The gift of good jobs
Almost nine years ago, Steve and Judy Meyer donated $1 million to North Idaho College. It was - and still is - the largest single donation in the college's 80-plus year history.
"We believe NIC is one of the great assets in our community," Steve told The Press on Sept. 20, 2005. "There is no other institution with the capacity for so much long-term good for our citizens."
Thing is, the Meyers are still giving.
Judy is a member of NIC's Board of Trustees, and has been since 1990. Yes, that's 24 years of service - and counting.
And Steve? He's on the cover of the June issue of North Idaho Business Journal, which is inserted in your newspaper today. He's giving again, this time donating wisdom and energy to a cause he's passionate about: Improving the local economy through the creation of good jobs.
In Meyer's vision, Coeur d'Alene becomes a hotbed for technology companies that need programmers and other skilled technicians. That vision isn't a get-rich-jobs-quick scheme; it's a 10-year plan more reliant on building the right educational infrastructure than tossing out a hook and hoping it catches something.
Teaming up with young local entrepreneurs like Nick Smoot of Here On Biz, Cody Peterson of Rohinni, and several others, Meyer has mustered some of the better brains to serve as mentors, consultants and perhaps eventually as investors in technology companies that would begin here or move here. Well, why not? Coeur d'Alene has outstanding recreation, affordability and other positives that potential employees want, but it also has something other desirable regional locations like Bozeman and Bend do not: Ready access to an international airport for a very mobile generation.
What Coeur d'Alene doesn't have, however, are all the educational offerings needed to create a platform that will launch our next generation of good jobs in technology. That's where NIC might be able to step up; same with University of Idaho - Coeur d'Alene.
We applaud Meyer and the others working with him for the benefit of the local economy, and we encourage in particular our educational institutions to explore every feasible means of providing the training these good jobs will require. Recruiting talent will be far easier - and rewarding - when they're coming from local homes.