http://commerce.idaho.gov/rss/news.xml Get updated news articles from the Idaho Department of Commerce. en-us Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:20:05 GMT Drake Cooper CMS RSS Feed http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/idaho’s-511-service-still-going-strong.aspx Idaho’s 511 Service Still Going Strong Online and phone service aimed at visitors and Idahoans alike Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:20:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/a-turboprop-built-for-trouble.aspx Paul Schaller, a former Silicon Valley pilot and high-tech executive, has spent the past five years getting Quest Aircraft Co., a turboprop manufacturer in Sandpoint, Idaho, off the ground. But just when business was taking shape, he ran into a wicked recession that has made owning a private plane about as politically correct as wearing mink to a PETA convention. Schaller's salvation has been to exploit an overlooked and defensible niche: utility turboprops for missionary and humanitarian organizations that need to access remote and dangerous regions. It's a growing $300 million market that hasn't seen much innovation since the Turbo-Beaver bush plane was introduced by de Havilland Canada in the early 1960s. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:09:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/hailey-business-owner-earns-national-award-for-innovative-product.aspx The Nail Jack® nail puller from Nail Jack Tools, LLP has been selected as a winner of the 2009 HANDY Innovation Awards by Handy Magazine of the Handyman Club of America. Michael Foley, inventor and CEO of Nail Jack Tools, will receive the award. The Nail Jack nail puller is a patented new hand tool that digs, grips, and pulls nails, staples and brads. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:08:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/idaho-businesses-are-rolling-up-their-sleeves.aspx This month: Some good news, and a few words of caution. We heard recently that the recession may be over. Our nation’s economy grew about 3.5 percent during the most recent quarter, marking the first three-month period of growth in more than a year. But before we celebrate, let’s remember that while we may finally be at the bottom of this downturn and starting to turn things around, we are not yet anywhere near where we were or where we want to be. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:04:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/idaho-tourism-to-promote-statewide-memorials.aspx The Idaho Division of Tourism is in the process of updating its tourism website to house information on various memorials across the state. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:29:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/shoshone-medical-center-receives-honor-for-excellence-in-leadership.aspx Shoshone Medical Center received a 2009 Quorum Health Resources Excellence in Leadership honor for exhibiting exceptional strong management and success over the past year. Mike Pruitt, SMC chief executive officer, said he received notice of the award in late October from QHR — a management, consulting and educational service company with hospitals across the nation. This honor was given to 18 other hospitals that also participate in QHR leadership direction through on-site leadership, consulting, education, corporate support, purchasing benefits and regional guidance. Roughly 8,000 healthcare professionals are trained by QHR, the company reported, with a history of helping nearly 1,000 hospitals over the course of three decades. QHR ranked and selected these facilities based on overall good quality and financial performance, Pruitt explained, as well as the different programs and events that are put on throughout the year. Pruitt said hospital CEOs and Chief Financing Officers — like himself and SMC CFO Jerry Brantz — are the healthcare personnel who remain in close contact with QHR to maintain outstanding operations at SMC. “It’s always an honor,” he commented on this acknowledgment of the good job. “We all contribute for this, each and every day.” One of the biggest focuses at SMC, Pruitt added, is to have workers participate in many team and camaraderie exercises. “We are always striving for improvement,” he said. “It’s a joy to be taking care of the community.” Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/nezperce-settles-into-cozy-new-library.aspx Book by book and hand over hand, 6,500 volumes made their way Monday from the old Nezperce city library to a spanking new building a block away. Nearly 200 elementary and high school students, along with several teachers and other adults, formed the human conveyor belt for about three hours on a brisk autumn afternoon. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:01:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/jayco-inc.-ramps-up-production-in-twin-falls.aspx Jayco Inc. said Wednesday it will hire 200 workers and boost production at facilities in Twin Falls and Middlebury, Ind., after sales outpaced inventories in the third and fourth quarters of 2009. Akos Sefcisk, general manager of Twin Falls operations, said his plant will hire as many as 30 additional workers, bringing its total payroll in Twin Falls to more than 180 employees. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:20:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/grants-bring-more-geothermal-research-projects-to-idaho.aspx The U.S. Department of Energy will send more than $10 million in grants to Idaho for geothermal research and projects, the agency announced. An additional $3.8 million will go to Boise firm US Geothermal for a project the company has underway in Nevada. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:25:00 GMT http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2009/11/two-idaho-sites-among-11-being-considered-to-host-new-f-35-fighters.aspx Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter got word today that the U.S. Air Force has put two Idaho Air Force units on the list of potential sites for future stationing of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. More than 200 sites were considered in compiling the “short list” of 11 Air Force candidate installations in the running to receive the state-of-the-art combat aircraft for training and operations. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:00 GMT