Idaho News & Events

"Health sciences is where it’s at," Baker said. "And we need educated jobs. Not just call-center jobs."

“We think people will be surprised at the breadth and depth of innovation occurring in our state, especially as they realize that every county has at least one innovative company.”

It looks as if Boise will make the top 5 of this year’s list.

The city told its residents it may not have a choice this time. Bankruptcy would be a historic – and extreme – measure, but the city says the alternative is much worse.

"The main thing to understand is that it’s really not Tamarack Resort filing," Boespflug said in an interview Tuesday night. "Tamarack itself is not affected, and it’s business as usual."

“There’s a lot of stuff there that we’re going to have to trim.”

“You just move from chair to chair,” said Jasper LiCalzi, a professor of political economy at the College of Idaho in Caldwell. “If you are going to hire somebody to lobby, they’re going to have to know the system. You’re not going to hire somebody off the street. This isn’t all that unusual, especially in a small state.”

Boise State University’s Centre for Creativity and Innovation has created and index of creative cities that’s found Boise to be just about as creative as cities such as Portland and Seattle.

Curt Hecker, chairman of Intermountain Community Bancorp, which has headquarters in Sandpoint, says companies could find other areas where costs are lower. But he says their owners choose Sandpoint for its recreational amenities and quality of life.

"Things look real good for us."