What will it take to get the wheels of commerce turning at the Pocatello Regional Airport Business Park? That’s the question being asked and soon to be answered by a new site readiness evaluation commissioned by Idaho Power Company, Bannock Development Corporation, and Pocatello Development Authority.
Set to check in at over 400 pages, the in-depth analysis by site selection firm McCallum Sweeney Consulting will compile a laundry list of tangible features at the site including transportation access, water, sewer, power, and natural gas. The survey will also look at the intangibles like regulatory requirements, zoning, and potential mitigating factors on the location, providing the most detailed look at the property yet. McCallum Sweeney Consulting also works with companies locating to relocate or build new facilities. The Pocatello Development Authority and partners are tapping into the company’s expertise to help put Pocatello on the radar of possible sites for potential new employers.
“What this report will do is give companies that may be interested in Pocatello a good idea if the Business Park could suit their needs, or exactly what it will take to accomplish those needs,” said Lon Crowell, Interim Executive Director of the Pocatello Development Authority. “This is a very proactive step in that we are letting businesses know exactly what the Airport already has and what we can offer in the future.”
Officials were then tasked with compiling a list of information for McCallum Sweeney who will then visit the site this month for their own assessment. In October, the results will be turned over to Bannock Development Corporation, Pocatello Development Authority, and Idaho Power.
“This report is a concerted effort on behalf of everyone involved to see the Airport developed,” said Bannock Development Corporation Executive Director John Regetz.
The study will be provided at a cost of $12,500. Idaho Power paid half, while Bannock Development Corporation and Pocatello Development Authority have contributed 25 percent each.