New companies looking at eastern Idaho, one expands

Five new companies are looking to move into the area, but Eastern Idaho economic planners are being tight-lipped about the details.  “I don’t really want to say right now because things can always change,” said Bannock Development Corporation Executive Director Gynii Gilliam.

The news came at the Annual Economic Symposium at Idaho State University, and Gilliam only hinted at what industries the businesses could bring in.

“One of the things that we mentioned at our symposium is focusing on recruiting clean energy, alternative energy, because we already have a good base for it,” she said.

“The other thing we want to focus a little bit more on is medical R&D,” she added.

One eastern Idaho company also said Tuesday it will be substantially expanding its operations in Chubbuck. Premier Technology, a manufacturer and industrial contractor with facilities in Twin Falls, Blackfoot and Chubbuck, will build an additional 24,000 square feet onto the Chubbuck site, doubling it in size.

The expansion will result in two additional work bays and a full slate of equipment, and Premier Technology President and CEO Doug Sayer says it will enable the company to keep up with its already high level of demand.

“Premier has been experiencing tremendous growth in its core businesses. Our current facilities are running at full capacity which has created the need for steady expansion,” he said.

The expansion will also include increasing the company’s 300-strong workforce by 100 or so employees in design, fabrication, engineering and construction management.

The company produces products primarily for the food industry, but also equipment meant for use in the medical, pharmaceutical and nuclear industries.