What City Is Idaho's Main Financial Center?

• Types

  Technology: Micron Technology's semiconductor plant is the largest private employer in Boise, with 9,550 employees. Hewlett Packard is the second largest technology employer, but Boise supplies numerous tech sector opportunities via a variety of smaller companies. Health Care: St. Luke's Regional Medical Center is the largest health care employer with more than 4,250 workers in 2005. Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and Saltzer Medical Group are also major health care employers. Retail and Service: With 3,800 employees, Albertson's grocery chain is the largest retail employer in Boise. Wal-mart and Fred Meyer are also significant retail sector employers. Call centers for communications and credit companies employ thousands of Boise residents and contribute significantly to the local economy. Construction: Boise has a history of strong infrastructure investment, completing a major highway couplet project in the 1990s that significantly improved access to the city core and major construction projects housing sporting venues and the arts. The urban renewal projects ensure an active construction sector through at least 2025. Construction employs more than 17,000 people. Government: As the state capital, government positions play a critical role in Boise's economy. Government accounts for 38,800 jobs. The Idaho departments of Commerce and Labor along with the department of Health and Welfare are major government employers. Education: Home of Boise State University, College of Idaho, and extension campuses for the University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Brigham Young University, Boise's metropolitan area boosts more than 100,000 college graduates. Boise State University and Boise School District are the largest employers in the education sector. Military: The Army Nation Guard's Gowen Field and nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base provide military jobs and boost the region's consumer economy. Financial Services: Wells Fargo, Citicorp, and U.S. Bank are major employers in the financial sector. Health insurer Blue Cross of Idaho also makes a significant economic contribution to the regional economy.
  

  Boise Remains a Leader in Semiconductor Technology

• History

  Historically, Boise served as a supply hub for mining camps in the mountainous regions of the Gem State. Timber also played a major role in building Boise's economy; Weyerhaeuser and Boise Cascade remain major employers. Agricultural giant Simplot cashes in on Idaho's potato crop with frozen foods subsidiary Ore-Ida, major cattle holdings and fertilizer. Amalgamated Sugar also headquarters in Idaho's financial center. Technology leaders Hewlett Packard Industries, Morrison Knudsen and Micron Technologies fueled Boise's technological and economic growth in the 1990s. These high tech leaders attracted more recent additions such as MPC Computers, Sybase and Microsoft-owned Proclarity. While trying to build a diversified economy, Boise retains a strong focus on attracting and developing technology.
  

  HP in Boise- A Major Employer in Idaho's Financial Center

• Potential

  As Idaho's financial center, Boise continues to attract new companies and enjoys the steady growth of an educated work force. Boise consistently ranks in the top ten nationally for the number of corporate headquarters per population size. Boise earns tops marks from Forbes, Time and the Wall Street Journal for its favorable business climate, contributing to Idaho's ranking as one of the fastest growing states.
  

  Idaho's Financial Center- Boise

• Expert Insight

  Idaho promises a variety of incentives for current companies and start-ups located in Boise, including a variety of tax exemptions and investment credits. As the financial center of Idaho, Boise offers diverse services to business through the Idaho Business and Economic Development, Simplot/Micron Instructional Technical Center and Boise Future Foundation. The state strives to maintain a favorable business climate through low tax rates, grants, sales tax credits and exemptions, and reasonable development fees. Boise remains an attract location for headquartering corporations due to a state tax abatement of up to $2 million for new construction of headquarter facilities.

References & Resources

• Boise Valley Business Climate
• Idaho Business Incentives
• Boise Employment Sector Demographics