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Bannock Development (Urbanic) briefs council on regional marketing, Crest feasibility and INL reactor study
Summary
Mia Kate Kennedy, CEO of Urbanic Development Corporation, told the Pocatello City Council the agency is launching a regional marketing campaign, nearing completion of a feasibility study for the Crest airport project, and participating in an Idaho National Laboratory feasibility study on small nuclear projects.
Mia Kate Kennedy, chief executive officer of the organization identified as Urbanic Development Corporation (presented as Bannock Development Corporation in the agenda), updated the Pocatello City Council on the organization’s economic development work, including regional marketing, the Crest project at the airport, and a feasibility study linked to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
Kennedy said the regional marketing campaign — which includes a new logo and the tagline “Gateway to adventure and opportunity” — follows interviews with more than 40 businesses and three stakeholder meetings over an 18‑month study. She said the effort aims to correct misconceptions about the area and support business recruitment and workforce attraction.
On the Crest project (described in the transcript as “convention, recreation, entertainment, sports, and bridal” and located at the airport), Kennedy said the developer group is finishing a feasibility study and will then prepare a “sell book” that outlines financing scenarios. She listed several potential funding and partnership sources to be considered, including tax increment financing (TIF), Power County, the Federal Aviation Administration and other stakeholders. Kennedy said multiple investors have been identified for different portions of the project and that the feasibility work and sell book are next steps.
Kennedy also described an INL‑sponsored feasibility study assessing the region for small reactor projects and related supply‑chain opportunities. She said participation in the study could place Pocatello on a short list of locations for future projects and that being on that list could reduce staff time and cost involved in business recruitment. Kennedy said the Urbanic organization is one of three study areas and that organizers expect the local study to move relatively quickly.
Council members praised the work and asked to receive more details. Kennedy said she would bring results of the feasibility studies to the council when available. No formal action or vote occurred during the briefing.
