BVEP official: Solar companies eye vacant tech spaces 

The vacant former SpecTek and MPC Computers buildings in Nampa are “prime targets for solar companies” and are getting at least one serious look by a prospective occupant, Boise Valley Economic Partnership Business Development Director Ben Quintana said. Of the four manufacturers of photovoltaic solar cell equipment that have evaluated these Micron Technology-owned buildings and another building in Nampa, one recently returned for a second visit, he said.

Alternative energy and solar products manufacturing tops the list of industries that the Boise Valley Economic Partnership aims to attract to southwest Idaho, he told a business breakfast audience July 21 in Boise. It is a good fit given the area’s available workforce and buildings, and “much of the U.S. hasn’t jumped on it yet,” he said. “It could create a domino effect of supporting suppliers.”

Next on the Partnership’s list of primary targets are health sciences, food processing, computer and electronic products manufacturing, and business services and headquarters. Health sciences and food processing benefit from existing major employers and support networks, while the computer segment has facilities ready to occupy, he said. The Partnership looks to grow a number of other sectors that show promise as major employers – software including gaming and animation, wineries and associated industries, outdoor sporting goods manufacturing, and medical and personal product manufacturing.

The Boise Valley Economic Partnership is three-plus years into its five-year, $5 million effort to bring more highly-paid jobs to southwest Idaho by attracting new employers or helping existing businesses expand.

Quintana said that from 2006 to 2008, the Partnership was directly involved in attracting five new companies compared to a goal of eight; 111 expansions compared to a goal of 120, 1,633 “primary” jobs compared to a goal of 1,700, and 2,812 “secondary” jobs compared to a goal of 2,200. Exceeding the goal for secondary jobs may reflect the types of primary employers, he said.

Some results of efforts by the Boise Valley Economic Partnership and other groups with which it cooperates can’t be tracked easily or are yet to come to fruition, he said.

Now, about 30 “active projects” are looking at southwest Idaho, and “we are going to get our fair share,” Quintana said. Face-to-face meetings with decision makers have played a key role, he said.

He presented a 2008-09 summary that said Boise Valley Economic Partnership has been working with prospective new employers such as the photovoltaic solar company that would employ about 700. Others with which the Partnership has been in contact recently include an insurance-processing call center, employing about 800, a distribution center that would bring 300 to 400 jobs, a customer support center (250), a technology company (200), a stretch film manufacturer (30) and a medical research and development/treatment business (50).

The Boise area competes very well on incentives, but when it doesn’t, long-term benefits such as low costs of doing business, a quality workforce – which is younger than average – and a positive business climate are emphasized, Quintana said.

Challenges include accommodating some large users of building space and power capacity, though the Boise area can accommodate most companies that show interest in locating here, he said.

The Boise Valley Economic Partnership is a separately funded division of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. It includes Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Star, Garden City, Emmett, and several business and community groups. Quintana said one advantage for the Partnership is that it was organized prior to the economic downturn.

The July 21 event was sponsored by KBOI Radio, Northwest Nazarene University and the Idaho Business Review.

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