BUSINESS RESOURCES

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Idaho has been called “flexible and responsive” in contrast to other states in the region. High ranking officials operate on a first-name basis. The governor introduces himself with, “Hi, I’m Brad.” This is Idaho – friendly, casual, and flexible, yet professional. Organizations seeking assistance from CdAEDC often begin with introductions; then they find out what you need, and introduce you to the right people and paths to get you there.

ASSISTANCE

STARTING A BUSINESS

Are you eager to start a business but not sure where to start? The Idaho Biz Help site provides forms, contacts, wizards and checklists to get you started, all in one place. Pass it on!

Idaho Small Business Development Center The Idaho Small Business Development Center empowers business success through no-cost and confidential consulting and affordable trainings to small businesses throughout our state. Their website offers a wealth of resources, including licensing and paperwork that should be submitted, how to register a business, as well as contacts for the various government organizations.

North Idaho Small Business Development Center helps existing businesses or start-ups thrive and grow through no-cost confidential coaching, affordable training, and resources. They can help you with evaluating your idea, forms and licenses, financing and loans, and preparing a business plan. They are there to help guide you throughout the entire startup process (including navigating the resources for the Idaho Small Business Development Center). In addition, the office provides mentorship assistance to help small businesses assess their leadership strengths to see where they need to fill gaps to address growth.

NIC Venture Network Programs is your One-Stop Learning Hub for Business Success.

The North Idaho College Venture Network is a hub of on-campus resources and services dedicated to helping you launch, build, and grow your business or product idea. All Venture Network programs are accessible to both regional community members and students, all conveniently located on North Idaho College’s downtown Coeur d’Alene Campus.

PANHANDLE AREA COUNCIL (PAC)

Panhandle Area Council, Inc. (PAC), is an Economic Development Agency organized to aid in diversifying and stabilizing the area’s economy. Members of the Council are elected officials from North Idaho Cities and Counties, as well as, the Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai Indian Tribes. The Council serves the five northern counties of Idaho: Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, and Shoshone.

Services PAC Provides:

Low-Interest Loans
Business Counseling
Grant Writing and Administration
Government Procurement Assistance
Economic Development Planning
Business Incubator for Start-Up and Expanding Businesses

PANHANDLE AREA COUNCIL

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

We are blessed to have four very active chambers in our community. These organizations provide the perfect opportunity to network and become engaged in the community:

Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce

Post Falls Chamber of Commerce

Hayden Chamber of Commerce

Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

WORKFORCE

WORKFORCE

The combined Coeur d’Alene and Spokane MSA’s draw from a rich, diverse population of over 750,000 people, with 346,000 highly-trained and readily available workforce – 37 percent of whom have an Associate’s Degree or higher and another 27 percent with some level of higher education. Local business owners cite productivity, work ethics, low absenteeism, and low turnover rates as examples of workforce excellence. Additionally, Idaho is a “right to work” state, with only a small percentage (8%) of the workforce unionized.

Companies throughout the region rely on the 25 colleges and universities to provide comprehensive and targeted training programs. There are over 100,000 students earning technical certifications and advanced degrees providing a well-trained and work-ready employment resource.

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Idaho Department of Labor Support Services is available to help keep employees ahead of the curve in the ever-changing work environment.

Services include:

Customized Recruiting Services, including one-on-one assistance to help find, screen and hire the right employees, along with access to the local office to conduct interviews or hold a job fair
Customized Training Services, including on-the-job training programs that develop skills customized to your business processes
Customized on-site consultations to assess workforce needs from state workforce experts
Workforce Development Training Funds as reimbursement for employers who are expanding or trying to retain at least five positions

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

NIC WORKFORCE TRAINING

NIC’s Customized Workforce Training Department will work with your business and/or organization to create adaptable, affordable learning solutions. They will meet with you one-on-one to assess your needs and discuss how they can develop training that meets your employee and organizational goals. With a variety of delivery methods and a diverse list of training courses, you will get the personal attention needed with excellent instructors and trainers.

Increase your business profitability
Strengthen the productivity of your workforce
Improve the performance of your supervisors
Maintain intellectual property
Reduce employee turnover
Gain a competitive edge
Successfully implement innovation
Make change work in your favor

AVISTA

Focused on providing safe, reliable and responsible gas and electric services since 1889.

Phone: (800) 227-9187