East Idaho Entrepreneurs: Cameron C. Taylor

NOTE: Each Monday BizMojo Idaho will feature a small business profile from East Idaho Entrepreneurs, Renae Oswald's podcast focused on local people in business. This week's profile is Cameron C. Taylor.

'How Long Until I'm the CEO?'

Cameron C. Taylor

When Cameron C. Taylor was looking for an internship he interviewed with FranklinCovey. During the interview he asked them, “How long until I'm the CEO? What do I have to do to be the CEO of the company?” He told them if he was working there, his goal would be to be the CEO. After learning that it would take 30 to 40 years, he decided the best way to get what he wanted was to have his own company.

While attending BYU, he listened to a lecture series where entrepreneurs explained their businesses and he was intrigued. He already had a side business and was making some money, so the thought of being an entrepreneur made him excited. The MBA program that he was enrolled in required him to sign an agreement that he would not have any side businesses or a job. That wasn't going to work for him, so he gave up the MBA and took a leap of faith.

He had no idea what he was going to do. Cameron admits that he is a natural visionary, “I've always had that sense … trying to envision what it will look like.” He knew he'd always been comfortable with sales, so he started a sales training and development company. One of his first big clients breached the contract and did not pay for tens of thousands of dollars of product.

“I had nothing, and all that was funded on credit cards,” he said. He didn't have the cash flow to save that business, so he had to walk away. He moved in with his brother and decided to start over.

At this point, he knew he needed to get a job. He had debt and no income. He had a wife and new expenses. Looking for a job, he went six months without any offers. “I graduated from the top of my class at business school,” he explained, “and no one wanted me.”

It was during this time where he said he started asking God for something different. He realized that he wasn't asking the right question when he was asking for God to help him find a job. Now he always asks, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” He realizes now that not getting a job was a blessing but it didn't feel like it at the time. The answer that God gave him was to start a business doing a lecture series on leadership and entrepreneurship for BYU.

He'd had some experience at the university and some contacts, so he pitched it and he was surprised when it was approved. One of the entrepreneurs that lectured during the series approached Cameron to implement an idea. The entrepreneur agreed to put up the money if Cameron would come and build the business. He believes he was guided and said, “when I tried to do what I wanted to do I can't get a $6/hr job, but when I do what God wants me to do it happens.” He and his partner built this company from negative cash flow the first year to multi-million dollar business where he was winning awards and getting recognition.

There were times that first year that he wondered if it was going to work. “I even looked at the job boards,” he said, “then I thought, 'I don't want a job.'” Even to this day, he has nightmares about working for someone else. He attributes his success to taking his guidance from God. His practice was to take his first hour of the day to meditate and pray. He says this is the secret to success

During this journey he has always felt led to write books. “I love that writing and creating of materials,” he says. He wrote a book when he was 23 and he also was a ghostwriter for another author. This experience was the foundation for writing the book, Does Your Bag Have Holes? 24 Truths That Lead to Financial and Spiritual Freedom. That was the beginning of his authoring and publishing multiple books, and he continues to write today. “Writing is a part of my ministry, it's part of my charitable efforts. I knew we were going to be giving a lot of these away.” Because of this, he started his own publishing company. It is his venue to share and teach

When giving advice to others who are thinking about going into business he encourages people to turn to God and see yourself as He sees you. He believes that even though he didn't always believe in himself, God did and he can put his faith and trust there. “This is where the confidence comes from,” he says.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Rizo's Pizza closing; MOD Pizza coming in April

Rizo's Pizza in Ammon will be closing Feb. 22.

By Rhett Nelson
Reprinted from East Idaho News

After nearly four years, Rizo’s Pizza in Ammon is closing its doors. Seattle-based MOD Pizza recently bought the restaurant and will be moving in early April. Rizo’s last day of operation will be Saturday, Feb. 22.

Rizo's Owner Jamie Rhoda told EastIdahoNews.com he has decided to pursue other interests that make sense for his family at this time. “Many of you know the trials our family has been going through over the past year and 10 months. We can’t thank the community enough for supporting us over the years,” Rhoda says.

The interior of MOD Pizza in downtown Boise

Rhoda’s son, Truette, was killed in a motorcycle accident during a trip to Utah in April 2018. The events of that day still weigh heavily on Rhoda’s mind, but he says he and his family are “hanging in there.” Rhoda did not say what he’s planning to do next, but he is looking forward to turning a page and beginning a new chapter in life. And even though the business is closing, he says he’s not going anywhere. “We will continue to be part of this amazing community in other ventures and look forward to seeing all of our friends and customers that we’ve had the privilege to serve at Rizo’s,” he said.

Meanwhile, MOD Pizza is eager to open its second eastern Idaho location. The company opened its store in Pocatello in early 2019, and also has locations in Twin Falls and the Boise area.

Renovations will begin soon after Rizo’s last day of business. The remodel will include the installation of a new oven along with several additional updates.

“Rizo’s has created a wonderful gathering place for the community of Ammon, and we’re honored to be able to continue this legacy,” MOD Pizza Real Estate Director Greta Pass said in a news release.

Someone with connections to MOD Pizza approached Rhoda shortly after he made the decision to close. After learning about their business model, he says it just seemed like a good fit. “This worked out very beneficially for both of us,” Rhoda said. “We’re very happy with it, and so are they. It was a great fit.”

MOD Pizza's menu offers a variety of artisan-style pizzas made on-demand, using freshly-pressed dough and signature sauces. Customers create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of more than 30 toppings. The menu is rounded out with the signature MOD “No Name Cake,” hand-spun milkshakes, house-made lemonades and iced teas, and beer and wine.

Scott and Ally Svenson founded MOD Pizza in Seattle 12 years ago after searching for quick, affordable and healthy dining options for their busy family. Today, there are more than 470 locations nationwide.

“Their pizza is great. They embrace their local communities and make sure their employees are the No. 1 priority,” Rhoda said. All 15 of Rizo’s employees will be able to apply for employment with MOD.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the Rhoda family during this transition, and their warm spirit will certainly live on at MOD,” Pass said.

In the final days of business, Rhoda wants to say thank you to all his customers. From now until Feb. 22, anyone who walks in and says the code word “True Blue” in honor of Truette will get a large pizza for $6.99 or a personal pizza for $3.99.

Rizo’s Pizza is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

When it opens, MOD Pizza's hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

East Idaho Entrepreneurs: Colter Hansen, Arcane Marketing

NOTE: Each Monday BizMojo Idaho will feature a small business profile from East Idaho Entrepreneurs, Renae Oswald's podcast focused on local people in business. This week's profile is Colter Hansen of Arcane Marketing.

 

Attention to Detail

Colter Hansen

As the CEO of Arcane Marketing, Colter Hansen says he does not leave anything to chance. “Going through the merger of all those companies has been no small task,” Colter says. “We all define success differently, whether in personal or professional lives ... I really like to see my team succeed.”

Colter believes that since they have done the work around roles and responsibilities it has provided needed clarity for leadership and they can provide that structure for their employees to be successful. “It's taking people places, and we want to take them places,” Colter says.

“The entrepreneurial mindset has always been with me,” he says. Colter started a landscape company when he was 16 and also hired employees. “I love seeing a finished product, the deliverable is just so much fun for me.” Seeing the outcome of hard work has always been important to Colter, and he believes that's what drives him to be a good businessman.

Upon returning from a church mission, Colter sought the advice of a successful businessman and asked him what he should do for his career. He said, “It doesn't matter, just create value.” From that, Colter started a real estate career and invested in properties. He was doing this while attending college. During his real estate investing education he loved the practical application of what he was learning. Having early success with investing he was able to form some critical relationships that helped propel him forward in his career.

His career has not been without setbacks. In 2010 he says he got his "Harvard-cost-equivalent" education after a property investment went bad and he lost six-figures-plus. “I'm able to look back at that and understand the due diligence pieces that I missed,” he said. “Not everyone who you talk to and tells you the flowery story has the right flowery story.” This experience taught him to do the absolute best for every client and follow through with what his customers are told.

Being the first international accountant hired out of school to work for Melaleuca provided him the ability to learn how to structure his own personal business from experts. He worked in the corporate world for several years and loved it, but grew tired of the travel and being away from his family. This is what led him to fully branch out on his own, partnering with Ryan Harris in Strategic Social Partners, which is now Arcane Marketing.

Colter's advice for those interested in being business owners is, “Relationships are the priceless piece of life, there's no relationship worth any amount of money to sacrifice,” he said. “The risks are that sometimes things don't go as planned ... we do the absolute best we can. ... There's risk and reward ... as long as you can sleep at night because you were honest with those you dealt with and did your absolute best.”

Information
For more information on Arcane Marketing check out their website at https://www.arcanemarketing.com/. For more information on RizeCon or RizeX, go to their site at https://www.rizex.io/.

Bioplastics company BioLogiQ plans warehouse on Professional Way

Brad LaPray, BioLogiQ CEO

It looks like there will be some major construction on Yellowstone Highway south of Sunnyside Road, with BioLogiQ planning a new warehouse on Professional Way.

According to the building permit application filed Jan. 27, the Idaho Falls company has plans for a 31,180-square-foot warehouse. The job value is estimated at $1,571,904, and the applicant is Streamline Precision Contracting of Burley. The site plan show an area marked out to the north for future building.

BioLogiQ is a bioplastics company started in 2011 by Brad LaPray, an Idaho native who grew up working in fields but left for the East Coast for 20 years. According to the company website, LaPray started BiologiQ with the intent of creating a useful plastic from excess starch created during potato processing. This led to the invention of NuPlastiQ BioPolymers and technology that enables plastic manufacturers to use their existing equipment to make sustainable plastic products.

In 2017, several farms, including Wada Farms, launched production programs to sell fresh potatoes in bags made from the company's "Tater Made®" logo that were made from BioLogiQ's NuPlastiQ resin at Wal-Mart supercenters. In addition to its headquarters in Idaho Falls, BioLogiQ has offices in Hong Kong and Shaoguan City, in China’s Guangdong Province.


To read an interview LaPray gave BioMarket Insights in 2019, follow this link: Bringing the Humble Potato Into the New Plastics Economy.

East Idaho Entrepreneurs: Cody Hellickson, Snake River Solace

NOTE: Each Monday BizMojo Idaho will feature a small business profile from East Idaho Entrepreneurs, Renae Oswald's podcast focused on local people in business. This week's profile is Cody Hellickson of Snake River Solace.

Aficionado

Cody Hellickson

When Cody Hellickson was a kid he never saw himself as an expert in CBD and the hemp plant. His life was challenging with his biological parents and he was adopted by his grandparents and moved to Idaho. His journey of growing up has led him to a business that he is very passionate about and he spends much of his time educating those around him about what he does.

Snake River Solace is one of East Idaho's first CBD companies. Cody provides CBD products by sourcing the main product out of state and then combining it in Idaho with other ingredients for distribution. These products include oral tincture, pet CBD spray, topical ointment, gummies, and tea. Cody is clear to say that all of their products are tested by their Montana lab to assure that no THC is in the product. Cody explained that since the company makes it's own product the cost is controlled as compared to other sources.

“Idaho is so stigmatized by the word cannabis,” Cody says, “CBD is derived from a molecule that is a cannabinoid that can … help the human body or an animal.” He ardently defends that as American's we should have the right to products that will improve the human condition, especially pain, insomnia, anxiety and other ailments that CBD has been known to help.

Cody is very passionate about educating the community and those who don't know or have a bias against CBD. He has dedicated hundreds of hours to learn all he can about cannabis, hemp, and isolated chemicals such as CBD. He's proud to say that his customers receive this expertise when they buy from him. He only sells CBD products and his shop is comfortable and family-friendly.

Due to Federal regulations around selling cannabis products, financing from banks, and even having a business bank account, is not allowed for the type of business Cody has. When he started his business he approached private investors to help him get his vision launched. “They knew me and believed in me,” Cody says. Snake River Solace has two locations in Idaho Falls and Pocatello currently. Just recently he was able to secure the ability to take credit card payments, another limitation put on his industry.

In advising anyone who would be interested in being a business owner he says, “There are going to be a lot of obstacles ... if you feel you have a good idea, have a passion behind that idea, are educated ... do it for the service.”

He has visions to assist the agriculture community when hemp is legal to farm. “It's not about a money factor, it's about a legacy or a history of getting Idaho involved and up with the rest of America,” he explained.

Despite the challenges that having a CBD company has created, Cody said he loves it and wouldn't want to do anything else right now. The future for Cody is represent CBD in Idaho and to be a resource for anyone curious about the product.

Information

For more information on Snake River Solace, visit their website at https://snakeriversolace.com/.

Bonneville Hotel in downtown Idaho Falls officially open

The facade of the Bonneville Hotel, in downtown Idaho Falls. The roof deck at the second level will be accessible to both commercial and residential occupants and will include landscaping and exterior amenities for dining, events and relaxation.

The kitchen in one of the apartments

The newly renovated Bonneville Hotel at Park Avenue and Constitution Way held a ribbon-cutting and open house Thursday, showing off an urban renewal project years in the making.

If you want to rent an apartment there you’re probably going to have to wait. All but three of the building’s 34 units — one studio apartment and two one-bedroom apartments — had been rented, said Amy Raymond, resident manager for The Housing Co.

Raymond said rent for a studio is $515/month, $606 for a one-bedroom and $708 for a two-bedroom unit. “We have such a great mix of people, from young people to retirees,” she said.

The project was announced by the Idaho Falls Redevelopment Agency, which administers money collected from the city’s urban renewal districts. IFRA put out a request for proposals in early 2016 and selected developers later that year. The winning proposal, from THC, called for a mixed-use development with commercial, retail, restaurant and residential spaces. THC was responsible for the restoration of the Whitman Hotel in Pocatello, and manages more than 1,500 units, currently assessed at over $48 million.

The cost of the project was estimated at $10 million. Approximately $440,000 will be funded by the agency, while the majority of the funding is coming from housing and historic preservation tax credits.

Built in 1927 by a group of community investors, the Bonneville was once the crown jewel of downtown Idaho Falls, but had fallen into disrepair by the turn of the millennium. The renovation required the removal of all existing plumbing and delivery lines and soil lines, down to the basement and from the basement to the street’s main discharge line. All electrical wiring and fixtures were removed and discarded except for any fixtures with historical value, which were sent out for repair and rewiring.

Lee Radford, chairman of the Redevelopment Agency, said they are very pleased with the results. “It’s what we were looking for,” he said. “It’s hard to say how long we’ve been talking about this.”

Time was of the essence, because the urban renewal district that made it possible was phased out in the fall of 2018. Idaho’s urban renewal law allows for tax increment financing in areas that wouldn’t otherwise lend themselves to economically feasible development. Basically, a property owner pays normal taxes on unimproved property, but taxes on any improvements are diverted to the redevelopment agency and the city to pay for infrastructure, e.g. curb and gutter, water and sewer, and electrical. Tax increment financing has help boost projects such as Snake River Landing and Taylor Crossing on the River, as well as the hotels on Lindsay Boulevard.

“We were always getting input from the community that they want us to do this,” Radford said. “If you have a strong center, everybody benefits from it.”

INL receives high Corporate Equality Index score

Idaho National Laboratory received a score of 95% on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's premier benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. This is five points higher than the 2019 score and makes INL once again the highest scoring business in Idaho. INL’s score reflects a commitment to LGBTQ workplace equality through tangible policies, benefits and practices.

“The impact of the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index over its 18-year history is profound. In this time, the corporate community has worked with us to adopt LGBTQ-inclusive policies, practices and benefits,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do -- it is also the best business decision.”  

Key policies that earned INL a top score include:

• Support an inclusive culture for everyone.
• Offer equitable benefits for LGBTQ employees and their families including transgender-inclusive health-care coverage.
• Aligned philanthropic grant process with our business strategy that charitable organizations receiving INL grants must be inclusive of all people.
• Provided vendors the option to self-identify as an LGBTQ-owned business.
• Updated relocation policy to encompass immediate family, which includes domestic partners.

“I’m proud that the Corporate Equality Index has once again recognized INL as a top inclusive employer. We’re dedicated to ensuring workplace equality for everyone and being a vocal advocate for equality inside and outside the laboratory by aligning our community giving and outreach to our business values,” said Juan Alvarez, INL deputy laboratory director for Management and Operations and chief operating officer.

The 2020 CEI evaluates LGBTQ-related policies and practices including nondiscrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health-care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. For more information on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Idaho Falls Regional Airport hits record numbers in 2019

The Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) continues to break passenger records, with 30,093 more people using the airport in 2019 over 2018.

The 2019 passenger count total for IDA was 352,093, which broke the previous record of 328,364, set in 2014. The 2019 numbers are the highest numbers in the airport’s history.

The total number of enplanements -- passengers getting on flights -- in 2019 was 177,168, up from 161,019 in 2018.

“These are all numbers we have received from the air carriers that serve the airport,” said IDA Director Rick Cloutier. “These will be reported to the FAA by the airlines and are the numbers used by the FAA to categorize airports and help determine the levels of federal funding available to us.”

Those numbers represent a 9% increase in air travelers going through IDA in 2019. That is on top of an additional 9% increase that the airport saw from 2017 to 2018.

“A lot of factors go into accounting for those increased numbers,” said Cloutier. “Overall, this just demonstrates that we have a very healthy amount of business and leisure travel going on here. I think that we can continue to expect those numbers to get even better with the recent changes we’ve implemented and the improvements that we’ll continue to see here over the next few years.”

The airport recently added new restaurant services and will also begin construction soon on a terminal expansion. This expansion will add a three new gates and added area in the security screening and gate areas. The airport also recently opened its brand new and upgraded baggage claim and improved airport security service with the TSA Pre Check line for approved passengers.

In addition, IDA recently announced that United Airlines will begin providing a fifth daily flight to Denver for the first time in the airport’s history. United has also announced that they are increasing the size of the aircraft for two of those daily flights, adding 102 new seats daily, or 50 percent more capacity to the Denver destination. The new, larger aircraft also will add a first class seating section that has not previously been available.

“The more people using the airport, the more services airlines are inclined to offer in terms of plane size, destinations and pricing,” Cloutier said. “As they see the growth here they want to provide more services and more destinations.  That will mean a lot more options for east Idaho and the surrounding region.”

New to BizMojo Idaho: East Idaho Entrepreneurs

This week I'm happy to announce a new relationship with East Idaho Entrepreneurs, a podcast started in 2018 by Renae Oswald. I was not aware of the work she has been doing until a few weeks ago, when I saw a link on Facebook. When I saw it, it reminded me of the weekly business profiles I did for the Post Register when I was the business reporter, albeit on a 21st century platform. When I reached out to her to compliment her on her work, we decided that we might be able to help each other.

As a result, I'm going to be reprinting her content weekly and posting links to her website in hopes of getting her more recognition. From my end, good, original content is like gold, so this is something that will add value to BizMojo Idaho.

Here is EIE's most recent posting, about Logan and Bobby Thomas of High Country Cleaning. The link to the podcast is at the bottom, or you can go to it here.

Born to Create

Logan and Bobby Thomas

Both Logan and Bobby Thomas started their entrepreneurial journey when they were preteens. Logan had a lawn care business and Bobby raised chickens and sold their eggs. When they found each other while attending college, they knew they were the perfect fit and could see their lives being that of an entrepreneurial couple.

Logan started High Caliber Cleaning while attending college. At that time it was a mobile car cleaning service and Bobby said, “he had a vacuum and a sponge, that's all he had. He'd do details for people and go to school.” At the same time, Bobby was a financial advisor and really loved her job. After they got married they realized that their careers were taking them opposite directions and so Bobby decided to quit her job and join the business full-time

“I was all about the datasheets and the finances and the money and the business aspect,” Bobby said, “(Logan's) always been a big risk-taker.” Ever since they've combined their efforts they have grown the business and see how they are creating their future together. She shared that making the sacrifice to give up her career track was worth it. “I feel like millenials have big dreams and aspirations, what sets us apart is that we are serious about our success.”

“Entrepreneurship is something you are born with ... you don't learn how to never give up. That's something you are born with,” Bobby said. Both Logan and Bobby were raised by parents who taught them how to work and if they wanted something that they needed to go get it. Bobby feels that helps to make them the perfect match and set them up for success. “They were creating these powerhouses,” she said.

Working together as a couple has presented it's own challenges, but Bobby and Logan feel that they are good complements to each other. Bobby admits that she looks at things very different from Logan but they are able to balance each other out. “The first year … that was tough,” she said, “I think it made us stronger and it keeps building.” Bobby feels that being humble and vulnerable together has helped them be successful.

Watching other couples and their success in the 9 to 5 sometimes makes them wonder if entrepreneurship was the right decision. She admits the security would be nice at times but says, “the more secure you are the less opportunity you have. There's so much opportunity out there, that opportunity would be capped if I was working a 9 to 5.

High Caliber Cleaning is looking to expand to Boise and Bobby and Logan see their future in real estate. The future is bright for them and their determination feels like it will fuel them to their next big steps

Information
For more information on High Caliber Cleaning go to https://www.idahofallscardetailing.com/.
Thank you to Disruptive Productions for editing the show. Check them out at https://disruptiveproductions.com/.

Bank of Idaho names interim Trust and Wealth manager

Jeremy Parkinson

Jeremy Parkinson has been named Bank of Idaho's interim Trust and Wealth Department Manager. He assumed responsibilities Jan. 6.

Parkinson takes over for Hal Peterson, who will retire on April 30. During the interim, Peterson will assist in the transition.

Parkinson began work at Bank of Idaho in March. He came aboard as part of the bank's expansion into the Treasure Valley, and is located at their downtown Boise office.

Bank President and CEO Jeff Newgard said that from the start, he could see Parkinson's potential as a team leader. "He's a very knowledgeable, dynamic trust officer. But beyond that, you don't have to spend long with the guy to realize that his passion for his work is intense," Newgard said.

Parkinson has instituted a slate of internal upgrades to help the trust department be more closely attuned to clients' needs. "The trust department is at a point where we can take things to the next level," he said. "Internally, we're going to implement some new technology and efficiency measures that'll help us serve our clients better."

Peterson has been at the helm of the bank's trust department since its inception in 1999. He plans to spend his retirement with his family on the trails and waterways near his cabin in Island Park.

Bank of Idaho, established in 1985, has seen strong recent growth. The Idaho Falls-based bank has broadened its footprint to include community banking in the Treasure Valley, where two full-service branches and one loan production office have been established within the past year. The company recently completed a capital campaign to support more anticipated growth and began
listing its stock for public trade on the OTC-QX market under the symbol BOID.

Longhorn Steakhouse planned for former Famous Dave's location

Famous Dave's on West Broadway is now just a memory.

We've had a few questions about Famous Dave's on West Broadway, which is undergoing a remodel and will no longer be Famous Dave's. Before long, it will be a Longhorn Steakhouse.

Famous Dave's closed its doors in September 2019. On Jan. 13 this year the city of Idaho Falls approved the building permit application filed on behalf of Jim Powell Darden Restaurants of Orlando, Fla., which also owns the Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains. The remodel value is estimated at $1.25 million.

While you were chowing down on ribs and cornbread at Famous Dave's, the company was in trouble. In 2017, with profits sliding and five CEOs in as many years, the Minneapolis-based chain announced plans to refranchise its entire company footprint. It trimmed corporate stores from 35 to 16, and had just 17 at the end of fiscal 2018. “We intend to strategically refresh the stores in these markets and believe that higher efficiencies at these locations will result in higher cash flows from previous levels while under franchise ownership,” CEO Jeff Crivello said in a press release.

More information can be found at this link: https://www.fsrmagazine.com/chain-restaurants/famous-daves-buys-back-stores-profit-slips.

In June last year, the company announced a partnership with Beyond Meat and plans to launch a test of plant-based protein menu items in Colorado and Minnesota.

Longhorn Steakhouse currently has one restaurant in Boise.

Thanks to BizMojoIdaho reader Brent Colborn for this heads up and also reports that the old Puerto Vallarta on Hitt Road is being remodeled into Cosmo Professional Beauty Supply.

INL to set up commercialization center, 'Trailhead East,' in Idaho Falls

By Sharon Fisher
Reprinted from Idaho Business Review


Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has received a one-year grant to set up a center to facilitate the creation of commercial products from technologies developed from research at the lab, modeled after and partnering with Boise’s Trailhead incubator space.

In homage, the space will be called Trailhead East @ Idaho National Lab.

“There’s not a huge innovation ecosystem in Idaho Falls,” said Jim Keating, commercialization and entrepreneurial programs manager for INL. “We want to play an integral role.”

How the project came about
The project is receiving funding through Practices to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technology (PACT) from the Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions, after a call for proposals about six months ago. The project received $175,000 from PACT, plus INL and Trailhead are contributing $96,000 of in-kind contributions, for a total budget of $271,000.

While the grant will last for only this year, the lab is looking on this as a pilot in the hopes that it will attract industry partners and become self-sustaining, Keating said, adding that it was the only project of its kind to receive PACT funding.

The initial cohort – for which the lab is now taking applications – will be five teams, each of which will receive $15,000 to begin to identify customers or industrial partners, Keating said. That amount largely pays for the staffers’ time to be away from the lab to conduct customer interviews and refine their business model, using the Stanford University Lean Launchpad method, he said.

“It’s a really effective approach,” he said. “Instead of spending millions to develop technology, first you validate that there’s a market.”

The program itself is considered a continuation of the Energy Innovation Corps. (I-Corps.), a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy that is intended to help engineers and scientists from national labs commercialize technologies they have developed, Keating said.

Of the five cohorts, two teams will be chosen, each of which will receive $28,000 to continue the process of developing a market for the technology. Part of that process will be to attend a pitch competition in Boise in early December.

“We’re hoping with one of the two teams that at least one will land an industrial partner,” Keating said.

Teams could also attend Boise Startup Week, he added.

Dana Briggs

Effect on Idaho Falls
Keating said the center is also expected to help expand Idaho Falls’ economic development opportunities.

Dana Briggs, economic development director for Idaho Falls, said she is happy that INL received grant funding “to move forward projects that help the technologies developed at INL serve market needs.”

“I personally have been impressed with the work Trailhead Boise does and am excited that Idaho National Laboratory will be partnering with them to foster our local innovation ecosystem,” she said in an email message.

While Idaho Falls already has the Idaho Innovation Center, which is currently in the process of raising money to construct a new building, this project is different and complementary, Keating said.

“This isn’t done in exclusion,” he said. “Any time you’re building an ecosystem, the more the merrier. We need all efforts.”

Keating also noted that the INL workers intended to be participating in Trailhead East are different.

“These are not your typical entrepreneur who can quit their job and start a company,” he said.
Much of the work they will be doing at Trailhead East will be customer validation and interviews with people from industry.

“A lot of technology requires considerable effort transferring it from the lab to business,” he said.

Local home prices increase, outpacing national numbers

The Idaho Falls Metropolitan Statistic Area shows normal valuation on CoreLogic's map.

Looking at the CoreLogic HPI report for November 2019 and comparing it with data from the Snake River Multiple Listing Service, home prices in Bonneville County increased at nearly three times the national rate.

CoreLogic, out of Irvine, Calif., reported home prices increased for the year by 3.7%. Snake River MLS’s marketing statistics show the median home price in Bonneville County through November was $221,050, up from $196,820 — an increase of 12.31%.

Idaho ranked first in home price change, registering 10.2%. And while Bonneville County showed up on the map, the hottest market in the state remains Treasure Valley. To the south, Utah showed an increase of 6.7%

The CoreLogic HPI Forecast indicates that home prices will increase by 5.3% on a year-over-year basis from November 2019 to November 2020. On a month-over-month basis, home prices are expected to increase by 0.2% from November 2019 to December 2019. The CoreLogic HPI Forecast is a projection of home prices using the CoreLogic HPI and other economic variables. Values are derived from state-level forecasts by weighting indices according to the number of owner-occupied households for each state.

During the second quarter of 2019, CoreLogic, together with RTi Research of Norwalk, Connecticut, conducted an extensive survey measuring consumer-housing sentiment among millennials. The study showed that a significant number of older millennials (ages 30-38) are strongly considering moving within the next 12 months, with 64% of this cohort expecting to purchase a home, reinforcing this group’s interest in the housing market. Meanwhile, 57% of younger millennials (ages 21-29) plan on renting their next home. Despite the purchase intent among older millennials, nearly half (43%) still view homeownership as unaffordable and out of reach.

Commercial real estate firm TOK launches rebranding

Signs around town on properties listed by Thornton Oliver Keller, the Boise-based commercial real estate firm, are going to be getting a new look soon. The 29-year old firm announced Thursday that it is rebranding, shortening its name to TOK and changing its logo.

The firm has enjoyed rapid expansion over the last several years and is positioning itself for further growth with the new look, a company press release said. The aim of the rebranding is to eliminate complexity and dated iconography and offer TOK a fresh identity for its signage, advertising, websites and social media channels.

“It seemed like a logical time to take this step. We wanted to have a branding platform that was able to reflect our growing size and scale,” said TOK Managing Partner Michael Ballantyne. “Thornton Oliver Keller’s name and logo has long enjoyed tremendous brand recognition and value, but increasingly has served as a source of confusion, as we are now most commonly referred to as TOK.”

While still in the beginning stages of the rollout, thus far TOK has shared key pieces of information about the repositioning effort through a dedicated website, an internal email campaign, and its social media channels and hashtag (#ItsTOK).

From tenant and landlord representation to acquisitions, property management, and advisory services, TOK brokerage and property management teams operate out of Boise, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls and serve clients in several western states, including Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Nevada and Utah.

First 2020 building permit, site plans filed in Idaho Falls

Back in the day, newspapers made a big deal over the first baby born in the new year, with local merchants contributing useful and playful things to help the parents welcome their new offspring into the world.

We have no gifts, but in the same spirit BizMojo Idaho is happy to present the first Idaho Falls building permit application of 2020. Named Permit #COM20-0001, it is for remodeling of the Teton Home Health Wellness Center at 2470 Jafer Court, off 25th East, just north of MorningStar Senior Living of Idaho Falls. The application was made Jan. 2 at 12:47 p.m.

Based on square footage, the job value is estimated at $500,000. Total fees amount to $5,339.12. The owner is listed as Hansen and Harper LLC of Ammon, and the remodel is being done by Tallman Construction and Design, also of Ammon.

Teton Home Health has been around since February 1993, when it was certified as a Medicare and Medicaid services provider. Its Medicare certified services include nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and home health aides.

The first site plan of 2020 was filed Jan. 3 by OE Connect Engineering of Idaho Falls for Freeman Apartments. The owner is listed as Teton Vista Homes of Eagle, Idaho. The complex is planned for the property south of Bowl-ero Lanes and Planet Doom and east of the U.S. Post Office on Fourth Street. The plan shows six buildings, each roughly 4,725 square feet in size and containing eight units.

So there you have it. It's a new decade. Best wishes for a prosperous and exciting 2020.

Megaplex project announced for Snake River Landing

The Megaplex at Jordan Commons, in Sandy, Utah

Ball Ventures and the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies announced today a joint venture to develop a new Megaplex Theatre in Idaho Falls. The new theater, the first Megaplex in Idaho, will be located in Snake River Landing, a 450-acre mixed-use development on the south side of Idaho Falls between the Snake River and Interstate 15. The companies anticipate breaking ground on the project in the spring of 2020.

More details on the project will be announced as the groundbreaking date gets nearer, a Ball Ventures press release said.

Megaplex currently operates 18 locations in Utah and Nevada. The company dates back to 1999, when Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller opened a 17-screen Megaplex in Sandy, Utah, on the former site of Jordan High School. The company expanded beyond the Wasatch Front in 2012, opening locations in St. George, Logan, Cedar City and Mesquite, Nev. They opened the second IMAX screen in Utah in 2005, and now operate several.

“Our partnership with Ball Ventures delivers a natural extension to our current theater offerings in Utah and Nevada,” said Gail Miller, owner and chairman of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “Our mission is to enrich lives, and we see this as an opportunity to continue our legacy of providing quality, family-friendly entertainment to a rapidly growing area in Idaho. We look forward to building upon our commitment to support and enhance the communities where we do business.”

“Ball Ventures, a highly respected, first-class development firm, is the type of partner we seek when expanding into new markets,” said Steve Starks, chief executive officer for Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “Snake River Landing is ideally located to serve communities from Blackfoot to West Yellowstone. Our Megaplex business model provides numerous amenities including state-of-the-art technology, luxury loungers, meeting and event space, a variety of concessions, and industry leading guest services. We look forward to providing quality entertainment options for the area’s families, nearby college students, and visitors.”

“We are so pleased to work with our friends at Larry H. Miller to bring Megaplex Theatres in Idaho Falls,” says Cortney Liddiard, CEO of Ball Ventures. “Across its many companies, Larry H. Miller Group has an incredible reputation for enriching the communities in which they operate. We are honored to work with Gail Miller and the LHM team to bring a first-class entertainment experience to residents of eastern Idaho.”

Bank of Idaho announces staff changes

Tyler Kraupp

Bank of Idaho has made staffing changes to address future growth.

Tyler Kraupp has been named director of marketing for the bank, replacing Jarod Phillips, who is assuming the role of senior branch banking officer. “We look forward to leveraging Tyler's insights, expertise, and knowledge in this new role," said bank president and CEO Jeff Newgard. "He'll be a great asset to our team as we continue to find new ways to improve the bank’s brand and our impact on the communities we serve."

Newgard said Phillips' promotion should position the bank for continued growth. "We're equally excited to see Jarod return to his roots in community banking. He'll work with customer-facing staff to make the banking experience more consultative and personal. We place a high priority on building personal connections with our clients," Newgard said. "It's how we set ourselves apart from other financial institutions.”

Kraupp is a fifth-generation Idaho Falls resident with strong marketing and leadership experience. His previous posts include: entrepreneur of an acquired multi-award-winning creative agency, COO of a leading Idaho digital firm, and secretary of the Business Climate and Economics Development CUSP Panel in Idaho Falls. He serves as vice president of Breaking Boundaries, an Idaho Falls-based non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with HIV/AIDS and to promoting diversity.

Jarod Phillips

Phillips has worked for Bank of Idaho for more than 20 years and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role. He will likewise continue to serve with organizations he is passionate about in the community and throughout the state. He will work closely with Kraupp to ensure a smooth transition as the bank continues its years-long support of countless community programs and organizations.

Bank of Idaho, established in 1985, has seen strong recent growth in the markets it serves. The company has broadened its footprint to include the Treasure Valley, where two full-service branches and one loan production office have been established in the last year. The bank recently completed a capital campaign to support its anticipated growth and began listing its stock for public trade on the OTC-QX market under the symbol BOID.

Idaho Falls airport adds new United flight to Denver, larger jets

The Embraer ERJ-175 regional jet, which United plans to begin flying into Idaho Falls twice a day.

Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) has announced today that United Airlines will begin providing a fifth daily flight to Denver for the first time in IDA’s history. In addition to the new daily service, United has also announced that they are increasing the size of the aircraft for two of those daily flights.

The new Embraer ERJ-175 aircraft United will be adding will provide a huge increase in the amount of capacity available, adding 102 new seats, or 50 percent more capacity to the Denver destination. The new, larger aircraft also will add a first class seating section that has not previously been available with the smaller, 45 seat CRJ200 aircraft.

The new, expanded schedule provides ideal connectivity to more than 110 cities around the world in a single stop,” said IDA Executive Director Rick Cloutier.  “The new flights are specifically timed to make connections to new destinations such as London and Frankfurt … places where United has never provided one-stop service from Idaho Falls before.”

United has already announced and started selling the 5th daily flight to Denver, which will start June 4th. The new flights will also make it easier and faster to reach destinations on the east coast with only one stop in Denver.

The city is also set to begin construction soon on a terminal expansion. This expansion will add a three new gates and added area in the security screening and gate areas. The airport recently opened its brand new and upgraded baggage claim and improved airport security service with the TSA Pre Check line for approved passengers.

Oklo Inc. receives DOE Site Use Permit to build at Idaho National Laboratory

A sketch of what Oklo's 1.5 megawatt Aurora plant might one day look like

Oklo Inc., a company based in Sunnyvale, Calif., announced Monday it has received a Site Use Permit from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build its Aurora plant at Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

According to a press release on Businesswire.com, the site use permit is an important step toward commercializing advanced fission technologies, and this the first issued for a non-light water nuclear power reactor. The permit outlines the responsibilities for each party regarding use of the site. The site use permit is in effect for the lifetime of the plant, and puts a requirement on a maximum licensing timeline for Oklo with the regulator before the start of operation.

The site use permit makes a site available to Oklo to build its Aurora plant, which utilizes a compact fast reactor to generate about 1.5 MW of electric power. This site is anticipated to be the location of the first-of-a-kind deployment of the Aurora plant.

Oklo co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Caroline Cochran said receiving the site use permit is an exciting step on the path to deploying advanced fission technology. “Oklo entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with DOE in 2017, and the site use permit is an important resultant milestone,” Cochran said. “DOE is clearly demonstrating its commitment to enabling commercial deployment of novel clean energy technologies, and advanced fission in particular. We are excited to be among the first to exercise this new process.”

Two years ago, the DOE Idaho Operations Office developed a new INL site permit application process, and Oklo was the first to complete the new process. Completion of the site permit process exemplifies the ability of DOE to support advanced reactor development and deployment. This also supports objectives laid out by Congress in legislation passed in 2018, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA), as well as language in proposed legislation.

INL plays a key role in the development of advanced fission technologies. As the nation’s lead nuclear energy laboratory, INL will be a key collaborator with Oklo as Oklo licenses, constructs and operates the new plant. INL is also laying the groundwork for working with additional advanced reactor technologies to come. DOE recently established the legislatively authorized National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) led by INL, which provides resources for testing, demonstration and performance assessment to accelerate deployment of new advanced nuclear technology concepts.

Oklo has been engaged in pre-application activities with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) since 2016 for the Aurora design, and is preparing to submit its first license application to NRC. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an upcoming step before the Aurora plant is built will include preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.

For-profit nursing, medical assisting school planned for 17th Street

Unitek Learning of Newport Beach, Calif., announced Monday it is opening a location for Eagle Gate College in Idaho Falls. The for-profit company plans to offer medical assisting and nursing programs at 1592 E. 17th Street, in the Hall Park Shopping Center, where Sports Authority used to be. A permit application was submitted Friday to the Idaho Falls Building Department for a 19,933-square-foot remodeling job.

The Idaho Board of Nursing gave Unitek initial approval in October to create nursing education programs for campuses in Idaho Falls and Boise. The two campuses will open in 2020, offering a range of programs in the nursing field. In a press release, the company said it plans to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a Master's Entry Program in Nursing, and a Practical Nursing program.

While the Idaho Board of Nursing has approved the development of these programs, they have not yet been approved by the school's accrediting agency or the Idaho State Board of Education.

"It has been another year of growth and opportunity for Unitek Learning, and we look forward to extending our reach in Idaho," said David Higley, Unitek's chief marketing officer.

Unitek Learning is the parent company of several institutions: Unitek College, Unitek EMT, Eagle Gate College, and Provo College. The company is also expanding into Reno, Nevada.

Auditorium district applies for building permit for Event Center

The cover page of the site plan for the Event Center. A building permit has been applied for. After more than eight years, this project looks like it is going forward.

It looks like all systems are go for the Idaho Falls Events Center. On behalf of the owner, Pioneer Front Properties LLC, CRSA of Salt Lake City applied for a building permit on Nov. 13 with the city of Idaho Falls.

The site plan itself was approved in late October, with the following caveat: Improvements on Pioneer need to be completed/accepted or a subdivision guarantee needs to be provided for prior to issuance of a Permit.

Here are a few numbers that might be of interest. The 123,697-square-foot project has been assigned a value of $51 million. For the inspections alone, the owner is on the hook for $383,854.63 in fees. This includes the commercial permit itself ($138,472.73), fire review ($22,225.63), plan check ($90,007.27), erosion control ($100), water services ($111,132) and sewer connection ($21,917).

There may be additional fees, e.g. electric line extension, street light, temporary power, “but these are what we presently have,” city permit technician Ken Hartog wrote to Idaho Falls Auditorium District Executive Director Rob Spear in a Nov. 25 letter. “Please pay only the Plan Check fee and the Fire Review Fee to get those processes started.”

The total cost of the project is $62 million, much more than the $35 million projected back in 2015. It got a major boost in July with a $4.5 million donation from Mountain America Credit Union, which bought the naming rights. The district has laid out a long-term debt financing plan, utilizing resources that will come from the transient revenue tax of the future, Spear told East Idaho News earlier this year.

Voters approved the formation of the auditorium district in 2011. Since then, the district has been raising money from donations and a bed tax at local hotel

For a look at all the documents, follow this link: https://trakit.idahofallsidaho.gov/etrakit3/Search/permit.aspx

INL inventors win four R&D 100 Awards

A team of researchers including Josh Daw (pictured here), Richard Skifton, Kurt Davis and Pattrick Calderoni received an R&D 100 Award for their work on High-Temperature Irradiation-Resistant Thermocouples.

Four Idaho National Laboratory technologies have been named winners of the 2019 R&D 100 Awards. Widely known as the “Oscars of Innovation,” the awards bestowed by R&D World recognize the winners as being among the top 100 revolutionary technologies of 2019.

Since their inception in 1963, the awards have celebrated research and development technologies from across the public and private sectors. Laboratories and companies from throughout the nation submitted nominations for judging. A panel comprised of more than 40 industry-leading experts then ranked the nominees based on their technical significance, uniqueness, and applicability across industry, government and academia.

Typically, the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories have dozens of finalists every year. Of 2019’s 162 finalists, 54 included the involvement of DOE national labs, with six technologies listing INL as the lead inventor and two labeling the lab as a supporting organization. With the inclusion of this year’s winners, INL has now won 22 R&D 100 Awards since 2005.

Winning technologies led by INL:

Electronic Neutron Generator Calibration System (N-meter)
David Chichester, Scott Thompson, James Johnson, Scott Watson, Robert Schley, Jay Hix

The N-meter is a portable, reusable, and adaptable device that has the capability to calibrate any electronic neutron generator (ENG), regardless of manufacturer. ENGs provide law enforcement officers and military personnel with the ability to detect the presence of harmful materials used in chemical, radiological and explosive attacks. The N-meter actively ensures that the devices are accurate and properly calibrated to perform any mission. By enabling this vital step for ENGs, the device can help protect Americans from nuclear threats, improve natural resource exploration, create biomedical advances and much more.

High-Temperature Irradiation-Resistant Thermocouples (HTIR-TC)
Richard Skifton, Josh Daw, Kurt Davis, Pattrick Calderoni

Until now, nuclear instruments have had difficulty obtaining precise reactor temperature measurements, forcing scientists to rely on estimates. Now, the High-Temperature Irradiation-Resistant Thermocouples (HTIR-TC) can be inserted directly into the fuel centerline to precisely read fuel temperatures at the reactor’s core. With more accurate information about core temperatures, engineers can make nuclear reactors safer and more reliable.  

Wireless radio Frequency signal Identification and protocol Reverse Engineering (WiFIRE)
Christopher Becker, Kurt Derr, Samuel Ramirez, Sneha Kasera, Aniqua Baset

WiFIRE helps combat wireless attacks by monitoring wireless networks in real time, giving users the ability to respond to security breaches as they’re occurring. Should it detect rogue devices, WiFIRE provides security measures like alerting law enforcement personnel, blocking unwanted data transmission, starting data and/or video recording for potential legal use, and even locating intruders before damage is done. The technology helps protect the nation’s critical infrastructure, making attacks on the power grid and water supply increasingly difficult.

Consequence-driven Cyber-informed Engineering
Robert Smith, Curtis St. Michel, Amanda Belloff, Andy Bochman, Sarah Freeman, Michael Assante

Consequence-driven Cyber-informed Engineering (CCE) is a methodology that provides users with knowledge and skills to protect against and prepare for serious cyberthreats against the nation’s critical infrastructure systems. CCE identifies processes and functions that must not fail, then outlines steps organizations must take in order for their assets to remain secure. By re-engineering key processes while armed with a full understanding of the attackers’ tactics and options, CCE reduces or eliminates digital pathways used by attackers to reach critical systems, effectively removing the targets with the highest consequences from the table.

Manwaring Cheese opens Idaho Falls location

Justin Manwaring at Manwaring Cheese's new Idaho Falls store, which opened Tuesday.

Sweet dreams are made of cheese.

For those of you who savor the squeak of a white cheese curd -- and you know who you are -- Manwaring Cheese is now open in Idaho Falls, at 310 N. Eastern Avenue, next door to the Museum of Idaho.

The renovation of the building, which was Sizzler long ago and most recently Cherz, started last summer and took longer than expected. Anytime the USDA is involved, there are a lot of boxes to be checked, said Justin Manwaring, the latest cheesemaker in a family whose history goes back to the middle of the last century.

Arthur Manwaring was born in Utah to a family that had emigrated from England in the 1800s. Eventually, he moved to Bingham County and had a dairy business. His children helped deliver milk on a horse-pulled dairy wagon, and his son Basil eventually found his way to a creamery in Blackfoot. While there, he met a butter wrapper named Edna who became his wife. At Utah State University he managed the school dairy, making ice cream, cheese, and butter, and after graduating he took a job with the Nelson-Ricks Creamery in Rexburg. Nelson-Ricks owned many small plants in the eastern Idaho, and when the one in Ashton became available, Basil bought it and started the first incarnation of Manwaring Cheese.

After operating in Ashton for 16 years, Basil Manwaring saw an advantage to building a new plant in Rigby. The Rigby plant produced its first batch of cheese on Feb. 3, 1971. Basil died in November 1972, and his widow and children kept the plant operating until it closed in the late 1980s.

In 2010, seeing a business opportunity for artisanal cheese, Basil Manwaring's son Blake opened a new location in Rigby. The milk came from a herd of Jersey cows owned by Dale and Doris Mortimer, who operate Daloris Dairy east of Rigby (and have an enthusiastic clientele thirsty for raw milk. Story from Progressive Dairyman, December 2016: Foundation of five: Idaho dairy farmer discovers niche market to sell raw milk on-farm to locals.) For the past two years, however, the mild has come from Paradise Grove A2 Dairy out of of Monteview, in West Jefferson County.

Help on the business end came from the Regional Development Alliance and an ISU student-led feasibility study coordinated by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Blake Manwaring described his cheesemaking process to East Idaho News in 2015. Pasteurization kills all the bacteria in the milk by warming it up to 161 degrees and holding it for 20 seconds. A freeze dried culture imported from France is then added back to the Jersey milk, along with a substance that causes the milk to thicken similar to a yogurt texture.

The cheese curds are cut up and processed, then salted and formed into blocks. After the salt has soaked in, the curds are laid into cheese hoops and pressed together. Mild cheddar cheese is aged for at least 6 months. Their signature Stalver Long Horn Cheese is aged for 18.

Hours at the Idaho Falls store are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 208-313-8247 or email info@manwaringcheese.com.

Idaho Falls Downtown Development recognized for spring, summer projects

Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corp. and its executive director, Catherine Smith, received the Leadership Award from the Idaho chapter of the American Planning Association. The award was given in early October at the chapter's annual conference in Twin Falls.

IFDDC and Smith were recognized for the projects completed this summer in downtown Idaho Falls. The work involved replacing old crumbling planters and replacing trees, bringing corners into ADA compliance.

Award-winning projects are highlighted during the annual conference as shining examples of great planning in Idaho. The Awards Program provides an opportunity for Idaho APA to recognize special achievements, with recipients sharing their unique projects and how they have influenced their communities and enhanced planning in Idaho. It is open to Idaho organizations and agencies, professional planners, citizen planners, elected officials, appointed officials (such as planning commissioners), students, and others – depending on the category. In reviewing submissions, the APA Idaho Awards Committee looks for innovation, quality, and the potential for use in other areas.

Rexburg Motorsports hosting annual food drive

Rexburg Motorsports is looking to give back to local families in need with its annual Stuff the Side-by-Side Food Drive. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 outside Broulim's in Rexburg. To help support the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP) Rexburg Outreach Office, Rexburg Motorsports is looking for donations of new or unopened food and household items to stuff a Honda Pioneer Side-by-Side with a half-ton of food.

The Rexburg Outreach Office is seeking donations for the following unexpired items: canned meats, canned tomatoes, cereals, dry goods, laundry and dishwasher detergent, cleaning supplies, and various hygiene items.

The Honda Pioneer is equipped to hold up to 1,000 pounds of donations in the seats, bed, and storage compartments. Rexburg Motorsports is hoping the vehicle's capacity will be exceeded before the event concludes.

To donate, simply stop by the Broulim’s in Rexburg and place your donations in the side-by-side parked outside the store. All items received will be housed in the food bank in Rexburg and be distributed to families in need in the Madison County area.

“We're always looking for ways to help out the community,” said Mike Vickers, owner of Rexburg Motorsports. "The food drive is a fun way for us to accomplish that and to encourage others to get involved."

For further information regarding the food drive or Rexburg Motorsports in general, contact Matt Dyer at 208-356-4000 or via email at mdyer@gearhead.com.

Costco site plan proposes three entrances, keeping roundabout

Here's the layout of the Costco development at Lincoln Road and 25 East (Hitt Road).

We had a question from a reader some time back about the effect Costco, scheduled to open sometime next year, will have on local traffic, and whether the roundabout at Lincoln Road and 25 East (Hitt Road) will remain.

Going by the Transportation Impact Study prepared for the city of Idaho Falls and Bonneville County by Kittelson & Associates, it looks like the roundabout, expanded in 2018, will remain. Kittelson is recommending three access points -- one on Lincoln and two on Hitt.

The full report can be found here -- TRANSPORTATION IMPACT STUDY | Idaho Falls Costco  -- but if you'd rather not scroll through 71 pages here are the passages we found most informative.

Proposed Development Plan
▪ Kittelson maintains a database of traffic data and travel characteristics for Costco Wholesale. This information was used to estimate the trip generation for Costco Wholesale during the weekday PM and Saturday midday peak hours.
o The  proposed  Costco warehouse  and  fuel  station  and  outparcel  are estimated  to generate 7,045 daily net new trips, 707 weekday PM peak hour net new trips, and 988 Saturday midday peak hour net new trips.
▪ The distribution pattern for site-generated trips was estimated based on Costco Wholesale’s prediction of potential members in the area, a review of the proposed access locations and adjacent  roadway  system,  existing  traffic  patterns, and  insights  from  the  City  and  County staff.
▪ The proposed development plan includes two access points on 25th East and one access point on Lincoln Road. For initial analysis purposes, these three access points were assumed to be unsignalized, full-movement accesses.

Off-Site Intersections
▪ No improvements are recommended at the off-site intersections as part of the Costco warehouse and fuel station development. ... The  results  of  the  study  indicate  that  the  proposed Idaho  Falls  Costco can  be  constructed  while maintaining  acceptable   traffic   operations   and   safety   at   the   study   intersections,   assuming the recommended mitigation measures are in place.

Site Access Intersections
▪ Site Access A/Lincoln Road -- Construct a full-movement, unsignalized access at Site Access A on Lincoln Road that includes one ingress lane, two egress lanes (southbound left-turn and right-turn lanes),and a westbound right-turn lane.
▪ Site Access B/25th East -- Construct a full-movement, unsignalized access at Site Access B on 25th East that includes one ingress lane, two egress lanes (eastbound left-turn and right-turn lanes), and a southbound right-turn lane at the opening of Costco, plan for a future multilane roundabout at this driveway by reserving the space needed for a multilane roundabout design, and participate in a cost-sharing of the roundabout. The multilane roundabout would be installed at a future date when deemed necessary by traffic volumes, traffic operations at this driveway, and development of the property to the east.
▪ Site Access C/25th East -- Construct a full-movement, unsignalized access at Site Access C on 25th East that includes one ingress lane and one egress lane (shared westbound left-turn and right-turn lane).
▪ Maintain adequate sight distance at Site Access A, B, and C by limiting the shrubbery and landscaping.