idaho Falls location isn’t on it yet.

That doesn’t mean it couldn’t be sooner, and I said, “I’ll be checking in with you periodically. People here are very interested in restaurant openings.”

“I know!” she said. “I was ordering flowers for the opening (on 17th Street) and the lady was telling me how excited she was.”

So there you have it, Idaho Falls. Your enthusiasm for chain restaurants is being noted all over the country. Whether it brings Red Lobster, In-n-Out Burger, etc. here any faster remains an open question, but it can't hurt, can it?

Idaho farmers harvest record income in 2011

2012-01-06T08:55:00.001-07:00

The Associated Press reports this morning that farmers and ranchers in Idaho cleaned up in 2011.

The basis for the story is a report released Thursday by the University of Idaho projecting farm cash receipts for 2011 at $7.4 billion, a 29 percent increase compared with 2010 (which wasn't too shabby itself -- farm cash receipts increased that year by 12 percent.)

UI economist Garth Taylor says nearly every crop and livestock sector posted strong gains in 2011. The report shows farm net income, or the money farmers and ranchers kept, fared even better and rose 88 percent last year to $2.6 billion.

The familiar calls for ending farmers' subsidies are bound to start erupting right about now. But in our focus on high tech, retail and home construction, it would be unwise to underestimate multiplier effect of agriculture in a state like Idaho. Farmers and their spouses buy trucks and cars, groceries and clothing, ATVs and DVDs, etc. Imagine what the local economy would be like without agriculture.

The other thing to bear in mind is that while commodity prices have been high, they are cyclical. A strong dollar can dampen exports, and the Euro's problems are driving people to the dollar. Let's hope the rest of Idaho's economy has recovered by the time farm prices crater, as they inevitably do.

Here is a link to the report, called The Financial Condition of Idaho Agriculture: http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/aers/PDF/outlooks/financialcond2011.pdf

Covering the media bases: BizMojo on the air soon

2012-01-05T12:50:00.002-07:00

I recently got an email from Tim Lewis, Riverbend Communications' news program director, asking if I'd like to go on the air with him to talk about local business.

Naturally my answer was yes, for promotional reasons and for the fun of it. Expanding to radio adds another medium to the BizMojo Idaho profile, which already has Web (blog, Facebook and Twitter) and print (Idaho Falls Magazine) in tow. I'm to report for duty Tuesday morning at 8:05. We will be on Newstalk 690 and 1260, on the a.m. dial.

What I'd like in advance is some questions you'd like me to answer or address. Like Shoptalk before it, my approach to this blog is to tell people what they want to know, give it to them short and sweet and make them feel like they're part of the conversation.

Also, please show some understanding if I say "uh" or "y'know" too much as I try to get my thoughts together on the air. I'm glad my mother won't be listening, y'know, because she's been on my case about it for more than 40 years. And for my dear wife's sake, I must remember to irrigate my sinuses.

We're looking at 15 minutes, people. I wonder how long it's going to seem as it happens.

Buddy's gone; Captain's Cove coming

2012-01-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Although we knew in December that Buddy's on Channing Way would be replaced by a seafood restaurant (information courtesy of Linda Jensen Hill of Voigt Davis Realtors), today was the first day we got a look at the new name and logo:

We will keep you posted as more information comes out.

A real professional's guide to goofing off

2012-01-04T08:29:00.001-07:00

I recently read an article about humor in the workplace and my thoughts turned to Rick Davis, my former camp counselor and author of the book "Totally Useless Office Skills."

After several years as a clown with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, Rick became a speaker and presenter on the subject he knows best, goofing off. He and his wife, Jackie, also run the Silver Lining Circus Camp in Temple, N.H. http://www.schoolshows.com/silverlining/index.html

Googling his name didn't give me much, but Googling "Rick Davis useless" took me right to him and his videos on YouTube. Check out his channel when you've got nothing better to do. Rick would be the first to tell you that you undoubtedly have something better to do.

Pocatello Hoku plant gets temporary reprieve

2012-01-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Hoku Corp.'s $390 million plant in Pocatello has received a temporary reprieve.

Idaho Power Co. threatened to shut off electricity after the Honolulu-based polysilicon maker missed a $1.9 million payment in November because of cash problems. But on Tuesday the Idaho Public Utilities Commission announced it will hear the dispute, with arguments set for next week. As long as the case is pending, regulators say Idaho Power can't shut off electricity.

Hoku has warned that losing power in the middle of a freezing winter could jeopardize just-completed facilities. Idaho Power says allowing Hoku to continue to receive electricity without paying its bills puts the utility at risk of losing millions in the deal.

Can this marriage be saved? We'll see. In the meantime, here is some background, found at www.greentechmedia.com

Hoku is a subsidiary of Tianwei New Energy Holdings, an affiliate of China South Industries Group Corp., a mammoth firm with 191,000 employees. Tianwei manufactures polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules. Hoku started out as a fuel cell company, went public in 2005, and in 2011 pivoted into being a solar manufacturer with $2 million in "service and license revenue."

According to its most recent 10-K filing, as of Sept. 30, 2011, Hoku had cash and cash equivalents on hand of $3.2 million and current liabilities of $241.8 million.

Hoku has received $280 million in prepayments from PV panel manufacturers such as Hanwa SolarOne, Tianwei New Energy, Jinko Solar, and a small prepayment from Suntech for polysilicon to be delivered between 2012 and 2016. The SEC 10-K form shows amendments made to the prepayment purchase agreements as the price of polysilicon dropped.

On the last day of 2011, Hoku's stock was trading at $0.57 with a market cap of $31.3 million.

Hoku Corp.'s CFO, Darryl Nakamoto, resigned last week.

Idaho TechLaunch looking for students, entrepreneurs

2012-01-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Are you a student or entrepreneur with a great business idea? You might want to start making plans for Boise in mid-May and Idaho TechLaunch.

It's an annual business pitch contest designed to educate and provide a stage for entrepreneurs and students to practice and hone their pitches in front of the business/investment community. One of its sponsors is the Idaho National Laboratory.

Last year, more than $20,000 in prizes was handed out. Competition is in four categories:

Entrepreneurial Idol - A pitch competition including regional businesses and start-ups on innovative products or services. Participating companies from all Idaho regions give 15 minute pitches with Q&A to a panel of judges that rate both the business viability and presentation.
Next Gen - A pitch contest between participants of regional college and university business plan competitions. Student teams give 10 minute pitches with Q&A to a panel of judges that rate both the business viability and presentation.
Idaho Ideas to Market (I2M) - Market assessments of patented technologies developed at the Idaho National Laboratory. Participating student teams from the region's colleges and universities give 10 minute semester project findings with Q&A to a panel of judges that rate the completenesss of their assessments.
Crowd Pitch - Elevator pitch competition that provides an opportunity for individuals to pitch their idea to TechLaunch participants. In partnership with the Boise State Student Entrepreneur Club, individual entrepreneurs from the public will be selected to give a 1 minute elevator pitch with Q&A to the TechLaunch crowd, which will vote for its favorite pitch.

Here is a link to more information: http://www.idahotechconnect.com/home/techlaunch/

Dancing With the Idaho Falls Stars

2012-01-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Never say that BizMojo Idaho is afraid to plunge into the new year. Two weeks from tomorrow night, at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium, I will be participating in "Dancing With the Idaho Falls Stars," a benefit event for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

The drill is familiar enough. Rank amateurs are paired up with partners who know what they're doing. I hope mine is patient, but with all due modesty I do not expect to be hopeless either. My parents enrolled me in dance lessons when I was in seventh grade, back in the day when it was a suburban custom, and I have watched my share of Fred Astaire movies.

I will remember to smile, and I have been assured that no one has ever humiliated themselves by doing this.

Even if I do make a spectacle of myself, it will be for a cause all of us can get behind. In my case it's particularly close to home, as my wife, Karen Juell, had surgery last month to remove a tumor from her abdomen. It was diagnosed malignant, so we're looking at chemotherapy this spring, not to mention some horrific medical expenses. (Does anyone find it ironic that even with insurance it costs a fortune to get sick in the land of the free?)

Karen has been to the rodeo before. She was treated for Hodgkin's disease in 1985. Next Tuesday we will be celebrating our 26th anniversary, so our message to you is one of hope. Cancer stinks, but we were put on this earth to live, and that is what we intend to do.

If you want to make a donation, here is the link. It would mean a great deal to us to have your support. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GW?px=17013538&pg=personal&fr_id=38333

A new computer and a bright future in sales

2012-01-02T08:47:00.003-07:00

I would like to wish an especially happy new year to all the salespeople reading BizMojo Idaho. Nobody faces a greater challenge in this economy.

Here are some bullet points from a book review of "Up Your Sales in a Down Market," by Ron Volper. I found them interesting, and maybe you will, too.

“Top performing salespeople ask four times as many questions as their less-successful colleagues.”
“If you call prospects cold there is only a 2 percent chance you will speak to them, if you have a referral your odds jump to 20 percent, but if you have an introduction they jump up to 60 percent.”
“Top salespeople write out and practice their sales presentations three times more often than less successful salespeople.”
“Seventy percent of salespeople said they failed to close business because of price, whereas only 45 percent of their customers said price was their main objection.”

That last point sounds particularly intriguing. Here's a link to the full review: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/01/review-up-your-sales-in-a-down-market.html.

Don't say I never did anything for you.

Reader wants Dunkin' Donuts in Idaho Falls; who wants to help her out?

2011-12-31T15:18:00.002-07:00

Lise Pinkham of Idaho Falls wants to know what it's going to take for Idaho Falls to get a Dunkin' Donuts. Having grown up with one within walking distance of my home, I would not mind this either.

More than 25 years ago, at my father's urging, I actually looked into what it would take to bring Dunkin' Donuts to Idaho. My dad, a teacher, had a colleague who'd taken out a second mortgage to buy the Dunkin' Donuts on Concord Pike, Brandywine Hundred's own 17th Street. It was a home run for him, although the downside was he was usually up at 2 a.m. getting things ready for the day. Still, you can't argue with success.

What I learned then was that for Idaho the company wanted a franchisee who would agree to take on three stores. I don't know if it's that way it still is.

Looking online, I see that there are four in Washington but none in Idaho. I can't understand why some investment company hasn't picked up on Dunkin', especially considering the aggressive job it has done marketing its coffee. The devil is in the details, I suppose.

Now that Carl's Jr. and Chick-fil-A are both open, what is going to be the first chain restaurant news of 2012? Let me assure you we will be watching the T.G.I. Friday's location on Hitt Road with an eagle eye.

Pocatello Hoku plant in jeopardy over power bill

2011-12-31T09:42:00.002-07:00

Hoku Materials' Pocatello polysilicon plant, in a photo from 2010.

Hoku Materials' polysilicon plant in Pocatello, a great green energy hope for southeastern Idaho, is in trouble again. The Honolulu company is fighting a termination notice from Idaho Power Co., which is threatening to cut power to the plant next week unless a $1.9 million electricity bill from November is paid.

Hoku filed a protest with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission against the Dec. 27 final termination notice, saying that cutting electricity to the plant would cause Hoku to stop work on the plant and delay indefinitely the plant from becoming fully operational. Such delays would make it difficult for Hoku to fund its operations and keep its 160 employees, the company’s attorneys said in the protest.

In the past three years, Hoku has invested approximately $600 million in the construction of its facilities, including piping systems, pumps, motors and sensitive electronic equipment. "If service is terminated, these high-value systems may freeze, causing irreparable and material damage to Hoku’s plant assets,” the protest said.

Hoku is proposing that Idaho Power take the $1.9 million owed for the November invoice from a $4 million deposit the company made with the utility earlier this year. But in a response Friday, Idaho Power said it could not apply the deposit to the monthly charges because that would violate tariff rules. The electric utility called Hoku’s protest with the IPUC a stalling tactic.

China's Baoding Tianwei Group took a majority ownership in Hoku Materials in 2010 after the plant ran into financial difficulties. Economic development officials have said the plant, dedicated to making materials for solar panels, could create up to 200 green energy jobs in the region.

The city of Pocatello offered a number of incentives for Hoku to locate its site there. For a story about the agreement, follow this link: http://www.bannockdevelopment.org/content/city-hoku-reach-agreement.

Delta Dental names Smith-Putnam to board

2011-12-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Delta Dental of Idaho has named Cindy Smith-Putnam as the newest member of its board of directors.

Cindy Smith-Putnam

Smith-Putnam, executive director of business development, marketing and community relations for Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, was appointed by Delta Dental’s 13-member board in November.

Smith-Putman brings more than 12 years experience in the health care industry to the position, as well as knowledge and experience in business, communications and strategic planning.

“Cindy’s background and expertise will help to expand our board’s collective knowledge and strategic vision for the company,” said Jean De Luca, Delta Dental of Idaho president and CEO.

Idaho Falls Sears, Ammon Kmart spared in first round

2011-12-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Sears Holdings Corp. has released a preliminary list of Sears and Kmart stores to be closed, and the only one in Idaho was a Sears store in Lewiston.

The list, released this afternoon, named 79 stores. The company announced Tuesday it would be closing 100 to 120 stores because of poor performance. Through Christmas, Kmart sales were reported down 4.4 percent and Sears sales were down 6 percent.

The press release said the stores being closed typcially employ 40 to 80 people. Here is a link:

http://searsholdings.com/about/122711_close.pdf

Year-end tax tips for small businesses

2011-12-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Small-business owners really do have an advantage over average taxpayers, so even if it's late don’t let the opportunity to save money slip by.

Here are some to-do items to consider today or tomorrow, courtesy of Mark J. Kohler, author of What Your CPA Isn't Telling You from Entrepreneur Press.:

• Shift income and expenses. Most small-business owners use cash-based accounting. Simply put, that means you don’t pay taxes on income until you receive it, and you don’t get to claim tax write-offs until you spend the money. So if you can, tell your customers they don’t have to rush to pay you before January 1. And pay your January phone bill early. Run the numbers.

• Buy needed equipment now. Federal economic stimulus measures involving Section 179 and the related “bonus depreciation” can allow you to write off the entire purchase price of a smartphone or a copying machine. But the tax benefits will be greatly reduced after December 31, and then mostly go away after 2012. If you’ve been holding off on buying something for the business, do it now.

If you are in the market for a new business vehicle, there are some incredible tax incentives before December 31. Don’t think the vehicle has to be new, either. The federal depreciation deduction on an SUV could be up to $25,000, and even more for large trucks or RVs used for business purposes. If you are a little more “green” in your tastes, the tax credits for electric vehicles are fantastic, too, with a federal credit of up to $7,500.

• Pay your family members. Has Junior been sweeping the store this year for allowance money? You still have time to put your child or other family members on the payroll or issue them a 1099 as a general contractor. Then, you can count the money you gave them as a business expense. Better yet, maybe give your new worker a year-end bonus in the next week. Not only do you get to deduct what you paid your family member, but you also will pay less tax on the amount. Your child will owe a tiny amount of federal income tax, but far less than you would pay at your higher tax rate if you kept the money for yourself.

• Make your holiday vacation pay for itself. If you’re sitting on the beach in Hawaii reading this article on your iPad, something is wrong with you. But I’d say something is really wrong with you if you haven’t scheduled lunch with a client or a similar meeting that will allow you to write off some holiday trip costs as business expenses.

• Set up a 401(k). A 401(k) is far more powerful than an IRA. A person under 50 could save up to $49,000 in a 401(k) this year; the limit for an IRA was $5,000. A self-employed person still has plenty of time to shelter a great deal of retirement savings from taxes. As with an IRA, you can generally make 2011 deposits until the April tax-filing deadline. However, the 401(k) must be created by December 31.

Idaho Falls Carl's Jr.: The Final Countdown

2011-12-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

The day is fast approaching. Mark your calendar for New Year's Eve.

Honestly, I am not working for these guys, but considering the intensity of interest -- no post in the history of BizMojo Idaho has gotten more pageviews -- here is a picture taken this morning of the new Carl's Jr. on 17th Street, due to open Dec. 31.

According to a Twitter post from Monday, "We open New Year's Eve in IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, at 2310 E. 17th St.! Hours are 10am-11pm 12/31 & 1/1, then 6am-11pm daily. Come see us!"

No word on parking lot festivities, but my guess is that things are going to be more low key than the Chick-fil-A opening earlier this month.

Brands come, brands go, what's a person to do?

2011-12-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here's some interesting reading from 24/7 Wall St., in line with the Sears/Kmart news from yesterday. (Still no word on whether the stores in Idaho Falls and Ammon are on the block, but we are keeping tabs.)

Ponder the fortunes of such former winners as American Apparel and Nokia. This article was posted in June, so there's some forward thinking going on here.

Do you still have a MySpace page out there gathering dust in the void? I do, but I wouldn't know how or where to begin to find it. Is there such a thing as an online janitorial service? It would be a lot of work, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some genius out there coming up with an elegant solution even as I write this.

There's an interesting story about Bill Gates and a reporter who asked him in 1998 what he feared the most. Microsoft was at the peak of its profitability, and the reporter expected Gates to answer with the name of some big competitor -- Netscape, Cisco, IBM or whatever. Gates, a brilliant guy no matter what you think of him, replied he was most afraid of two guys in a garage somewhere with an idea that was going to turn everything on its head. At the time, very few people had heard about Google, which was being hatched by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in a garage in Menlo Park, Calif.

http://247wallst.com/2011/06/22/247-wall-st-ten-brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/4/

Sears, Kmart stores on chopping block

2011-12-27T10:31:00.001-07:00

Sears Holdings Corp. announced this morning it will be closing 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores after poor sales during the holidays. No word on whether this will include the Sears store in the Grand Teton Mall or the Kmart on 17th Street, but we will be monitoring the news as it develops.

The Sears store in the Grand Teton Mall.

After booming holiday sales for many retailers, the parent company revealed Tuesday that Kmart sales were down 4.4 percent through Christmas Day. Sears sales were down 6 percent.

In the past, Sears Holdings has attempted to prop up failing stores. This time, the focus will be on cutting weak stores loose and focusing on locations where sales are stronger.

In a news release, the Sears Holdings' CEO Lou D'Ambrosio said, "Given our performance and the difficult economic environment, especially for big-ticket items, we intend to implement a series of actions to reduce on-going expenses, adjust our asset base and accelerate the transformation of our business model. These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers and members through integrated retail - at the store, online and in the home."

Sears expects to generate $140 to $170 million of cash as the net inventory in these stores is sold plus the sale or sublease of the related real estate. D'Ambrosio said the company plans better inventory management and more targeted pricing and promotion.

Here is a link to the Web page where the store closing list will be posted: http://www.searsmedia.com/

A holiday message from the BizMojo Idaho pulpit

2011-12-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Has anyone seen the new game show called "You Deserve It"? I think it is about as emblematic of our present day as anything I've seen recently.

It involves people going on TV to compete for the sake of friends or relations who are facing ruin because of their medical bills. For my own part, I think all of us deserve a health care system that doesn't hold the prospect of bankruptcy over the head of anyone who has the bad form to get sick or hurt. But let's go down that road some other day.

Since it's Christmas, let's address instead the question of who deserves what, if anything. This seems to be such a big concern for lots of Americans.

Take for example the Post Register's Goodfellow Fund, which I applaud for setting a new record this year. Money goes directly to local charities, which is great. Yet for the longest time (and perhaps even now), it advertised itself as helping people who are "down on their luck through no fault of their own."

In other words, "Relax, your donation is not going to be used to help lowlifes." Did they really need to say that? Apparently they felt they did.

When Jesus, whose alleged birth we celebrate today, fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes, I don't recall him saying to anyone, "Take a hike. I know what you've been up to. You don't deserve this." The Beatitudes do not say, "Blessed are the deserving poor," and in Mark 10:18, he went as far as to say, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God."

Jesus came into the world to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and for the forgiveness of sins. He was not hung up on qualifications.

A lot of politicians have gotten themselves elected by appealing to Middle America's obsession with the notion that someone out there -- a welfare queen, an illegal alien, even a public school teacher -- is getting something he or she doesn't deserve, and that it's being paid for with tax dollars. The people who want us to focus on that have a lot of money to spread that message, way more than any church or organization that says our society should reflect ideals of equity and mercy.

This blessed day, enjoy your presents, your turkey or your tenderloin (which is on the menu at my house; I can't believe what it cost.) Be lavish with yourselves and each other, as God is lavish with grace and the peace that passes all understanding. None of us really deserve these things, which means all of us do.