March 2018

Sanpete County, Utah was established in 1850 and is nestled between the Wasatch Plateau on its eastern side and the San Pitch Mountains to the west. This largely agricultural region is also known for being a popular travel and tourist destination. From snowmobiling to the Arapeen trail, rock climbing and golf courses, Sanpete has something for all tastes. We spoke with Sanpete County Economic Development Director Kevin Christensen about the area and its many attractions.

Heber Valley Tourism & Economic Development sprang up in 2012, and the melding of the chamber of commerce, economic development organization and tourism board made this a unique venture. It makes doing business easy by incorporating all of these into one entity. We spoke with the Wasatch County Economic Development Executive Director Ryan Starks.

The Valley Vision public-private partnership was created by the local business community to focus on economic development and growth in the Lewis-Clark Valley. The area is composed of two counties in different states: Nez Perce County in Idaho and Asotin County in Washington. The reason for the collaboration between the two is that the city of Lewiston, Idaho and the city of Clarkson, Washington are only half a mile apart, separated by the Snake River.

Nestled between the rolling hills of the Palouse Region to the west and the forested mountains of the east is Latah County, Idaho. In 2016, a five-entity organization was founded to bring business, government, education and community leadership together for the purpose of strengthening Latah County as a whole. Together, the University of Idaho, the City of Moscow, Latah County, Moscow Chamber, the Avista Corporation and Emsi formed The Partnership for Economic Prosperity, Inc. (PEP).

Historically, the area of Twin Falls was known for its location between larger cities in Idaho that were founded much earlier. In 1900, it was composed primarily of desert until Ira B. Perrine, an entrepreneurial-minded farmer and investor made plans to build a canal system that would irrigate the area and make it productive farmland. Agriculture is still the backbone of the economy in Twin Falls today. There is a wide assortment of food produced in the area including potatoes, sugar beets, onions, wheat, dairy and beans.

The southwestern Ohio city of Springfield in Clark County meets the needs of businesses of all sizes with its ideal location, an eager workforce and many services and attractions. The 140-year-old Chamber of Greater Springfield – a not-for-profit membership-based organization with a partnership of over eight hundred businesses representing about 12,000 employees –works to improve and retain existing businesses while welcoming new companies in many sectors, including automotive, food and technology.

One of the most historic cities in the United States, the City of San Antonio has a right to be proud. Named in 1691 during a Spanish expedition for Saint Anthony of Padua, one of the most canonized saints, the area grew and was later founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost. The city was an outgrowth of the fortified settlement Royal Presidio of San António de Béjar in 1718, constructed to protect the Mission San António de Valero, which later played a pivotal role during the Texas Revolution of 1835 to 1836, becoming known around the world as The Alamo. Today, the former Franciscan monastery is a state landmark, one of the best-known in the United States.

From the founding of the Columbia River Paper Company in 1885 to the present, the City of Camas in Clark County, Washington – which borders the City of Washougal on the east side – has continued to attract new industries and residents. Clark County is the third-fastest growing county in the state, and this does not come as a surprise to Paul Dennis, president and chief executive officer of the Camas-Washougal Economic Development Association (CWEDA).