When Tele-Servicing Innovations (TSI) realized it had outgrown its Idaho Falls facility and needed a new place to expand, it chose a community outside of Idaho.

But before officially committing to the site, TSI executive Jeff Nieswanger got wind of an Idaho community that had everything he was looking for, in particular low business costs and a pro-business environment. Burley, a city in the south-central region of Idaho known as Mini-Cassia, wanted TSI’s business.

"We weren’t here for more than a half-hour when I knew this was the place," said Nieswanger. "We were looking for a community that would embrace us and this community is proactive."

Among other things, TSI received $150,000 to train employees and furnish its new office space. The name Mini-Cassia comes from the names of the two counties in the region – Minidoka and Cassia.

Ready for growth

Mini-Cassia is prepared to attract even more high-tech firms. The Cassia Regional Technical Center was built with a $20 million school bond, and donations from local and national supporters. The center provides the technical training necessary to support business growth.

Convergys Corp. also chose to expand in Idaho. The company is a global provider of outsourced customer care services, and plans to build a new customer contact facility in Lewiston’s new business and technology park. Convergys will create more than 400 jobs.

"Convergys plans to expand its presence in Idaho by constructing a 30,000 to 40,000 square foot facility in Lewiston," said Gloria Griffin, senior director of planning and site development for Convergys. "This will be our second contact center in the state as we began operations in Idaho last September with the opening of a contact center in Pocatello. That center now has more than 650 employees."

It speaks well for Idaho that Cincinnati, Ohio,–based Convergys extended its presence in the state. The company employs more than 42,000 people in 41 customer contact centers and two data centers in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Good life in the valley

Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Wash., make up the Lewis-Clark Valley.

The region has three ports, and is the inland-most seaport on the West Coast. Naturally, it is hydro-based, so electricity is not only abundant, but also competitively priced.

Sorenson Engineering, based in Southern California, is also expanding to Lewiston, and expects to create up to 25 jobs. The company makes small parts for electronics equipment.

Quality of life second to none

The state’s quality of life factored into a number of recent announcements in Boise. Jabil Circuits, a company that manufactures surface mounts for computers, is expanding in Boise with a 100,000 square foot building.

Western Electronics is building a 150,000 square foot expansion to its Boise facility, and Direct TV is also expanding in Idaho’s capital.

Many Idaho communities, such as Idaho Falls in the eastern part of the state, are considered "micropolitan areas." They offer the advantages of city life without the high living costs and crime rates of other cities in the country.

In fact, eastern Idaho is building a reputation as an emerging technical corridor, largely because of the Idaho National Environmental and Engineering Laboratory. Idaho Falls and other communities are making concerted efforts to attract high-tech firms. Idaho Falls’ appeal is bolstered by its proximity to Idaho State University and the University of Idaho.

— Ann Morris