Getting IT ready

COEUR d'ALENE — As large data centers fill the Seattle and Moses Lake areas, the Kootenai County jobs net hopes to capture the ripple effect from that trend.

The information technology sector stands to be one of the promising new job horizons here, Gynii Gilliam told 370 attendees during the economic development corporation's 31st annual meeting on Wednesday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. Gilliam is president of the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, formerly known as Jobs Plus.

"We're getting more and more requests for IT-related companies to move to our area just like the aerospace suppliers," she said.

That sector now accounts for only a tiny portion of the area's overall economy.

"We have much to learn about the industry, but our board is taking a more aggressive, strategic approach as we get our infrastructure and possible locations site-ready," Gilliam said. "With an average annual earnings of $75,000, it is one of our focus areas to growth and strengthen in the next few years."

Cutting-edge technologies in local companies were spotlighted during the meeting.

Attendees could try driving Hecla Mining's virtual Vein Miner as if they were mining at Lucky Friday. Other cool gadgets and gizmos were noted, including Empire Unmanned's drone technology to analyze the aftermath of forest fires, Idaho Forest Group's machine that analyzes logs to maximize their dimensional lumber output, and Buck Knives' and Tedder Industries' 3-D printers to help prototype designs.

"Every industry is moving toward more automation ..." Gilliam said. "That doesn't mean we won't need people. What it means is we'll need our workforce to learn new skills."

Gilliam said the business beat continues to sound in Kootenai County as companies look to expand or relocate here.

Jobs Plus assisted more than 50 companies with their search in 2017. Ten of the contacts became reality (nine new companies and one expansion), leading to 490 new jobs. The movement resulted in $12 million in new annual payroll for local communities.

"Together we brought in $10.8 million in private capital investment to the community, some of which will translate to strengthening the tax base of our county," Gilliam said.

She said SPiCRM Global, a technical service center for DISH Network at the Silver Lake Mall, has 350 employees and plans to have another 150 by mid-summer.

Critical Power, which refurbishes cooling systems for data centers and employs more than 20 people, recently moved into the Big Horn Industrial Park, she said.

CdAEDC and its partners are also facing some challenges, including a shortage of facilities that are more than 20,000 square feet.

"We're all working with the appropriate entities to address the issue as well as the underlying demand to meet the new price levels," Gilliam said.

Talent needs are another focus as health care, welding, drivers and pilot positions remain difficult to fill.

"One of the biggest challenges facing not just our community but communities across the U.S. is the mismatch between the unemployed and the skills needed for currently available jobs and the talent needed to match 21st century needs," Gilliam said.

The Jobs+ Action Committee, formerly Kootenai Perspectives, is approaching that hurdle with an ambassador program to recruit talent, an outreach program to steer high school students toward such careers, and a talent retention program to help existing businesses.

Wages are another challenge.

While the average wage increased from $16.50 in 2013 to $21.96 in 2017, Kootenai County still lags by $3 an hour or more compared to neighboring states Washington, Oregon and Utah.

Gilliam said the wage disparity also needs to be closed between male and female workers.

"The health industry is helping drive the female wages up, and the more we can all work toward encouraging young girls and women to enter STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, construction and others, the more we can also close this gap," she said.

Amy Lientz of Idaho National Laboratory near Idaho Falls — what she called one of the "geekiest" places in the country with its energy research and development — was the meeting's guest speaker. She said INL wants to partner with North Idaho businesses and universities.

INL projects include NASA missions to Mars; protecting infrastructure such as water systems, dams and electrical grids; wireless testing; cellphone recycling; recovering rare chemical elements from salvage yards; charging of electrical vehicles; and mapping power systems in case of a catastrophic event.

"We like partnering with small businesses," Lientz said. "If you have a research element to what you're doing, we have grants available. We have a deep passion for little rural towns that don't have big industries in their back yards."