Leading for economic development

SHOSHONE COUNTY — The driving force of economic development in Shoshone County continues to be small businesses and mining.

Vacant storefronts are starting to be filled or go up for sale, allowing for the possibility for it to be filled with a business, rather than have it sit empty with no promise.

We’ve just got to continue to give the small businesses the resources they need to thrive and let them know that we have a local information hub through the SVEDC — which has been one of my main focuses as director.

We are experiencing some of the lowest statistical unemployment rates that we’ve seen in quite a while. However, due to the influx of our retiree-aged demographic, it’s not a lack of people wanting to work, it’s the lack of working-aged individuals and livable waged jobs/housing for that 25-50 age demographic.

With the Bunker Hill Mine’s production date set to begin next year, the drive and need for workforce housing continues to be at the forefront of conversations within the SVEDC.

We, like everywhere else, are feeling the pinch of available, affordable housing — unfortunately, due to the low working wage and average median income of Shoshone County (25% below the state average), our workforce feels the strain more than most places.

Due to geographic restraints and the under abundance of developable land, we’ve got to be smart with what we have by utilizing existing structures and finding the right partners with available land and resources.

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Paige Olsen is the director of the Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation.