Regional news
North Central Idaho
- Effective Jan. 1, 2025, St. Mary’s Health (Cottonwood) and Clearwater Valley Health (Orofino) hospitals will terminate their contracts with Regence BlueShield. Regence BlueShield enrollees will be able to receive “in-network” care at both hospitals during the 12-month grace period throughout all of 2025 but will be considered out of network Jan. 1, 2026. Source: Clearwater Valley Health, St. Mary’s Health
- The Nez Perce Tribe finalized adoption of a Tribal Uniform Commercial Code Secured Transaction Act to increase economic opportunities and improve access to capital for tribal businesses. Source: Nez Perce Tribe
Nez Perce County
- All of Lewiston’s CCI/Speer employees have been transferred to new owner Czechoslovak Group, effective with the sale by Vista Outdoor that closed Nov. 27. CCI/Speer is one of the top three employers by employee count in both Nez Perce County and within the north central region. Along with Lewiston, the transaction includes Vista Outdoor’s sporting products manufacturing operations (renamed The Kinetic Group) in Minnesota (Anoka), Arkansas (Lonoke) and Oregon (Sweet Home). No new local job opportunities have been posted since the change of company ownership occurred. Source: Vista Outdoor, Idaho Department of Labor
Comparison of U.S. operations of Czechoslovak Group and The Kinetic Group:
Figure 1.| U.S. operations only | The Kinetic Group | Czechoslovak Group |
|---|---|---|
| Annual sales | $1.5 billion | $250 million (group global sales total is $3.3 billion) |
| U.S. employees | 3,800 (one-third in Lewiston) | 300 |
| Locations | Idaho (Lewiston), Minnesota (Anoka), Arkansas (Lonoke) and Oregon (Sweet Home). | Arkansas (Little Rock) and Missouri (Ozark). Imports/distributes Perazzi shotguns in Azusa, California. |
| Brands | Federal, Remington, CCI, HEVI-Shot and Speer. | Fiocchi (acquired in 2022) |
| Ammo sales breakdown | No. 1 in the U.S. for sales of commercial and law enforcement ammunition. | 80% civilian and 20% defense and law enforcement. |
| Operating profit | $.4 billion | |
| Transaction profit | $2.2 billion |
- Lewis-Clark State College reported 18% growth in fall 2024 of career technical education program enrollments compared to one year ago. Top programs include diesel (38 students), graphic communications (25 students), auto mechanics (25 students), welding, fire service and industrial electronics. Source: Lewis-Clark State College
- The Lapwai School District has announced plans to build a new Career Technical Education Center facility to expand its carpentry and fabrication programs. The new building will be adjacent to the current career technical building and funding for the $1.3 million project will come from grants, private donations and local education program funds. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- EC Motorsports has begun construction of a sprint boat racing track with plans to host two racing events in 2025. Source: Big Country News
- St. Joseph Regional Medical Center was one of three Idaho hospitals recognized as high performing in maternity care by U.S. News and World Report. This is the third consecutive year the medical center has been recognized for this achievement. Source: St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, U.S. News and World Report
- United Airlines will discontinue flights between the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport and Denver, effective Jan. 31, 2025. This daily service began in October 2021 and is the only flight United Airlines offers from the regional airport. Source: Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport
- Avista Utilities will be rebuilding eight miles of transmission lines along Stagecoach Road (south of Lewiston). The wood poles will be replaced with new steel poles and the conductor will be upgraded. Due to a combination of poor road conditions and planned utility work, the road will be closed for public access through the end of February 2025. Avista plans to begin work at the beginning of February through the end of May 2025. Source: Big Country News
- Freedom Tires was selected as one of seven Idaho Local Gems by U.S. Senator Jim Risch. The mobile tire service company serves customers from Lewiston to Moscow. Source: Big Country News
- Big Lots announced that all U.S. retail stores are in the process of closing. Current Idaho locations include Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls and Meridian. Source: Big Lots
Idaho County
- The City of Grangeville was awarded a $65,000 wastewater planning study grant by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Total project cost is estimated at $256,000. Source: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
- The Nez Perce Tribe has been awarded a $1.9 million America the Beautiful Challenge grant to restore 22 acres of an abandoned hydraulic mine in Leggett Creek near Elk City. The project will focus on reducing excess sediment and reducing erosion. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- Sidney Resources has secured $8 million in funding to build a 12,000 square foot milling and processing facility in Warren, Idaho. Construction will begin in Spring 2025 with completion expected by the end of 2025. The company recently announced a 1,900 acre expansion in the Warren District Project that brings total company land holdings to 3,174 acres. Source: Sidney Resources
- The Idaho State Board of Education approved Mountain View School District’s request to have Idaho County voters decide in May 2025 whether to split the school district into two separate districts. The school district covers the largest square area of any district in Idaho. If a simple majority vote occurs in favor, the split is scheduled to happen in the fall of 2026. The last time a school district deconsolidated was in 2006 when the Mountain View School District spun off the Salmon River Joint School District in Riggins. Source: Idaho Board of Education, Idaho Ed News
- Rocky Mountain HVAC installed new propane heaters in the Cottonwood High School shop building and will be updating thermostats in all high school classrooms. The high school will begin accepting bids to replace the windows in January 2025. Source: Cottonwood Chronicle
Latah County
- The City of Moscow will build a new 18,000 square foot city shop building to store its fleet of city vehicles and equipment. Construction will begin in spring 2025 with plans for completion before 2026. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- The University of Idaho was awarded a nearly $600,000 IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence grant towards tendon tissue research among three laboratories on the Moscow campus. Source: Big Country News
- Family Promise of the Palouse is seeking a new location in Moscow by spring 2025 for its daytime homeless shelter as the current building has significant underlying issues. Family Promise opened its shelter in 2013 and helps an average of 15 families per year. Source: Lewiston Tribune
Clearwater County
- Starting in January 2025, the Clearwater Progress and the Idaho County Free Press newspapers will combine under the Idaho County Free Press publication. Klement Enterprises has owned both newspapers since acquiring the Clearwater Progress in 2020. Source: Clearwater Progress
Lewis County
- Highway 64 between Nezperce and Kamiah has been reopened after closing in April 2024 due to washouts and structural issues. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- A propane leak at Hearthstone Bakery resulted in a temporary evacuation and shut down of Main Street in Kamiah. Source: Idaho County Free Press
Openings
- Retro Vibes & Vintage Sounds, Moscow
- Champions Edge Training, Lewiston
- Idaho County Dermatology, Grangeville
- Jackson’s fuel pumps and convenience store, Riggins
- The Establishment has reopened its bar and is hiring staff for its upcoming kitchen opening, Grangeville
Closings
- Marsh’s Trading Post, Lewiston (to close Dec. 31)
- Zip’s Drive-In will be closing one of its two Lewiston locations
- Orofino Flower Shop, Orofino (to close Dec. 31)
- Rove Fitness, Lewiston
- LaRe Boutique, Lewiston
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.
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