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Bannock Development Corporation outlines INL feasibility work, flight-school plans and asks commission to maintain funding
Summary
Bannock Development Corporation updated commissioners on a feasibility effort tied to Idaho National Laboratory (INL), flight-school and airport initiatives, and said it still expects the county's annual contribution to remain at about $70,000.
Mia Kate Kennedy, CEO of Bannock Development Corporation, gave the board a briefing on current economic-development projects with implications for the county, including a feasibility study connected to Idaho National Laboratory (INL) programs, airport development and a planned flight school.
Kennedy said Bannock Development applied to be on an INL vendor/listing program that would allow the county to be contacted by vendors working on advanced reactor and modular-reactor programs; she described the county as part of an early group being tested in the program and said the feasibility work will shape how the county markets itself to reactor-related vendors. She stressed that being on the list does not mean a reactor will be built in Bannock County; rather, it is intended to position the county for vendor interest and recruitment.
Kennedy also said the county airport is a critical asset that supports economic development and that Bannock Development is assembling a commission-style group to plan airport growth. Separately, she said the organization is bringing a flight school to the area and will have the school returning for site work soon. She said the flight school project remains an important, aviation-focused economic-development project.
On funding, Kennedy reminded commissioners the county’s annual contribution to Bannock Development has historically been in the low tens of thousands; during the meeting she said the county contributes about $70,000 annually (she initially referenced $75,000 then corrected to $70,000) and that Bannock Development is not asking for more than that in the current budget cycle. Kennedy said project-specific work can require substantial up-front investment (she gave $30,000 as a typical cost for some project work and said some projects can exceed $100,000) and attributed past project delays to land price and other market shifts.
Commissioners asked about site selection for projects, the timing of INL-related work and county participation in airport and workforce development initiatives; discussion included the need to manage private land-price volatility and to coordinate with neighboring counties when projects cross borders.
