December 2025 Newsletter

2025 Annual Meeting

Rebecca Wildman shares how Southern Idaho is leading the state in Foreign Direct Investment

Our Annual Meeting featured a timely presentation on economic trends shaping Southern Idaho's agricultural economy, delivered by Doug Robison, Idaho President of AgWest Farm Credit.

Robison explored key market drivers influencing the region, including interest rates, oil prices, job growth, housing affordability, and immigration and trade policies. He concluded with an overview of federal fiscal deficits and the U.S. dollar, drawing on Lyn Alden's "Nothing Stops this Train" framework to illustrate how differing fiscal policy paths can lead to varying economic outcomes.

These economic trends matter deeply to Southern Idaho because agriculture sits at the center of our regional economy and touches nearly every sector. From access to credit and land values, to workforce availability, housing supply, energy costs, and export markets, shifts in fiscal and economic policy directly affect how businesses invest, grow, and plan for the future. Understanding these forces helps bankers, real estate and business professionals, food processors, and public leaders make informed decisions that support a stable, competitive, and resilient Southern Idaho economy.

Doug Robison's Slides

Thank you to our Annual Meeting sponsors!

Columbia Bank, Con Paulos Chevrolet, and Frontier Community Resources

Operation Facelift Awards

Operation Facelift was created as a community-driven initiative focused on beautifying and revitalizing our rural communities. The program was implemented through Rural Economic Development Services (REDS) and administered by Frontier Community Resources.

This past year, the REDS Board made the difficult decision to complete the current year of Operation Facelift and formally close the REDS program. We are deeply grateful for the many accomplishments of REDS, including more than a decade of impact through Operation Facelift.

Business Plus extends its sincere appreciation to this year's sponsors and to the businesses and communities recognized at the Business Plus Annual Meeting!

Operation Facelift Slides

City of Fairfield

City of Filer

City of Hollister

City of Shoshone

Con & Lisa Paulos, Con Paulos Chevrolet

Trailblazer Sponsors for Filer, Fairfield, Hollister, Rupert and Richfield

Rob Petroch & Elsje Johnson, Blue Cross of Idaho

Wish Maker Sponsors for Hollister

Richard Craddock, Columbia Bank

Pacesetter Sponsor for Filer

Check Presentations

Thank You First Federal!

L-R: Shane Jenkins, Rebecca Wildman, Jason Meyerhoeffer, and Nick Popplewell

Jerome 20/20 Hosts Idaho Power

Jerome 20/20 hosted a meeting for Idaho Power to share details on how they plan to bring affordable and reliable electricity into Idaho from the desert Southwest's solar plants.

Adam Richins, COO for Idaho Power, explained SWIP-North, a planned high-voltage 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that would run 76 miles connecting transmission lines from Ely, Nevada to Idaho Power's Midpoint Substation near Jerome. SWIP-North would give Idaho Power access to lower-cost power from the southwestern U.S. when demand and prices are low there. When operational, SWIP-North can import up to 500 megawatts of electricity -- enough for 225,000 homes in peak winter use.

SWIP-North is the final segment of a larger, long-planned transmission route. Most siting and permitting work is complete and easements acquired. Idaho Power expects construction to begin as early as 2026 and take about two years to finish.

Idaho Power is doing this to keep energy costs lower for homes, farms, and businesses by accessing cheap winter energy from neighboring regions. It will increase reliability and grid resilience by expanding connections with other power markets. Idaho Power's interest is solely to import energy into Idaho, not to export to California or elsewhere. Without SWIP-N, Idaho Power will be forced to pursue alternative energy solutions that are significantly more expensive, costing customers millions more over time.

Idaho Power will own a stake in the project -- about 23% -- just enough to bring energy northward. The route mostly follows existing transmission corridors and crosses mostly remote land. Impacts on farms will be mitigated through cooperation with landowners. It has undergone significant federal and local review with environmental assessments and public input. SWIP-North is not part of the Lava Ridge windmill proposal -- which has been formally cancelled and and considered "dead."

Watch Adam Richins' presentation about SWIP-North and the benefits for Idaho Power customers.

"Idaho Power needs the Southwest Intertie Project-North (SWIP-North) transmission line to meet customers’ energy needs reliably and affordably on cold winter days. Without SWIP-North, Idaho Power will have to pursue alternatives that will cost customers millions more."

Economic and Industry Reports

STEM Externships

The Idaho STEM Ecosystem Educator Externship Program connects Idaho's in-demand industries with educators by placing them with local businesses during the summer. These experiences give educators real-world career insights to bring back to their classrooms, helping students explore future pathways while strengthening Idaho's workforce pipeline - bridging education and industry. Applications will open January 5th, 2026.

Other News we are Following

Times-News, December 31, 2025: Investor buys controlling stake in Lee

KIVI-TV, December 29, 2025: Idaho awarded $185M to invest in its rural health care system

KMVT, December 25, 2025: Idaho agriculture projected to reach record $12.1 billion despite crop farmer struggles

KMVT, November 21, 2025: Salute to Idaho Agriculture: Redox expands operations

KMVT, November 17, 2025: More flights coming to Magic Valley Regional Airport

KMVT, November 13, 2025: Intermountain Health Cassia Regional Hospital unveils major expansion

Idaho Capital Sun, November 13, 2025: State of Idaho seeks to become 'preferred destination' for nuclear energy investment

Idaho Business Review, November 12, 2025: Idaho Farmers are facing dire times financially

Capital Press, November 6, 2025: Simplot completes Clarebout Potatoes acquisition

Idaho Governor's Office, November 4, 2025: New report shows LAUNCH aligns with Trump's Talent Strategy for America

Thank you New and Renewing Investors!

COMMUNITY

Family Health Services

Hudson & Co.

New Leaf Properties*

Oregon Trail RV Park*

Sparklight*

Stevens Pierce & Associates CPAs*

Strategic Financial Group

Stratus Marketing

Twin Falls Handy Wash

Window Welder

LEGACY LEADERS

Leonard Anderson

Rep. Maxine Bell (retired)

Cindy Collins

Lance Clow

Chenele Dixon

Jeff Harris

Linda Hartgen, and in memory of

   Stephen Hartgen

Jeff Harris

Carleen Herring

Alan Horner

Dan Lloyd

Rex Lytle

Dave McAlindin

Mike McBride

Gregg Middlekauff

Gary Nelson

Dan Olmstead

Mayor Ruth Pierce

Jan Rogers

Amy Stahl

Rich Stivers

Jody Tremblay

Doug Vollmer

Lee Wagner

Deb Wilson

John Wright

IN-KIND SUPPORT

Atlas Technical Services

BBSI

Best Western Burley Inn

Columbia Bank

Con Paulos Chevrolet

D.L. Evans Bank

Frontier Community Partners

Idaho Central Credit Union

KeyBank

Minidoka Memorial Hospital

Nu-Vu Glass

Packaging Specialties of Idaho

Pizza Factory

PMT

Sparklight

Stratus Marketing

TOK Commercial

Watkins Distributing

Willamette Dental Group

WillTran, Inc.

*Indicates 10+ years of support since 2003

+includes additional promotional investment