Idaho Department of Commerce

Idaho Department of Commerce
Idaho Commerce Logo
Quick Facts
Director Jeffery A. Sayer
Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter (R)
Lieutenant Governor Brad Little (R)
Parent Agency State of Idaho
Websites
Commerce Department http://www.commerce.idaho.gov/
State Site http://www.idaho.gov/
Tourism http://www.visitidaho.org/
Idaho Film Office http://www.filmidaho.org
EB5 Investment Program http://innovation.idaho.gov
Social Media
Facebook Idaho Commerce
Twitter Idaho Commerce
Contact Information
Address

700 W State Street

PO Box 83720

Boise, Idaho

83720-0093
Phone Numbers

(208) 334-2470 (main)

(800) 842-5858 (toll free)

(208) 334-2631 (fax)

The Idaho Department of Commerce is the lead economic development organization for the State of Idaho, a state located in the Northwestern United States. The Department utilizes resources at a state level to improve the economic growth of the state. Idaho offers open door access to all levels of government. Providing public grants, tax credits, and tax exemptions are just a few of the incentives the Department of Commerce uses to entice companies to expand, relocate, or invest in Idaho [1] through:

Organization

The Department consists of five divisions: marketing; tourism development; international business; commercial innovation; and economic development.

Economic Development Division

The Economic Development Division also contains the Idaho Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). The Idaho PTAC exists to help Idaho businesses compete for government contracts on goods and services.[2] Because most federal purchases under $100,000 are designated for small businesses, there are opportunities for Idaho companies to access this vast market. To date, Idaho PTAC has been successful in helping Idaho businesses secure over $500,000,000 in contract rewards.

International Business Division

The International Business division’s goal is to identify prospects for Idaho products and services in international markets and help companies capitalize on these opportunities by offering export/import counseling, market research, coordination of trade missions and trade shows as well as incoming buying delegations. International Business is an essential part of Idaho’s economy and in Northern Idaho is located a port that is vital to the state's commerce. The Port of Lewiston was formed in 1958 by the voters of Nez Perce County. In accordance with Idaho Code 70-1101, the Port oversees harbor operations, terminal facilities, international trade, and industrial and economic development.[3] Idaho supports full-time offices in China, Taiwan and Mexico. Trade office representatives are citizens of these countries and contract employees of Idaho. There are several services provided by the International Trade Offices including:

International Trade Office Representatives
ChinaMexicoTaiwan
Mexico Trade Representative
Mr. Xu FangMr. Armando M. OrellanaMr. Eddie Yen
AddressRm. 805, Tower 3, Wellington Garden, #183 Western Huaihai Road, Shanghai 200030Av. Niño Héroes 2905-6, Guadalajara, Jalisco, C.P. 44520 MéxicoTaipei World Trade Center, 7D-15, No. 5, Sec.5, Hsin Yi, Taipei 110 Taiwan, Republic of China
Phone NumbersTel: 86-21-6448-4405

Fax: 86-21-3226-2978

Tel: 52-33-3-121-2220

Fax: 52-33-3-121-1778

Tel: 886-2-2725-2922

Fax: 886-2-2725-1248

Websitewww.idahochina.orghttp://idahomexico.com.mx/www.idahoasia.org

As a way to increase international investment, the United States government implemented a program called the EB-5 Immigrant Investment Program. The Idaho Department of Commerce participates in this comprehensive program to assist Idaho businesses attract foreign investors. EB5 is an immigrant investor program for foreigners to fund businesses directly or through Regional Centers.[4]

EB-5 Immigrant Investment Program
In 1990, the United States government created a program for immigration investment called the EB-5 (employment-based-category 5th preference) Immigrant Investment Program. This program—administered by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)—permits a foreign national the opportunity to obtain permanent residency in the U.S. by investing at least $500,000 in a U.S. business, leaving that investment at risk for a minimum of two years, and creating at least 10 permanent, full-time jobs.[5] In 2007, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter identified the increase of international trade and investment as one of the core elements of his plan to grow Idaho’s economy to $60 billion—“Project 60”. The Idaho Department of Commerce developed an EB-5 immigrant investment strategy for Idaho which includes the establishment of EB-5 Regional Centers, the identification and assistance of independent companies and projects who may be interested in attracting EB-5 investment, and the marketing of Idaho’s EB-5 investment opportunities in key international markets.[6]

Tourism Development Division

The Tourism Division builds the economy by promoting Idaho as a visitor destination on a national and international level. The division uses strategic marketing and public relations to create awareness of Idaho’s attractions and foster sustainable growth. The division also supports local non-profit and regional tourism development organizations through a competitive marketing grant program. Workshops, training, blogs, co-op marketing opportunities and assistance with marketing and public relations efforts are available to all tourism suppliers in Idaho. The $3.5 billion tourism industry plays a vital part in Idaho’s economy by providing over 26,000 direct jobs which generate almost $500 million in local, state, and federal tax revenues.[7]

The Tourism Division hosts the Idaho Conference on Recreation and Tourism in early May each year. The conference brings together tourism industry members from the private and public sectors with experts in the areas of marketing/promotion, social networking, public relations, technology and public land management for an educational exchange.

Industries

Idaho's diverse economy holds opportunities for a wide variety of businesses. Their unique assets have helped traditional industries prosper and attract new industries looking to take advantage of Idaho's business climate.

Idaho's Key Industries

Goshen South Windfarm
Scientist working on wafers and semiconductor technology in lab

Renewable energy

Idaho is a perfect testing ground for renewable energy technologies, and already alternative energy manufacturing companies are moving in to tap Idaho's business climate. Idaho is home to many companies and university research institutions focused on additional research areas such as fuel cells, low-power batteries, electric car technologies, kinetic energy capture, biomass, and new alternative fuels.[8]

Technology/innovation

Idaho has a specialized focus in these technology platforms: Agricultural/Biological Sciences, Power & Energy, Software Technology, Communications Technology, Digital Imaging & Sensor Technology, and New Materials & Nanotechnology. Idaho is home to one of the world's largest and only U.S. - based memory chip firms, Micron Technology, Inc, and is the center of Hewlett-Packard Company's highly profitable Imaging and Printing Group, birthplace of HP’s laser-jet printer, and one of the firm’s largest worldwide facilities.

Idaho is also home to the Idaho National Laboratory, a cutting-edge federal research facility that has helped commercialize products and led to many startups in the areas of energy and environmental remediation. The INL was designated as the lead nuclear research institution in the country, and is pioneering work in virtually all forms of alternative energy. For example, the Bioenergy Program embraces the idea of – “Whole Crop Utilization” – converting plant byproducts such as cellulose stalks into cellulose-based ethanol. It is the lead national lab in geothermal sciences, conducts ongoing hydropower research to further diversity the nation’s energy supply, and is working to develop techniques that can dramatically increase wind energy use in the Western United States.
Rafters prepare for rapids on the North Fork near Banks, Idaho, close to the beginning of the main stem of the Payette River
Skier going down a run in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho

Recreational technology

Abundant recreational opportunities make Idaho a potential market for any business in the Recreational Technology industry. From the emerald green hillsides, timbered mountains and pristine lakes of the panhandle, to the jagged peaks of central Idaho, all the way down to the Snake River Basin with its wide open vistas and irrigated farm lands, the Gem State can provide companies with the right environment to help their businesses thrive. In addition, Idaho’s diverse landscape is a prime research ground for companies to test their products in the environments where they would be used.

Tourism

Idaho acts as a primarily leisure-travel state, most visitors to Idaho visit friends and family, along with experiencing the outdoors, touring and attending a special event. Building Idaho’s economy by increasing visitor expenditures throughout the state is the goal of Idaho Department of Commerce's Tourism Development Division. The division's activities are funded by a two percent lodging tax, paid by travelers and collected by the state's hotel, motel and private campground owners. Tax collections have grown to over $7 million annually. Forty-five percent of the funds are used for statewide programs targeted to international and domestic consumers, tour operators, travel agents, travel journalists, and film industry marketing. Another forty-five percent is distributed to non-profit local and regional tourism development organizations through the Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant Program. The remaining ten percent is used for administration of the division. According to the US Travel Association, Idaho's $3.5 billion tourism industry employs over 26,000 Idahoans and generated nearly $500 million in local, state, and federal tax revenues.[9]

Film

Cottonwood, ID

For more than 20 years, the Idaho Film Office has been assisting filmmakers and promoting Idaho’s diverse locations to the world. Idaho offers a full range of production services with everything from pre-production through post. The State offers a tax rebate on tangible goods purchased and used during a production.

References