POCATELLO IDAHO

Founded in 1889, Pocatello is known as the “Gate City” or The Gateway to the Northwest. As pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail , they passed through the Portneuf Gap south of town.  Stage, freight lines and the railroad soon followed, turning our community into a trade center and transportation junction for the west.  Pocatello still carries on this tradition with excellent air, rail, and ground transportation at the intersection of I-15 & I-86.  We offer access to cutting-edge telecommunications services and are home to many high technology companies.  We have also been recognized by Forbes.com as a “Best Small Place for Business” four years in a row, as well as ranked one of the top ten small places to move and raise a family according to Primary Relocation and World ERC.

Nestled at 4,450 feet in the western foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Pocatello enjoys a four-season climate, allowing outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy world-class skiing, snowmobiling, boating, hiking, rock-climbing, biking, and hunting. Pocatello has numerous parks, tennis courts, golf courses, bike lanes, jogging paths, a youth soccer program, hiking trails, a zoo, an aviary, an aquatic center, a 13-mile Green Belt, and a beautiful historic downtown district.

A two-hour drive puts you on the doorstep of world-class resorts including Sun Valley, Grand Targhee, Jackson Hole, and Park City, and many scenic vacation spots such as Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Island Park, Bear Lake and more. A short distance away, Salt Lake City and Boise offer metropolitan attractions such as theatre, symphony, sporting events, fine dining, and shopping.

In the 2000 census the population of Pocatello was 51,466 and it’s sister city of Chubbuck was 9,700 with an area population of 77,181. The growth rate has averaged 4% per year with 2006 at closer to 7%.

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY

Idaho State University is a public doctoral/research-intensive university. Meeting the needs of a diverse population, ISU offers certificates as well as associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees.As the state designated leader in providing education for health professionals, ISU offers a solid education in a variety of health-related fields.Students leave ISU prepared for exciting careers after studying in one of its seven colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Technology.                                          -Idaho State University

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH 

Bannock Development Corporation (BDC) is a private, non-profit economic development organization working for continued growth and diversity in Bannock County, Idaho. Bannock Development Corporation is located in Pocatello, Idaho, a city with a diverse economy nurtured by an increasing emergence of new industries, including high technology and back office operations. The Pocatello-area economy also thrives on a collection of mature industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture. BDC offers business assistance along with many informative resources.

Hoku Materials, a division of Hoku Scientific Inc, (NASDAQ:HOKU), announced on January 8, 2007 it plans to build a $350 million polysilicon production plant in Pocatello with a payroll of 200 when the plant initiates operations.  The City of Pocatello has reserved 450 acres of vacant land for Hoku's facilities and future expansion.  Subject to financing and other conditions, engineering and construction is planned to begin in the coming months and Hoku expects that the plant will be operational in late 2008.                                                                                  -Bannock Development Corporation

Update:  Hoku broke ground in March 2007. $370 million dollar contract signed with Sanyo.  $678 million contract signed with Suntech Sign.

Heinz Frozen Food- Heinz produces a wide variety of frozen food products including appetizers and entrees. Heinz currently has 725 employees. In 2006 they added several new positions from entry to managerial level They have dramatically increased their production during 2006. At the beginnning of the year they were producing 7.5 million cases, and now as 2006 comes to a close they are producing 15 million cases. In addittion to this amazing growth they will be adding a new food line in April of 2007.

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is a leader in the design and manufacture of silicon solutions for the real world. As a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal semiconductor products, mixed-signal foundry services and structured digital products, AMIS is committed to providing customers in the automotive, medical and industrial markets with optimal value, quickest time-to-market semiconductor solutions. Offering unparalleled manufacturing flexibility and dedication to customer service, AMI  Semiconductor operates globally with headquarters in Pocatello, Idaho, European corporate offices in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and a network of sales and design centers located in the key markets of the North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

HEALTHCARE

Portneuf Medical Center

The Portneuf Heart and Vascular Center provides comprehensive cardiac care that includes beating heart surgery, coronary intervention, cardiac rehabilitation and a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. At the center's heart is a compassionate team of borad-certified physicians and highly trained nurses whose expertise means recovery rates that are several days faster than the national average. Portneuf Medical Center now offers 24/7 coverage for cardiac, thoracic, and vascular emergencies.  Portneuf Cancer Center is one of approximately 1,500 cancer centers in the U.S. that have been approved by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Approval by the Commission on Cancer is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancers. To receive approval, our cancer program underwent a rigorous evaluation process and a review of its performance. In order to maintain approval, facilities with approved cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.