This region of the Gem State takes the reigns when it comes to strengthening local industry.
When it comes to growing business markets and building an economic development-focused foundation to power industries of the future, Idaho stands out. One person who can speak to this is Teresa McKnight, CEO of the Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho (REDI). REDI operates as a regional economic engine across 16 counties and 31 cities and works closely with companies, entrepreneurs and public and private partners looking to expand, relocate and make site selection decisions in their territory.
As stated in her interview in the Idaho state spotlight “Closing the Innovation Gap” in the September 2026 issue of Site Selection, REDI uses a “data-driven, partnership-based approach to ensure that new and existing businesses have the resources that they need to build or expand.”
“We do it in multiple steps,” says McKnight. “The first step is a site selection and needs assessment. We work with businesses and governments and industry leaders to analyze economic and demographic data, and we identify locations that have the best competitive advantages for the businesses both in the growth potential and the return on investment because that’s a big issue for companies that are making that investment.”
Elevating Industry
The next steps McKnight says REDI focuses on are business retention and workforce development. REDI retains existing businesses by helping them expand and matching business needs with available infrastructure, workforce programs and different incentives. Workforce development training and recruitment means working with educational institutions to ensure training programs align with industry needs.
“When you look at the ecosystem of economic development, the innovation and entrepreneurship support is critical because it’s great to have new and existing businesses, but you also need that entrepreneur ecosystem,” says McKnight. “Eastern Idaho is really emerging as Idaho’s premier innovation corridor. It’s driven by advanced energy and research. We have a rapidly expanding tech ecosystem. … We have strong public–private partnerships, so the universities and federal organizations are very active with private business to accelerate commercialization, workforce development and entrepreneurship.”
McKnight also highlights the importance of infrastructure and resource matching, ensuring that broadband, transportation and housing needs are all addressed when working with companies who want to invest in REDI’s territory. REDI also serves as a hub for Idaho’s state and federal incentives. There’s also 28 opportunity zones statewide providing capital gain tax advantages for long-term investors in Idaho.
“Eastern Idaho is really emerging as Idaho’s premier innovation corridor.”
— Teresa McKnight, CEO, Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho (REDI)
McKnight notes rising demand for engineering services year over year as well as professional technical services. The healthcare industry has also seen substantial growth.
The food processing industry in Idaho generates $2.9 billion in GDP annually. Agtech, food processing, cold storage and distribution companies are all interested in Idaho thanks in part to lower land costs, strong agricultural supply chain and highway access. Interstate 15 connects Idaho to Montana and Utah, and Highways 20, 84 and 86 also run through the state.
The highest producing sectors in Eastern Idaho are advanced manufacturing, agriculture, banking, finance, energy (nuclear, hydro, wind and solar), healthcare and information technology (cybersecurity and AI included), according to McKnight.
Leading Growth in the Gem State
“We’re the national leader when it comes to clean energy and modernization of the nuclear innovation that’s occurring,” she says. McKnight adds other business entities that have had success in eastern Idaho, including consumer products manufacturer Melaleuca (headquartered in Idaho Falls), the Idaho Central Credit Union (which has locations in surrounding states) and global food and agribusiness corporation J.R. Simplot in Boise.
Another interesting business success is BioLogiQ, a plastic fabrication company that got its start in Idaho Falls in 2011. The company produces sustainable plastic and other biodegradable products from excess starch collected from processing potatoes.
“Resilience of the innovation ecosystem, the pro-business policies and our unique regional strengths really give us an advantage here in Idaho,” says McKnight, noting that strong population growth and in-migration from other states is “fueling the demand for housing and services and workforce expansion.”
Eastern Idaho has four universities and colleges, with an R2 university (Idaho State University) and R1 institution’s satellite campus (University of Idaho) ready for education, research and development and industry partnerships. The Idaho Launch program also provides up to $8,000 in education funding for participants to close skill gaps in advanced industries, explains McKnight.
McKnight points to several thriving industries in the state when asked about what Idaho has to offer companies, including the state’s growth in nuclear energy, semiconductors, professional scientific and technical services, advanced manufacturing and agtech. Idaho’s advanced manufacturing industry generates about $12.6 billion in GDP and supports over 75,000 jobs in the state.
Semiconductor manufacturer Micron announced in August 2026 that the company would launch a $10 billion research campus in Boise, where Micron is headquartered and already investing over $50 billion in production facility and research development.
Other industries McKnight says Idaho is ready to take on: cybersecurity, digital engineering, high-tech manufacturing and defense contracting.
