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Idaho

Idaho

Idaho has long been home to a host of national and international companies, spanning manufacturing, agriculture, natural resources and high-tech. Among the most well-known are Albertsons, JR Simplot Co, Washington Group International, Micron Technology Inc, and Boise Cascade.

Science and technology employs one out of every 10 workers and represents nearly 21% of Idaho’s economy at $9.3bn. Industry clusters thrive on the critical mass of cutting-edge companies, such as Micron, AMI Semiconductors, Dell Computer, Hewlett-Packard, MPC Computers, the Battelle Energy Alliance, Premier Technology and ProClarity, a subsidiary of Microsoft. As a result, Idaho is ranked first nationally in patents issued per capita.

Idaho stacks up favourably in terms of its educated, skilled and dedicated workforce, broadband connectivity and a progressive business climate that keeps operating costs affordable. Idaho is first in the nation in manufacturing investment and sixth best nationally in long-term employment growth.

Incentives and affordable operating costs

Idaho ranks 13th in the country and third among the eight Western states in overall costs of doing business and energy costs. The state’s overall tax burden per capita is the second lowest in the West, with the lowest per capita debt in the nation.

Programmes are in place to help existing businesses expand and encourage new ones to consider Idaho. Corporate income tax rates have been lowered and production exemptions from taxation broadened to include clean rooms and other high-tech equipment. Programmes and funding assistance are also available to encourage technology entrepreneurs and foster new firms. Tax credits for basic, qualified and excess research costs are helping the state’s two largest semiconductor employers – Micron and AMI Semiconductors – build research and development facilities that give them a competitive edge.


The future

Idaho is one of just eight states with a national laboratory and it has the federal laboratory charged with leading the US nuclear mission. The Idaho National Laboratory is home to the Advanced Test Reactor, the most powerful test reactor operating in the country, and development of the plutonium space battery, used in the mission to Pluto.

The Center for Advanced Energy Studies, which will house and train nuclear engineers, is currently being developed in eastern Idaho. This academic and research institution will be a cooperative effort among the Idaho National Laboratory, the Department of Energy, the state and regional and national universities – as well as the international community. At the University of Idaho, the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station performs agricultural research in support of Idaho’s complex agricultural industry.

Meanwhile, the University’s Environmental Biotechnology Institute is at the forefront of plant biotechnology. Together, these advancements have the potential to turn Idaho’s agriculture base into an industry that researches and produces food, fuel and other products and services for the next generation.

For more information, contact:
Idaho Commerce & Labor
700 W. State St.
Boise, ID 83720
Tel: 001 208 334 2650
Website: www.idahoworks.com

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