Hoku Secures Financing to Complete Pocatello Plant

Chinese solar energy firm Tianwei New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd., is now – officially – the majority owner of Hoku Scientific, a Hawaii-based clean tech company building a polysilicon plant in Pocatello.

Dustin Shindo, chairman and CEO of Hoku, said the stock sale and subsequent financing agreements close a crucial funding gap for the Pocatello project, which had been slowed over the past year by shortfall of between $106 million and $121 million.

Full scale construction at the Pocatello plant is set to resume, and equipment that had been placed on hold pending Hoku’s receipt of financing is on its way, the company reported.

Read the full article from the Idaho Business Review by clicking here.

Other Regional Business News

Pacific Ethanol resumes production in Burley

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. on Jan. 6 said it resumed production at its Magic Valley facility in Burley, Idaho. The plant is designed to produce 60 million gallons of ethanol per year.   Click to read more

Wyoming Tax Benefits for Investors

By Meagan Hill

Happy New Year! We know that many of you are spending the time between Christmas and New Year trying to reconcile your records and finalize $ before the end of the Tax Year. As you wrestle with these challenges, take a minute to consider the Tax Benefits of Investing or Residing in Wyoming;

No State Income Tax;

If you’re unfortunate enough to still be working, no state income tax

= more disposable income

No State Company Tax;

If you’re an entrepreneur, no state company tax
= more profit

No State Excise Tax;
If you buy groceries or gas, no state excise tax
= more disposable income

No Tax on the Sale of Real Estate;
If you sell Real Estate in Wyoming, no tax on the sale of real estate
= more capital gain for You

No State Gift Tax;
If you are a generous soul, no state gift tax means you can gift real estate to your heirs without paying gift tax
= more inheritance for your heirs

No State Inheritance Tax;
Wyoming’s estate tax is tied to the federal tax credit and applies only to those with substantial estates.
= more inheritance for your heirs

No Tax on Out of State Retirement Income;
= more disposable income

Set up a Dynasty Trust
protect your assets from federal estate taxes for up to 1,000 years;
= more inheritance for your heirs

No Tax on Mineral Ownership;
a ‘hidden’ property tax that does not exist in Wyoming
= more disposable income

No Intangible Taxes;
no taxes on stocks and bonds
= more disposable income

Low Property Taxes.
2009 mill levy is 57.32 for teton county, WY
= more disposable income

When you’re done counting your $ and realizing the opportunity that Wyoming presents, take a minute to remind yourself of the ‘work-life’ balance benefits;
• Grand Teton + Yellowstone National Parks;
• Fly Fishing + Big Game Hunting;
• Skiing, Hiking, Mountain Biking; Rafting; Golf.

Still questioning my logic? Is the devil inside arguing with you? Look at the numbers.

Commercial Office + Retail suites or entire buildings are down 20-25%.

Start small - use your IRA to Invest in a Commercial Office or Retail suite for $500,000-700,000; or

Go for it - Leverage the opportunity presented by the economy with the rare offering of several landmark buildings in Jackson Hole.

To maximize all the tax benefits you will need to become a resident of our fine county. Lucky You! Right now, the Median Home Price is down 25% from 12 months ago.

Still unsure, give us a call.

Meagan Hill is a Commercial Real Estate Investments Specialist and Principal of NAI Jackson Hole servicing the Jackson Hole WY and Teton Valley ID markets.


For further information, contact Meagan at (307) 734-8700 or meagan@naijacksonhole.com

Routine Building Maintenance...and...The SWAT Team

By NAI Jackson Hole broker Meagan Hill


Now that you have your Building Audit complete and you’ve separated your Routine Maintenance from your Long Term Replacement schedule, do not file these papers in the drawer. It’s time to do a little short term planning and preparation.

Routine Building Maintenance provides an exceptional income stream for many Contractors in our area. With a little forward planning, you can find the best Contractor for the best price AND why not secure this service for the future?

Each year we all need to give our Property some lovin’ – clean windows, clean carpets, sweep chimney, clean outside light fittings, replace light bulbs, snow removal, lawn mowing, painting, handyman repair work, the list goes on. Each of these items are essential to maintaining our Asset Value and maintaining our Tenants.

Instead of making the hurried call in the spring, consider listing out all of these Routine Building Maintenance items and inviting bids from local Contractors to complete this work for you over the next 3 years. Imagine being able to forecast your Maintenance Budget out 3 years with some degree of certainty. Imagine being able to schedule your Maintenance Work in advance with confidence that you will have the right Contractor at the right time for your Property and your Tenants business.

All the planning in the world cannot completely protect you from the inevitable emergency in the middle of the night. This is where your own Property SWAT team comes into play. While many of you probably hold a list of folks you can call at a moment’s notice, few have any idea what it will cost and all of you are terrified of what it will cost in the end. Don’t be. Use the Routine Maintenance Bid process to get a schedule of values from each Contractor so you know what their Call Out Fee and Hourly Rate will be in the middle of the night. Use this information as part of your selection process and then put a Budget forecast aside for Emergencies.

All done? Congratulations, you’ve reached Property Owner Nirvana. Daunted by the thought of the task? Contact our office for further information.

Meagan Hill is a Commercial Real Estate Investments Specialist and Principal of NAI Jackson Hole servicing the Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Teton Valley, Idaho markets.  Check out her commercial real estate blog on ActiveRain by clicking here.

For further information, contact Meagan at (307) 734-8700 or meagan@naijacksonhole.com

Land Available Near Wal*Mart Supercenter in Ammon

4.51 Acres of Development Land

￭ Prime Multi-Family or Assisted Living
￭ Northeast of Wal-Mart and EITC, and North of Grand Teton Mall
￭ High Residential Growth Area
￭ Possible Seller Financing and/or equity participation
￭ Potential Uses Include General Commercial, Office, Retail, Multi-Family
￭ Subject Property is East of Curlew and South of Johns Adams


For more information on this property, including adjacent parcels, please contact Steven Frei, Brent Butikofer, or Steven Keim at (208) 525-8088.  Click here to download the property flyer.

Idaho's Tax Burden Among the Lowest in the Nation

The Idaho Business Review reported today that Idaho has the sixth lowest overall per capita tax burden in the country and the lowest tax burden among western states, according to the latest tax burden study published by the Idaho Tax Commission. Click Here to read the entire article.

Downtown Idaho Falls Ribbon Cutting

Event video featuring the 12/10 Ribbon Cutting with Thomas Development, The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, & Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman at the newly renovated Earl Building in downtown Idaho Falls:



YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Gcxp6no9o

Historic Earl Building Ribbon Cutting & Open House, December 10th

NAI Commerce One invites you to join the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors for a Ribbon Cutting and Open House on Thursday, December 10th from 5-7 p.m. at the Historic Earl Building in Downtown Idaho Falls at 525 Park Avenue. Come meet the building lessees and see the beautiful renovations that have been completed by Thomas Development.

Eastern Idaho Home Builders Association in conjunction with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce is pleased to provide a "facts & figures" perspective on growth in our community at a luncheon on Thursday, December 10th from 12-1:30 at the Red Lion in Idaho Falls.  Dr. Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D., will present amazing facts and answer questions about the economic benefits of home building in the Greater Idaho Falls Area. 

• What is the economic impact of single family home construction?
• What is the total impact and ongoing impact?
• What are the costs vs. benefits?
• How long does it take before new construction pays for itself?
• How many jobs does new construction create?
• What revenues does home building create?

Dr. Elliot Eisenberg is the Senior Economist of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington, D.C. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in economics with First Class Honors from McGill University as well as a Master of Public Administration degree and Ph.D. in Public Administration from Syracuse University.

He is the creator of the multifamily stock index and is the author of more than 50 homebuilding industry articles. Dr. Eisenberg is frequently seen on televsion and heard on radio, and his research and opinions have been featured in Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, most national and local newspapers, and in many other publications.

NAI Commerce One Brokers Attend Regional ICSC Meetings

NAI Commerce One brokers Brent Butikofer and Brent Wilson attended the ICSC Pacific Northwest/Intermountain Regional Program in Boise, Idaho on Thursday, which featured Retailers, Developers and Consultants looking to develop in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. The program included updates from Brokers located throughout the Northwest and Intermountain Regions, as well as discussions from lenders and retailers on their respective markets, expectations, and corporate deal requirements. 

The keynote speaker was Jim Angresano, PHD in Economics from the College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID.  In addition to the educational aspects of the meeting, Wilson and Butikofer also had the opportunity to network with retail brokers, retailers, and developers from across the region and showcase NAI Commerce One / Jackson Hole's listed retail properties.

Snake River Landing to Host 3rd Annual Trick-or-Treat Street

The 3rd Annual Trick-or-Treat Street is coming to Snake River Landing in Idaho Falls!  The event will take place on October 30th from 3pm to 6 pm.  Think last year’s event was big? This year’s will be HUGE!  Over 50 ghoulishly fun RVs stocked with candy for your trick-or-treaters!

(For more information on Snake River Landing, including leasing information, please visit http://www.snakeriverlanding.com/ )

The Equestrian Dream: Teton Saddleback Vistas [NAI Global PowerSale Property]

Check out the only first-class equine-specific development in the Teton Valley area:



For more information on Teton Saddleback Vistas, please contact NAI Commerce One / Jackson Hole broker Meagan Hill at (307) 734-8700.

NAI Commerce One Brokers Hastings Relocation

Steven Keim of NAI Commerce One represented the landlord and secured the new Hastings lease in the center located on the Southeast corner of Holmes and 17th Street in Idaho Falls. Consummating the lease involved negotiations with current tenants which resulted in the relocation of both Ace Hardware and the UPS Store. Once the space was secured, delivery of the space entailed major renovations to the existing building. The building upgrades resulted a completely remodeled building that will serve the Landlord, the Tenant and the community for many years. In addition, Brent Butikofer and Steven Frei brokered the relocation of Ace Hardware which created yet another major building deal.


Related Story From KIDK--Hastings Employees Move to New Location

IDAHO FALLS - Most customers know the employees behind the counter at Hastings and those employees are taking on a new agenda for the week- moving.

"I've come in everyday, and everybody is just like, let's get it done let's go and everybody has just been working together, teamwork has just been exceptional and everybody has just been very upbeat ad excited to get into the new store,"

4-weeks into his new job at Hastings, Justin Christansen isn't behind a register, he's behind a dolly.

"I have learned a lot of new skills, I did not know how to use a pallet-jack and move things onto trucks, and take trucks over, but I'm learning a lot of new skills that I think are going to be very helpful in the future sometime. We're using all of our local employees, we're using temporary help, we're using some people from other stores that are coming out to help out and train,"

Hasting's shut its doors last Saturday and the new Hastings is just a few blocks down the road. it went from 13,000 square feet to 22, 000...Read the full article from KIDK here.

NAI Commerce One broker Brent Wilson represents the owner of the former Hastings space.  To learn more, download the flyer.

Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce "Roadway Ribbon Cutting"

Opening of Hitt Road

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 1 pm
Corner of First Street & Hitt Road
Idaho Falls, ID

Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman and members of the Idaho Falls City Council will officially open Hitt Road with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. The location of this event will be at the intersection of 1st Street and Hitt Road (on the Ammon - Idaho Falls border).  After introductory remarks by the assembled guests, the Mayor and Council will board a van to tour the newly constructed roadway.

Local business owner Dave Bell, who owns the Arctic Circle restaurant on the northeast corner of the intersection, is thrilled to have the work finally completed. The decrease in traffic during construction has resulted in lower sales for his restaurant, but he is hopeful that the improvements will benefit business in the long term.

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

Energy corridor location key to economic development

Realtors sell by using an old adage – location, location, location.

Idaho National Laboratory's Steven Aumeier emphasized the same principle at the Bannock Development Corporation's recent Eighteenth Annual Economic Symposium.

"Bannock County, Idaho, is nestled within one of the richest energy corridors in the world and near the nation's premier nuclear energy research laboratory," he told the group, which gathered Aug. 17 at Idaho State University.

Idaho's U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, state Department of Commerce Director Don Dietrich and several others also delivered updates on the region's economic development and its many partners. INL, along with Bannock County and the city of Pocatello, is a legacy investor in BDC and joined several others in sponsoring the annual event.

Aumeier, INL's director of Energy Systems and Technologies, showed a map of the energy-rich Western corridor, which stretches from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan down through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Colorado.

"Fortunately, Bannock and Idaho are situated within an area with a strong entrepreneurial culture and among key energy transmission lines for electricity and gas," he said. "This is a great opportunity and challenge."

He also outlined the need for pursuing the "Smart Energy Approach" and solving the "grand challenge of our generation" in responsibly producing and using energy.

Read the full article by by Keith Arterburn, INL Communications & Public Affairs by clicking here.

The Idaho National Lab...on YouTube!

JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes at Snake River Landing in Idaho Falls

Another great event at Snake River Landing...

NAI Commerce One Has Moved!

NAI Commerce One is pleased to announce its new location at the historic Earl Building in downtown Idaho Falls.

The address is:

525 Park Avenue, Suite 2E

Idaho Falls, ID 83402

Click on the image to the left to view a Google map.

Women's Business Groups Host Health Care Forum in Boise

Business owners curious how health care reform may impact their operations are invited to attend a forum Sept. 15 sponsored by the Southern Idaho Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and Women Impacting Public Policy.

The forum, titled “Understanding the Current Health Care Bill”, will take place from 9:30 a.m. till 12 p.m. at the Cascade Room of the Holiday Inn Vista in Boise.

Read the full article from the Idaho Business Reviewhttp://www.nawbo.org/ here.

Cutting edge mobile security technology tested at BYU-Idaho

The Idaho Business Review reports that a new technology that makes mobile business transactions more secure is being tested at Brigham Young University-Idaho.

The “open-encryption platform”, developed at the Idaho National Laboratory and licensed to Idaho Falls-based RFinity, uses a secure microSD card with a contactless interface designed by international security technology firm Giesecke & Devriet.

Integrating RFinity’s platform with G&D’s chip will make the world’s most reliable and secure identification and transaction system for use with mobile phones, according to a news release.

The open-encryption platform was honored this year by R&D Magazine in its R&D 100 list of “technologically significant products.”

Read the complete article from the Idaho Business Review here.

September Meeting of the Eastern Idaho Apartment Association

The Eastern Idaho Apartment Association's September meeting will feature Donna Oe, President and CEO of the Idaho Falls Better Business Bureau. Donna will discuss how landlords and businesses can protect themselves and their investments from identity theft, fraud, and schemes.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 9th at 1075 Utah Avenue in the 1st floor conference room of the James Madison Taylor building in Idaho Falls. Networking starts at 6 p.m. with the program at 7.

The EIAA meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month. For membership information, please contact NAI Commerce One multi-family specialist Doug Powell at (208) 521-6971.