Pocatello has another city touching it to the North on the other side of the FWY 86 named Chubbock, which is growing well. Pocatello is named after the famous Indian Chief of the Shoshone Tribe. Recently Forbes named Pocatello one of the Top 10 Small Metro Communities, which is a good call. Pocatello started as a natural city near the river as the Covered Wagons came down the Oregon Trail 1840s and stopped. Later it was part of the railroad 1880s and grew as a railroad town, Rail Hub, still is today. Today the average cost is about 100K. But apartments are cheap at $375 per month and 2 bedroom apartments for $400-450.00 and the Cost of Living is low like Amarillo, mostly due to cheap water and energy. Water $1.15 per 1000 gallons. To give you a reference point CA is about $1.85 for 743 gallons of water or one unit. Bus System also is spectacular;

http://www.pokytransit.com

Economic Development has done well getting in box stores and some tech companies.

http://www.EastIdaho.org

The City has about 75,565 population and is at about zero growth. I-15 and FWY 86 is saving the city from any major recession. Tourism and travelers spend money there. ISU Idaho State university is there and we get some good labor from there without too much problem. Unemployment was holding at 6% in 2003 and came down to 5% in 2004 and it appears to be looking that it will come down within the month as several companies offered hiring plans.

Some of the larger employers include AMI, American Micro Systems about 1200 employees, Kimberly Clark Medical Manufacturing, ISU employs 3000 people, Portneuf Medical Center 1200, Union Pacific 580, Hienz 350, JR Simplot 350. In the Tech Sector still going are; ClearTalk Wireless, Premier Technologies, Tetri-Dyn, Positron Sys., Convergy and several smaller companies. We are going to hold tight on Pocatello until next season. For certain types of businesses we see this as one great market.