Leveling predicted for job growth
Officials are projecting a return to steady, less-explosive job growth for the state of Idaho.
“Last year was one of the best years Idaho has ever seen,” said State Economist Janelle Hyer, noting that strong job growth at the end of 2005 pushed into the first quarter of 2006.
March’s unemployment rate was 3.3 percent for the state, and Kootenai County hit an all-time low of 3.5 percent.
Bonner and Benewah counties also hit all-time unemployment lows in March of 4 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. Other Panhandle counties also experienced strong job growth. The unemployment rate in both Shoshone and Boundary counties was 6.5 percent in March.
The counties benefited from strong construction activity and good snowpacks at ski resorts.
Spokane
Newspaper’s Pinch receives honor
A free weekly publication produced by The Spokesman-Review’s marketing department received a first-place award from the International Newspaper Marketing Association.
The publication, called Pinch, received the top award for alternative publications in newspapers with circulation of between 75,000 and 300,000. The award was announced Friday.
Pinch was launched by The Spokesman-Review in 2005 as a replacement for Food, Etc. It’s delivered to about 70,000 households, mostly nonsubscribers to the newspaper, and features food information, recipes, entertainment news, puzzles, articles and advertising.
Quincy, Wash.
Microsoft buys land for project
Microsoft Corp. has officially signed a contract to buy 75 acres in a Quincy industrial park to build a massive data-storage center.
The company had signed a temporary agreement in January to buy the property for a little more than $1 million. Microsoft officials finalized the deal Thursday.
The Redmond-based company hasn’t released many details about the project. Documents filed with the city show plans for as many as six buildings, totaling nearly 1.5 million square feet, that would house racks of computers to store data. The plans include an electrical substation, as well as a diesel-powered generator that would provide backup power.
Construction is expected to begin this month.
Yahoo Inc. also has signed a tentative deal to purchase 50 acres in a nearby industrial park.