Regional news

Southwestern Idaho’s single-family home sales – August 2024 and 2025

Regional labor market information

Figure 2.

Southwestern Idaho job postings	Aug-24	Aug-25	% change	# change
Unique postings	12,664	12,664	-1.1%	-144
Days posted	15	15	26.7%	4
Number of employers	2,903	2,903	2.7%	79
Advertised wage	$28.04	$29.72	4.6%	$1.32
Share wage advertisements	52%	56%	7.7%	4%
Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast

Figure 3.

Top occupations by unique job postings in southwestern Idaho	Postings, Aug-25	Postings, Aug-24	Year over year % change
Registered nurses	542	648	-16.4%
Customer service representatives	287	238	20.6%
Retail salespersons	244	322	-24.2%
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	220	250	-12.0%
Scientific products	176	227	-22.5%
Software developers	159	180	-11.7%
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	153	168	-8.9%
Tractor-trailer truck drivers	148	200	-26.0%
Project managers	144	137	5.1%
Business development and sales managers	141	118	19.5%
Account managers and representatives	91	88	3.4%
Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast

Regional news

Ada County

• Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) in Meridian is on the market according to its president, Dr. Tracy Farnsworth. Its investors, comprised of Rice University and private equity firm TPG, publicly announced plans to sell the college and its programs within the next six to 12 months. The medical school opened in 2016, partnering with Idaho State University (ISU). Recently, ISU hired Tripp Umbach to head a $100,000 study to determine the feasibility and impact of such a purchase. A cost assessment will be conducted by a separate firm. Idaho has one of the lowest ratios of physicians to population of all states. Source: Idaho Statesman

• Boise State University (BSU) was awarded a National Science Foundation grant for $7.4 million. The funds are to develop a research and education center focused on semiconductor manufacturing workforce and the skills needed to grow the sector. BSU acknowledged this is the largest grant it has received and helps promote its goal to reach “R1” research status, a designation indicating high levels of research activity. Source: Idaho Press

• The J.R. Simplot Co. announced it changed its name and organizational structure. The Simplot Co. is the new global parent company for all Simplot-related companies. The organizational changes will have little impact on routine operations, including vender and customer relationships, but will streamline management of global and domestic operations. The company has just over 15,000 employees with seasonal volatility impacting this estimate at any given time, according to the company spokesperson. Source: Capital Press

• Athletic Club Boise surpassed 6,250 season ticket deposits, setting a new United Soccer League record for sales before its first game. The men’s season is scheduled to begin in 2026 while the women’s team season starts in 2027. The new stadium is being built in partnership with Ada County and will initially have a capacity of 7,050 seats. It is planned to be expandable to over 11,000 seats. Source: Idaho Business Review

Canyon County

• The Nampa Council voted to sell the Ford Idaho Center starting with a threshold bid of $75 million. Nampa leadership initially considered selling to the College of Western Idaho but have now opened the bidding to the public. Source: Idaho News 6

• Canyon County Commissioners approved $7.5 million to build a new women’s jail. The community voted down the bond request four times. The Canyon County Sheriff Office’s budget will fund the capital investment. Source: Idaho Press

Gem County

• Dream Flights hosted war veterans from the Cottages Assisted Living and Memory Care at the Emmett Municipal Airport. The senior-aged veterans were taken for complimentary rides aboard a 1940 Boeing Stearman World War II biplane. Dream Flights is a nonprofit based out of Nevada that works to honor veterans with plaques and a 10–15-minute flight in recognition of their national service. Source: Idaho Press

Owyhee County

• Danielle Forsberg of Homedale High School has earned the 2025 Art Educator of the Year Award given out by the Idaho Art Educators Association. This is her 11th year as part of Homedale’s faculty. She returned to college after staying home to raise her five children. Source: The Owyhee Avalanche

Valley County

• Valley County Commissioners approved a 93% reduction to the area of impact around the city of McCall. These areas of impact are not part of the city but must follow the city zoning regulations. Donnelly’s area of impact was reduced by about 20%. Impact area residents do not pay taxes or vote for the city council, which potentially creates an issue with lack of representation according to the commissioners. The reductions will be implemented Jan. 1, 2026, and the areas will entirely be under the control of Valley County Commissioners. Source: Boise State Public Radio

Ground breakings

• Nampa Christian Housing broke ground on its second senior housing facility in Nampa. It will provide affordable housing for 40 senior citizens by 2028. The facility is comprised of apartments that will offer reduced rent along with community programming and supportive resources. The new facility will be named Walt’s Place. The first project, Golden Glow Tower, was completed in 1969 by the first Christian church. Source: Idaho Press

• Tamarack Resort started construction of its 100-slip marina at Poison Creek Campground. The marina is in Cascade State Park and signed a 20-year lease through Idaho Parks and Recreation. The grand opening is scheduled for Memorial Day, 2026. Source: The Star-News

• rPlus Energies broke ground on the Pleasant Valley Solar 2 project. It will supply solar energy to the Meta data center in Kuna. It garnered $100 million in tax equity financing to support it which will provide 125 megawatts to the area. Sundt Construction oversees building the project which will create 200 construction jobs during the building phase. Source: Idaho Business Review

• Idaho Botanical Gardens broke ground on its 32-acre expansion that will happen during three phases. The first phase includes the Borbonus Family Arboretum, infrastructure and underground utility upgrades, creating expanded parking in the new ‘parking garden’ and a new event lawn sponsored by Regence BlueShield of Idaho. This first 10 acres is estimated to cost $15 million, with $6 million in donations already secured. Future phases will provide a 22,000 square foot visitor and education center, vegetable and scholar gardens, a horticulture therapy garden and a permanent home for the Boise Farmers Market. Source: Idaho Press

Openings

• The Griddle opened its sixth restaurant in the Tilian Apartments next to Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell. This is the second new Griddle restaurant to open in 2025. Source: Idaho Statesman

• A ribbon cutting was held at the new 14,000 square foot plant and headquarters for Teton Valley Brands in Caldwell. The company moved from a location in Nampa and partners with Boise-based Snake River Farms that provides their American Wagyu beef tallow for the potato products. Source: Idaho News 6  

• The Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa celebrated the grand opening of its $3.5 million Global War on Terror expansion. The exhibit includes artifacts and personal items donated by veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It displays a timeline from World War I through the Global War on Terror. Visitors can reflect on these events in a space dedicated to capturing the emotions. Source: Idaho News 6

• Chits & Chats opened in the Boise Bench area offering board games and instruction, a limited food menu and adult beverages in a kid-friendly environment. The use of games is by membership or hourly rental. However, customers are free to bring their own games or just hang out. Source: Idaho Statesman

• The College of Western Idaho (CWI) celebrated its new 60,000 square foot facility in Nampa. It consolidates its health science programs under one roof on the main campus and will serve 2,100 registered students. Source: KTVB News

• CWI hosted a grand opening at its new agricultural sciences complex — a 40-acre facility with new hands-on classrooms and a professionally landscaped arboretum. The contract for landscaping was carried out by a CWI graduate. Source: Idaho News 6 

• Aubergine Kitchen opened in Meridian with a motto of “eat better, feel better’. It is a Utah-based chain that offers fresh ingredients and scratch recipes. Source: Idaho Statesman

• Bank of America opened four branches over the last three months with one in Nampa, two in Meridian and one in Boise. It is the second largest bank in the nation and spent $26 million on these four new branches. This comes at a time when many banks are downsizing. Bank of America closed its bricks and mortar locations in the Treasure Valley after the Great Recession. Its new initiative is to open 150 new branches nationally by the end of 2027. Source: Idaho Statesman

• Vertical View has expanded its climbing gym to include a ropes course in Meridian. Source: Idaho Statesman

• The Boise Airport opened its new retail and dining options. The new choices for eating prior to a flight include Treefort Outpost Food + Drink, Turas Flights and Bites, The STIL, Waffle Me Up and the Idaho Tap House. New retail store fronts are Boise Depot and Sawtooth Essentials. Source: KTVB News

Closures

• The Heritage Social Club in Garden City closed its doors after operating as a music venue and bar for two and a half years. It sold its liquor license with a new tenant moving into the space before the end of the year. Source: Idaho Statesman

• The Pork Belly in Kuna is closed due to the owners’ retirement. Source: Idaho Statesman

• The Great Wall in Boise closed after 45 years. The longstanding restaurant owner reported its lease agreement was not renewed by the property management company. Source: Idaho Statesman

• The Lucky Palace Chinese Restaurant in Boise is closing after 17 years. Its lease agreement was not renewed. Source: Idaho Statesman

• The Brunswick, a coffee shop and event center in a historic building in Emmett closed. The owner plans to open a different event center on family property in Garden Valley. Source: Idaho Statesman

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This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY26 as part of the Workforce Information grant (41%) and state/nonfederal funds (59%) totaling $860,595.

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