Orgill project wins national award

Orgill in Post Falls and the economic developers and community leaders who helped bring the company to Kootenai County have received national recognition from Trade & Industry Development, a national business publication.

Trade & Industry awarded the Orgill Project one of its annual Corporate Investment and Community Impact (CiCi) Awards, bestowed this year on 15 companies nationwide.

“The 12th Annual CiCi Community Impact category celebrates projects that are making their communities a better place. From revitalizing the local environment to bringing hope by providing much-needed jobs, these companies are beacons of light,” wrote Jennifer Alten on Trade & Industry Development’s web page, tradeandindustrydev.com. “...Each Community Impact story came to fruition through the tireless efforts of community leaders, local economic development authorities and state officials, along with the decisive leadership at each company that took a chance in its location decision.”

Orgill, the world’s largest independent distributor of hardware products, moved to Post Falls in 2016, taking over the 500,000-square-foot facility formerly occupied by Kimball Office.

“We are excited about this expansion to our distribution network and look forward to the enhanced efficiencies this will create for our customers as we move forward,” said Ron Beal, Orgill’s chairman, president and CEO. “There were many positive things that led us to select Post Falls as the home for our newest distribution center including the excellent workforce in the area, the assistance and cooperation of local officials and the quality of the facility itself. We look forward to being a good corporate citizen of Post Falls, Kootenai County and the state of Idaho.”

Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson said city officials were “thrilled to find a single user for such a large facility.”

“To have a company with such a strong track record expand to Post Falls is wonderful. They are creating over 130 jobs and promise to be an active and supportive member of the community,” Jacobson said, in a news release. “This project is an excellent example of collaboration between the city, Jobs Plus, the county, the Department of Commerce and others. We have an excellent team and are pleased to celebrate this success,”

Gynii Gilliam, president of Coeur d’Alene Economic Development Corporation, said the state, county and Post Falls came together quickly to provide the support Orgill needed to make the decision to open a new distribution center in Post Falls.

“Orgill’s decision to move here will result in an anticipated $5.8 million yearly in wages coming into the community. This is a significant investment in northern Idaho’s economy,” Gilliam said

Jamé Davis, Post Falls Chamber CEO, said her organization is pleased to welcome Orgill to the community and grateful for the significant impact the company has made in Post Falls’ business community.

“Orgill is a quality employer that offers not only jobs, but career paths for their team members,” Davis said.

With private investment of $15 million, the facility in Post Falls is Orgill’s seventh full-service distribution center nationwide. The new facility will service Orgill’s retail customers in five states throughout the Northwest including Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Alaska as well as Canadian customers in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.