Lemhi County, Idaho will house new business incubator

Lemhi County is the new home of the Salmon Valley Business and Innovation Center, a technology facility that specializes in business expansion and job creation.

The $2.1 million business incubator was funded in part by a $500,000 Rural Idaho Initiative Grant from the Idaho Department of Commerce, a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and $101,000 in labor and materials from the city of Salmon.

The 15,000-square-foot facility houses Lemhi County development professionals and Idaho State University’s Community Distance and Learning Center. The building is also wired with high-speed Internet access and offers spaces for industrial firms as well as commercial offices.

"Salmon’s new business center is a positive addition to our community," said Gynii Gilliam, economic development director for Lemhi and North Custer counties. "A building like this helps attract new businesses and encourages local companies to expand. Our goal is to fill it to capacity with job creation projects."

Representatives from the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and Bechtel BWXT also presented checks for $10,000 to the Lemhi County Development Corporation and Salmon River Industries.

The county will use the funds for economic and community development projects around central Idaho.

State officials hope the new incubator will provide an economic upturn for Lemhi County that could help make it a preferred location for businesses in central Idaho.

"With today’s technology, you can do business from just about anywhere in the U.S," said Idaho Department of Commerce Director LaMoyne Hyde. "I can think of several businesses that would like to be located at the base of the Continental Divide and in a facility with views of the Salmon Valley."

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/business/index.asp?StoryID=2813