IDAHO

Roger Madsen, director, Idaho Commerce & Labor, says these improvements and existing incentives will give Idaho an advantage over other states competing for expansion opportunities.

ProClarity Corp. is a Boise company that develops software to help businesses sort large amounts of data.

“Basically we’re kind of a firewall between over-voltage and the equipment we’re trying to protect,” says Brad Herr, president of AC Data, which makes surge-suppression equipment mostly for the wireless-communications industry.

Kent Rudeen, a member of the Power County Development Authority that’s overseeing progress on the proposed 520-megawatt facility at the former FMC site near Pocatello, said a two-year moratorium on coal-fired plants in Idaho isn’t discouraging in the least.

The Treasure Valley Clean Cities Coalition, made up of state environmental officials, local businesses and city officials, started meeting about two years ago.

"It’s probably one of the most important issues we will all face,"

"We need more interaction between the north and the south (in Idaho). I’m embarrassed,"

Its patented technology can detect virtually invisible damage to aircraft wing parts and other metal, polymer, ceramic and composite objects.

"Neil stepped in and acquired the business through the SBA’s loan program and was able to save a lot of local jobs by retaining 15 former employees."

But while area employers may want to hire more workers, they will have to deal with a recent labor shortage that has left hundreds of jobs unfilled, said Wendie Gregory, branch manager with Manpower in Boise.