Idaho Rural development group might get further state funding

Rural Magic Valley Economic Development Association is entering its third and final year of a rural initiative administered since 2001 by the Idaho Department of Commerce and supported by the governor and legislators.

By Mary Lou Potts
Times-News correspondent

The program aims to strengthen rural Idaho’s economy in leadership; telecommunications; education and labor force development; infrastructure and public utilities; and economic development.

A $45,000 annual grant to the rural Magic Valley group — and similar grants awarded around the state — have funded full-time economic-development specialists who work on business retention, expansion and diversification projects.

Because the program has been successful, the Commerce Department will boost its budget to carry on the program on a yearly basis, and each of the 12 participating areas statewide can re-apply to the department next year for $45,000 to continue the partnership work in rural areas, said Greg Seibert, business development specialist.

Commerce Director LaMoyne Hyde and advisers Seibert and Cliff Long were guests at a recent RMVEDA meeting in Buhl.

Each of the communities represented outlined successes and plans.

* President Steve Kaatz told the group that Buhl used a community review report from the Association of Idaho Cities to build some of its successes.

"Buhl just finished with a downtown revitalization that was in the works three years ago, and that seemed to boost the confidence of the citizens and businesses to improve their facilities and bring in some new businesses," said Kaatz.

Buhl also passed a bond issue for a high school that should be completed in 2004. Plans are under way for a skateboard park, a Boys and Girls Club facility and a new housing complex in the north part of town. Buhl started a Web page that features the city’s services, and it formed a centennial committee to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2006 which could include a small museum to show Buhl’s history.

* Gooding representatives Sharon Siefert and Carolyn Elexpuru said a recreational vehicle park with 20 spaces is always full, so plans are under way to add more.

After six years of planning, the city has a swimming pool operated by the recreation department, and with so many fairground events, plans are in the making for an indoor arena to be used year-round.

"The opening of the Basque Center has been a welcomed event as well as the theater group which incorporates many of the youth and sponsors the Idaho Opry television show," said Siefert.

"The city golf course received a new sprinkling system, and a new Web site has been established as well as brochures," added Siefert.

"The addition of the Walker Center and Magic Valley Growers has increased the labor force in the county," said Elexpuru.

* Hagerman has a new supermarket and parking lot, scenic byway signs and a farmers’ market featuring produce, crafts and artwork, and it is seeing development of Billingsley State Park.

"An annual Blues Festival was supported by the community, and plans are in the works for a facelift of the entrances to the city," said Jim Scott, the professional leader of RMVEDA.

* City Councilman John Irace reported that Wendell is welcoming a potential ethanol plant.

"We hope it is very successful because it will pave the way for more facilities like that to come to our area," said Irace.

Wendell has a new City Hall and new school, is constructing a new library and plans an industrial park, said Irace.

* With construction of Rocky Mountain Hardware factory in Shoshone, the city will add at least 10 jobs, and while the city is preparing sewer lines for the plant, some improvements are being made in the area so other developers could be interested.

Mary Kay Bennett, Julie Ingram and Rusty Parker represent Shoshone and Lincoln County in the RMVEDA.

According to Parker, there has been a lot of interest in the area’s real estate.

"The biggest project for the city has been the sewer lines to the new facility, and the city is planning to clean up the entrances to the city to make them more attractive," said Bennett.

"The community is supportive of events such as Art in the Park, Rock Festival, Fiddlers Jamboree and Christian Festival," said Ingram.

Ingram said Shoshone wants to incorporate neighboring cities Dietrich and Richfield in projects for the three communities to enjoy. The three now share a Christmas program.

* Long said the Commerce Department is pleased with the group’s accomplishments, and incorporating the community in projects is how things get done.

"Keeping the old jobs is as important as getting new ones," said Hyde.

"Each community has its own physical properties, individual strengths and leadership; a lot of ideas are floating around the towns, but it takes people to make them happen," said Scott.

The group’s next meeting will be Oct. 9 in Gooding.

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/business/index.asp?StoryID=3106