North Idaho: Economic activity
Recent traffic congestion is seen on U.S. Highway 95. The Idaho Transportation Department is exploring options and solutions for mobility enhancement across the Rathdrum Prairie from the Washington/Idaho state line to Government Way and from Interstate 90 to State Highway 53.
Labor demand in North Idaho remains robust, with elevated levels of unfilled jobs. In total, there were 1,882 job postings in September 2023, according to data from the Conference Board. Of these jobs, 1,518 were posted in Kootenai County. The most in-demand occupation was registered nurses, followed by retail salespersons.
Top 10 occupations by job postings in North Idaho, September 2023
1. Registered nurses, 89 openings
2. Retail salespersons, 74 openings
3. Supervisors of retail salespersons, 53 openings
4. Laborers, freight, stock and material movers, 48 openings
5. Customer service representatives, 47 openings
6. Home health and personal care aides, 42 openings
7. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers, 37 openings
8. Maintenance and repair workers, 35 openings
9. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 35 openings
10. Fast food and counter workers, 32 openings
Source: Conference Board data via Lightcast
Kootenai County
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is conducting a comprehensive study of transportation on the Rathdrum Prairie in northern Kootenai County. The area, which encompasses and links the municipalities of Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden, has seen immense population growth and construction in recent years which have stressed existing traffic corridors. The ITD study will evaluate stress points across the entire prairie and guide the future road improvement and construction agenda.
The city of Post Falls successfully closed the East Post Falls Urban Renewal District, which opened in 2002 and encompassed some 469 acres of land. In the 20 years the urban renewal district was open, the valuation of the district increased from $62 million to $690 million as a result of new construction, job creation and urban renewal projects. The district created a $1.5 million surplus, which will be distributed to the taxing authorities within the district, including municipal agencies and educational institutions. This is the seventh urban renewal district successfully completed and closed by the Post Falls Urban Renewal Commission.
Shoshone County
Bunker Hill Mining Corporation celebrated a groundbreaking for the reopening of the Bunker Hill Mine, which has been closed for more than 30 years. The company has full funding for engineering and construction work to reopen the mine, with production expected to start by the end of 2024. The intermediate production target is approximately 1,800 pounds of material — including silver, lead and zinc — per day, with a long-term capacity of 2,500 tons per day. The company expects the mine to create more than 250 skilled mining jobs.
North-Central Idaho
The Idaho Commission for Libraries awarded $3.25 million in grants to 15 public libraries throughout Idaho through the Facilities Improvement Grant. The three local libraries that received funds include:
Clearwater County Free Library District in Weippe — $107,000 to improve winter parking access, install a generator, expand Wi-Fi access and create outdoor seating space with charging stations.
Elk River Free Library District — $43,000 for ADA-accessible walkways, an outdoor covered area and to address parking lot flooding/drainage concerns.
Prairie River Library District in Lapwai — $200,000 to repair/rebuild part of the building currently considered unsafe and unusable.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated six Idaho counties — Benewah, Clearwater, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce — as primary natural disaster areas at the end of September due to ongoing drought. The disaster declaration makes emergency loans available to producers who have drought-related production losses. Source: USDA
Postsecondary fall 2023 enrollments were up 3% (300 students) for the University of Idaho and up .2% (six students) for Lewis-Clark State College compared with fall 2022 enrollments.
