Our Region

South-central Idaho’s food production, processing, and science cluster has gained national recognition as one of the nation’s most significant and impactful economies.

Southern Idaho is now part of an exclusive club of 24-communities nationally with the Federal Manufacturing Community ‘seal of approval’ and only one of four (and the smallest community) in the U.S. recognized in the food manufacturing category. This is a huge win for southern Idaho!

Read more about the South-Central Idaho Manufacturing Community here …

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We have a large diverse base of agriculture – beef, milk, cheese, fish, port, seed, aquaculture, alfalfa, hay, sugarbeets, potatoes, barley, beans, lamb, chicken, honey, fur and wool – the foundation of economic success for this region. As America’s “most diversified food basket,” numerous complimentary services have grown from these strong roots, especially food science and R&D. Several major employers have located or expanded their operations to included dedicated R&D departments adding them to the world map for their cutting edge research, product innovation and contribution to food science.

Companies and site selectors continue to look closely at southern Idaho when considering relocation and expansion. As the heartland of the state, southern Idaho boasts numerous positive economic factors that companies just can’t resist:  low business/electric costs, skilled workforce; diverse employer base of support services; ideal transportation location; and a vital business training and education partner, the College of Southern Idaho. Add these to many quality of life issues only offered in this unique region, southern Idaho has clearly set itself apart to draw businesses here.

Food processing, storage and distribution remain the core industries of the region. Established and new transportation and distribution operations help support food processors with warehousing and quick, cost efficient nationwide distribution of products. The abundance of natural resources here has allowed for the creation of operations in all five renewable energy sectors. Many of these renewable energy operations know that they will be able to tap into a well-trained workforce specifically trained in their area to support their operations thanks to the College of Southern Idaho.

Our vibrant region provides the numerous ingredients needed to attract businesses and help current businesses grow.