Lewiston-Clarkson Area Experiences Construction Growth

The Lewiston-Clarkston metropolitan area is experiencing a construction boom. The area saw a 36 percent increase in construction jobs in 2016, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. The area tied Grand Rapids, North Dakota-Minnesota area for highest increase in construction jobs in 2016.

Roughly half of the jobs were the result of large capital improvement projects by Clearwater Paper and Vista Outdoor. The other half were spread over building construction companies and specialty trade contractors. 


To learn more, visit www.lewis-clarkvalley.org or call Valley Vision at (208) 799-9083.

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Continues to Grow in the Inland Northwest

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) announced 100 new assembler openings and a starting wage increase to $13.50 per hour during a Community Open House celebrating the fifth anniversary of SEL Lewiston. SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world.

In addition, SEL has purchased a 28,000 sq. ft. building in Spokane Valley, Washington. SEL has leased space at the Spokane Industrial Park since opening its Spokane branch in 2012. In the past four years, the SEL Spokane team has grown from 6 to 60 employees. With an occupancy rate of 115, the new building will provide room for the company to continue to grow its presence in the greater Spokane region.

To learn more, visit https://selinc.com/company/newsroom.

Bennett Lumber Products Recognized as Small Business of the Month for February

Bennett Lumber Products of Princeton, Idaho was named by U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, as the Small Business of the Month for February 2017. Bennett Lumber will be recognized in the Congressional Record of the U.S. Senate. 

As stated by Risch in the press release, “Bennett Lumber epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit of Idaho. It is not easy to grow and adapt in the ever-changing regulatory climate that impacts small business owners, especially those who deal with natural resources, but these challenges have not kept Bennett Lumber from thriving while at the same time making great efforts to manage land and forests sustainably. I am proud of the work that Bennett Lumber continues to do in Idaho and Washington, and am pleased to distinguish this company as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Month.”

Led by a longtime lumberman, Mr. Frank Bennett, Bennett Lumber Products, Inc. is a family owned and operated company headquartered in Princeton, Idaho. The company has two highly efficient mills, one in Princeton, Idaho and the other in Clarkston, Washington. Bennett Lumber also owns and sustainably manages approximately 70,000 acres of forest lands throughout the Northwest.

To learn more, read the press release or visit https://blpi.com.

Qualfon Growing in the Inland Northwest

Qualfon, a global provider of contact center, back-office, and business process outsourcing services, is growing in the Inland Northwest, according to an article in the Bonner County Daily Bee. Qualfon's Coeur d'Alene office is hiring 100 people. Between the three sites in the area, the company estimates it will add 300 people within the next few months.

Graham Johnson, Coeur d'Alene site director, said Qualfon is always hiring, but it will be doubling its hiring at the Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Liberty Lake sites as its facilities allow.