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Industrial Development Program

The Boundary County Fairgrounds Site: Its excellent infrastructure and location adjacent to two national rail lines, U.S. Highway 95, State Route 2, Crown Pacific and Downtown Bonners Ferry make it well suited for industrial development

   Industrial development will focus on five complementary targets (see Figure 4.2). Each will tap existing resources or assets. The sectors are:

* Manufacturing: Value-added forest and agricultural products
* Distribution, Warehousing & Intermodal:
* Foreign Trade Subzone
* Business Incubation: Growing Local Business
* Alternative Energy: Biomass, Wind, Solar

    During 2001-2, the County will begin the process of relocating the County Fairgrounds. Vacated land and adjacent recreation playfields will be redeveloped as an industrial park with access to rail. The Partnership should seek appropriate grants for this purpose, using County land and infrastructure as local match.

    Subject to results of an ongoing feasibility study, the Partnership will seek to build a business incubator at the Fairgrounds site. The incubator will be affiliated with the University of Idaho's Idaho Business Incubation Network (IBIN), a statewide support program that provides a wide variety of resources and technical assistance to member incubators. IBIN staff will assist with incubator funding and development. Once constructed, the incubator will focus on helping grow local businesses linked to value-added forest and agricultural products.

    The Partnership will work to expand its existing strength in power generation. Assisted by Panhandle Lakes RC&D, the University of Idaho (UI), and Panhandle Area Council (PAC), it will conduct feasibility studies on wind and solar power generation. Subject to positive results, the Partnership will seek to fund and build appropriate facilities. 

    To support the Tribe's biomass power generation project, the Partnership will encourage development of hybrid poplar tree farms throughout the county. Workshops for area farmers and rural landholders will be organized to support this effort. The RC&D and UI will be asked to provide specialists to guide the effort. Over time, the hybrid poplar industry is likely to provide fiber for lumber and value-added forest products as well as for biomass power generation.

    The Manager will create a recruitment program targeting private sector candidates for a Foreign Trade Subzone and distribution center at the Fairgrounds Industrial Park. PAC, Idaho Department of Commerce (IDOC) and UI will be asked to assist in the effort. 

    The Manager and Partnership will seek rail lines' support to develop intermodal facilities at the Industrial Park to attract distribution, warehousing and value-added manufacturing. Initially, these facilities will be simple, limited primarily to lift equipment to load containers and trailers on and off trains. More sophisticated equipment will be sought if justified by demand. Intermodal and Foreign Trade Subzone opportunities combined with national rail service will be strong attractions for recruitment.

    The Manager will lead an effort to expand and relocate the farmers market. By using buildings and land at an old grain warehouse complex, the farmers market could become a year-round operation. This will encourage small business startups in value-added agriculture, specialty crops, crafts and arts. The Manager will work closely with IDOC to build the program and guide farmers market staff. The market itself should be linked to the business incubator, both for business education and for development of a commercial kitchen. The latter will be essential in building companies focused on food processing. 

    The Boundary County Airport Improvement Plan (AIP) outlines a comprehensive list of enhancements to the county facility, which would ensure that the airport would continue to be an asset to the economic development of the region. Boundary County has been in communication with the Idaho Division of Aeronautics and FAA to seek grant funding for Phase 1 of the improvements, about $1,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2002. The Phase 1 improvements under the AIP would include runway rehabilitation and 600-feet extension, parallel taxiway, land acquisition, and clearing of obstructions. This extension is strategically important. If the grant application is unsuccessful, the Manager, County and PAC will work together to seek funds for this effort. Subsequent to the extension, the Manager and Airport Board will work to market the airport to aviation-oriented businesses and aviation enthusiasts as an event destination.

    As previously discussed, wastewater disposal for the airport commercial/industrial park will depend upon on-site drainfields for the foreseeable future. Computations have been included in the Appendix, which demonstrates that 0.08 acres of drainfield area would be required for every ten employees in the industrial park. Additional land area must be reserved for possible drainfield replacement. It is important to note that wastewater from the airport commercial/industrial park which is disposed to subsurface drainfields, must only contain contents typical of normal domestic wastewater.