Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – SQM Group

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – SQM Group, a call center industry research firm, has expanded its operation with the opening of a new state-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art research call center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with the capacity for up to 200 workstations. SQM is a leading North American call center industry Voice of the Customer research firm expert for measuring and improving organizations’ first call resolution (FCR) and customer satisfaction. SQM clients are Fortune 500 companies such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, U.S. Bank, Office Max, Capital One and Marriott. To learn more, visit www.sqmgroup.com.

Four IGEM Innovation Grants to the University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho – The Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) Council awarded four IGEM Innovation Grants to the University of Idaho  IGEM Grant funds leverage private-­‐industry guidance and the talent and expertise of Idaho’s research universities to commercialize innovative and viable technologies that will strengthen Idaho’s economy. The following projects at the University of Idaho were chosen by the IGEM Council to receive funding:

 • Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) -­‐ “Bio-­‐Concrete,” $114,864 – Commercial viability of MICP “bio-­‐concrete” to strengthen soils around existing structures
 • Commercializing Aquatic Animal Health Products, $124,021 – Addressing critical regulatory requirements for commercialization of two aquatic animal health products
 • Pesticide Application Technology, $46,164 – Innovative new spraying system designed to increase the efficiency of pesticide applications (in collaboration with GenZ Technology)
 • High Speed Digital Package Measurement and Modeling for Next Generation Memory Modules, $150,000 – Infrastructure improvements at the University of Idaho for the purpose of measuring, modeling and developing techniques that enable rapid development the next generation of high speed memory products and packages
 • Determine Viability of Automated Quantitative Detection of E. coli O157:H7 at a Beef Processing Facility, $78,076 – Method that will combine quantitative PCR to rapidly screen for O157 coupled with confirmatory bacterial colony growth and identification on differential medium using imaging and unique recognition software.

More details about these projects and IGEM Grants are available at http://commerce.idaho.gov.

Idaho Ranked No. 7 Out of 10 Most Entrepreneurial States

According to an article in CNN Money Idaho has been ranked No. 7 out of 10 Most Entrepreneurial States here is what the article said: 

 

2012 startup rate: 410 per 100,000 adults

Don't be fooled by the calm mountains and rivers of Idaho's picturesque Boise Valley. Nestled in their midst is a burgeoning hub for technology and science startups.

Big names like Micron Technology and Microsoft already operate in the state, and are inspiring a new breed of tech companies hoping to follow their lead.

Idaho's national laboratory is spurring innovation in technology, nuclear science and engineering, said Clark Krause, executive director of the Boise Valley Economic Partnership. Meanwhile, colleges in the state offer specialized business courses for budding entrepreneurs, he said.

New firms can take advantage of unique initiatives like the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce's "B Launched" competition, which awards promising young entrepreneurs funding to build their ideas into startups. Growing businesses can get tax credits for adding new jobs and expanding facilities.

While high personal income and business taxes can be a turnoff, overall living costs are low and Idaho is a strong hydropower state so entrepreneurs can save on electricity bills. 

To see the other 9 states go here: 10 Most Entrepreneurial States

Lewiston Idaho: Frozen MOTO

The Lewiston snow-bike company continues to make strides in Idaho’s rec-tech industry

Frozen MOTO, a start-up company from Lewiston, is quickly gaining international attention and recognition for its groundbreaking snow bikes.  Earlier this year, the company entertained a group of Russian buyers, demonstrated the snow bikes and showed how well the snow bikes performed on various terrains. 

The Frozen MOTO Industries first generation snow bike was created in 2010 by Randy Gentry.  Over the next year Dan Shanahan became involved with Frozen MOTO and together, Gentry and Shanahan produced the next generation system, model year 2012, that incorporated elements of the first system with additional refinement – resulting in the SMX and SMR systems.  Shanahan took over the business from Gentry in the summer of 2012 and moved the company to Lewiston while continuing to work on improving both the technology and process for producing the newest system on the market for 2013. 

“I think that snow biking has a potential to be one of those things that explodes on the international scene prior to exploding in the U.S.,” Shanahan said. 

That’s why showcasing the snow bikes in ideal conditions to the Russian buyers was so important; Shanahan wanted to demonstrate that the equipment and technology had wide-reaching recreational advantages. The Frozen MOTO team guided their visitors up through the state from Boise to Lewiston and took the opportunity to test the snow bikes in different locations.  Now the buyers have returned to Russia and are in the process of negotiating orders and distribution contracts with the Frozen MOTO team, as well as working on dealer development in Russia. Being located in Lewiston has significant advantages, as the city has Idaho’s only seaport, giving the company unique benefits when it comes to shipping and production needs.  Frozen MOTO also has developed excellent relationships with top companies within sister industries  in the area – such as snowmobiling and motocross – since the Frozen MOTO snow bikes are essentially a hybrid of the two.  These relationships provide insight that allows the team to address components from different perspectives while creating and refining the best product possible. 

Frozen MOTO was chosen to be a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant recipient, a grant program distributed by Idaho Commerce.  The company is planning to use the grant funds to travel to Russia in November for three weeks to continue developing dealers and driving export sales.  Shanahan believes Frozen MOTO’s marketing efforts are better suited driving sales internationally, even though it may cost a little more to begin with.  Additionally, Shanahan has some new leads in Japan and will be hosting a Japanese group in mid-June. 

To learn more about Frozen MOTO or to order a custom snow bike, visit www.frozenmoto.com

Spokane, Wash. – Garco/ALSC/LMN

Spokane, Wash. – Garco/ALSC/LMN (Garco Construction, ALSC Architects and LMN Architects) has been selected by The Spokane Public Facilities District for the Spokane Convention Center Completion Project. The estimated $50 million convention center and shoreline improvement project will provide more than 700 new jobs for the region as well as bring in thousands of additional visitors and their dollars. More information is available at www.spokanepfd.org.

Lewiston, Idaho – The Port of Lewiston

Lewiston, Idaho – The Port of Lewiston, the most inland seaport on the West Coast, is doubling the size of its container loading dock. The $2.23 million expansion will add some 150 feet to the port’s 125-­‐foot dock. The project is expected to take 95 days and be finished by the end of the summer.

Additionally, the Port of Lewiston’s Harry Wall Industrial Park is getting a new tenant. FedEx Ground is constructing a package distribution center at the park. The company based its site choice on the land’s proximity to major highways, customers’ distribution centers and potential employees. The 37,000-­‐ square-­‐foot center will be ready in the summer of 2013. To learn more about the Port of Lewiston, visit www.portoflewiston.com.

Happy Small Business Week 2013! #SWB2013