Bonner County's fast-growing economy and Idaho's favorable business climate combine to create strong growth opportunities for businesses in Bonner County. Idaho Commerce and Labor statistics that measure the number of private-sector establishments that have employees are helpful for examining business growth in Bonner County. For simplicity, here we refer to these private-sector establishments that have employees as "businesses."
Between 1994 and 2004, Bonner County added 387 businesses. Almost every industrial sector added businesses. Only farming and logging lost businesses. Mining and utilities did not add or lose businesses. Construction added the most businesses--adding nearly 97. Professional and technical services added 61 businesses-mostly management-consulting, bookkeeping, architectural, engineering, and marketing firms. Other sectors that added large numbers of businesses included health care (35), transportation (31), retail (22), and real estate (18). While the United States overall lost manufacturers, Bonner County added 13 manufacturers. Surprisingly, the leisure and hospitality sector, which includes restaurants, lodging, and recreation, added only 7 businesses over the 10-year period.
Comparing the growth of businesses in Bonner County to the nation's shows just how favorable the county's business climate is. Between 1994 and 2004, the number of businesses in Bonner County grew 36% from 1,074 to 1,461, while the number of businesses in the United States grew half as fast at 18% from 684 million to 810 million.
The area's strong entrepreneurial spirit is one of the many factors has encouraged economic growth in the Sandpoint area. As a haven for the arts, Sandpoint tends to attract creative types, including people who create new businesses.
The history of Coldwater Creek is a case in point. The nationally acclaimed company, headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, is a multi-channel retailer of women's apparel, gifts, jewelry, soft home goods and accessories sold through direct mail catalogues, full-line retail stores and the internet.
The vision for Coldwater Creek can be attributed entirely to Sandpoint residents Dennis and Ann Pence, cofounders of the company in 1984. In fact, Coldwater Creek now supplies an incredible seven and one-half percent of the total amount of women's clothes purchased in the United States on the Internet. |
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Sandpoint-area small businesses have a number of resources they can turn to for help. The Bonner Business Center business incubator opened in 1992. In addition to offices and loading bays, tenants also can rent time in an FDA-approved commercial kitchen, which was the first incubator kitchen to operate west of the Mississippi. The business incubator has helped 22 businesses succeed and sports an impressive list of local alumni tenants, including Unicep and Pneumex. The Idaho Small Business Development Center and Bonner County Economic Development Corporation are also available for those businesses that need help with business planning or funding sources.
According to the Idaho Commerce and Labor Office, the major employers in Bonner County include Litehouse Dressing (salad dressing manufacturer), Life Care Center (assisted living), JD Lumber Company (forest products), Coldwater Creek (catalog retailer), Riley Creek Lumber Company (forest products), Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort (skiing), Wal-Mart (retail), and Stimson Lumber (forest products).
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