Spotlight on Sandpoint
Located in the northern panhandle of Idaho along the shores of shimmering Lake Pend Oreille and scenic foothills of the Selkirk Mountains, Sandpoint attracts visitors with its beauty and abundant recreational opportunities.
Sandpoint was founded in the 1800s as a timber and fur trading community. Over the years, Sandpoint has become a very diverse community, with a growing mixture of success in tourism, manufacturing, retail, and services. The quality of life in Sandpoint has attracted many new residents and has changed the landscape of the economy in many ways.
Today, Sandpoint is nationally recognized as one of the nation’s best small arts towns. Aside from the endless recreational activities, Sandpoint also has a dynamic visual and performance arts scene and boasts an intriguing historical business district.
Community pride and residents’ commitment to the city has helped contribute to the prosperity of Sandpoint. Residents have worked to save a historic theater, developed North Idaho’s only native plant arboretum, started the Pend Oreille Arts Council, and supported The Festival at Sandpoint to become one of the premier summer music festivals in the Pacific Northwest.
Business District
In 2003 Sandpoint achieved national recognition as “a great place to live.” Since then, the population has flourished and continues to attract spirited entrepreneurs who are seeking a more favorable business climate, quality of life, and low business costs.
Paul Schaller, President and CEO of Quest Aircraft Company, chose Sandpoint not only because of the community involvement for his family but also because of its great location to grow a business and the training assistance that Idaho had to offer. Click here and select Quest Aircraft to listen to Paul talk about Idaho.
Coldwater Creek, the area’s largest retail employer, was founded over 20 years ago by two local residents who were influenced by Sandpoint’s lifestyle. They have chosen to sustain their corporate headquarters in Sandpoint, employing over 400 high-paying jobs.
Tourism is also a successful sector in the economy because of Sandpoint’s year round recreational opportunities. Schweitzer Mountain Resort started a major expansion in 1990 which helped boost winter tourism and, as important as the winter tourism season is, the summer brings even more tourists to benefit many retail and service businesses.
As the county’s population, tourism, and industrial base continues to grow, the local economy continues its success in diversifying and growing its economy.
Businesses interested in establishing or relocating in Sandpoint have a number of resources to receive assistance or information from the Bonner Business Center, The Idaho Small Business Development Center and the Bonner County Economic Development Corporation.