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Job-creation efforts intensify in the Magic Valley- Idaho- Dell Computers a welcome addition

BURLEY, ID — A bright economic future is in store for Magic Valley, said three people who spoke at the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Installation Banquet.

By Lorraine Cavener
Times-News correspondent

"I think we’re off to a good start," said Scott C. Wilson, campaign executive for the new Business Plus III development campaign.

With the cooperation of College of Southern Idaho, Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization and other groups, Magic Valley has already seen a number of business successes recently, he said.

Dell Computer Corp.’s new Twin Falls center was "the home run," Wilson said. Business Plus III, a new player in the effort, aims for further economic growth.

Jan Rogers, executive director of SIEDO, agreed, saying there was not any other place able to offer Dell what Magic Valley could.

Getting Dell to locate in the valley was about the ease of doing business, the large work force and excellent work ethic, Rogers said. Those qualities make the region easy to sell.

"We could put our pitch team against New York or any other large city in the nation and we’d be No. 1 every time," she said.

The next step, which Business Plus III has launched in a five-year initiative, is to target 2,000 jobs to be created or retained with average annual salaries of $22,500, Wilson said.

The spin-off effect of those jobs would indirectly create 3,279 more jobs for a total of 5,279 jobs, he said.

"That would add $109 million in payroll," Wilson said.

Another benefit of those jobs would be effective buying power of $50 million to $100 million.

Adding $100 million to $200 million in private investment would bring housing, transportation, land purchase, construction, machinery and equipment sales and more, which would help sell the region as a good place to locate or expand, he said.

But he warned that it would take more than a good work force and an attractive location.

"If you get people that don’t welcome those people to town, they are going to leave in a minute," he said. "You have to have the right attitude."

Rogers agreed.

"It’s not just about the money but it’s about making it easy to do business," she said.

The program that Business Plus III has in mind — of business attraction, expansion and retention — can bring jobs, a higher tax base, more buying power and new local markets, Wilson said.

The partnership between Business Plus III, SIEDO and the Mini-Cassia Development Commission is working on several projects to bring more business to Mini-Cassia.

"We are proactively marketing the Rite-Aid building," Rogers said.

The group is in the process of sending out five proposals to food-processing companies, she said.

Mechelle McFarland, executive director of the Mini-Cassia Development Commission, said the organization is continuing to work on a Pomerelle Mountain Resort expansion project, a wind farm project, a geothermal project and more.

She urged chamber members to talk to business contacts in other areas about locating in Mini-Cassia.

"I’d like to challenge each and every one of you to step up to the plate," she said.

Over the past year 118 jobs were retained or created in Mini-Cassia, she said.

Marketing efforts of the partnership are paying off, Rogers said.

"We’re out there telling that story," she said. "We’re proactively promoting with vim and vigor."

She said she sees the Magic Valley economy turning around.

"I think it will happen sooner than later."

Times-News correspondent Lorraine Cavener can be reached at 436-1351 or [email protected].

Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization is a joint venture of public and private sectors in Twin Falls, Jerome and Mini-Cassia formed to help diversify and strengthen the local economy by retaining and attracting business to southern Idaho. For information go to http://www.southernidaho.org.

Business Plus III is a privately funded economic-development campaign, a regional partnership focusing on six Magic Valley counties in southern Idaho. It is a collaborative effort of chambers of commerce, SIEDO, local economic-development organizations, College of Southern Idaho, cities, counties and the private sector. Efforts focus on business attraction, business retention and marketing operations. For information, call 736-1085.

Mini-Cassia Development Commission can be reached at 679-6232.

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/business/index.asp?StoryID=1313

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