2020 WAS PRODUCTIVE YEAR
LCEDA year end report delivered.
Sue Polk, Executive Chair of the Lemhi County Economic Development Association, (LCEDA) presented the annual LCEDA report to the Salmon City Council at its February 3 meeting. She said that there have certainly been some changes caused by the Corona Virus at the Salmon Valley Business and Innovation Center and LCEDA but there are also positives to report.
Polk said dissemination of information was a critical component of the function of LCEDA in 2020. In 93 instances of information delivered by Facebook, Voice of the Valley broadcasts and newspaper stories and advertisements. She said that LCEDA Executive Director Tammy Stringham attended the Portland Oregon Trade Show and attended 37 on-line workshops and trainings all related to the tourist industry. Stringham has also attended and participated in meetings of the Central Idaho Public Lands Collaborative, the Housing Committee and the USDA Rural Development Grant Team which looks at approved projects in the community. Polk said Stringham participates in local Forest Service meetings, Chamber of Commerce meetings, County Commissioners meetings and City Council meetings all of which contributed directly or indirectly to the $816,000 in grants received last year. Polk said that $8 million was received for the Payroll Protection Program and $9.9 million for the Economic Impact Disaster Loan.
Lemhi Ride numbers are down due to the virus however; all units at the Airport Industrial Park are rented and occupied. Lemhi Ride had 6,184 rides in 2020 compared to over 10,000 rides the year before. Because it operated during the pandemic Lemhi Ride received bonuses from its Medicaid broker and the bonuses were used to pay down the city loan for the operation’s startup money. A recent LCEDA initiated study shows there is a good deal of interest in computer technology coding which will warrant further research.
Stringham has developed and personally presented a Business Salmon Valley Travel Grant Marketing Plan to the Idaho Travel Council and because of her efforts it generated more funding than was requested.
Stringham explained all the grants that have come in and how they are used. She said the $544,000 Broadband Grant was used to build a communications tower in the area of the Carmen Charter School to give the school and surrounding neighbors better internet connections.
In answer to whether Lemhi Ride will expand to scheduled rides around town she said she has placed a survey on Facebook to see how much actual financial support there would be for the idea.
Later in the meeting, on another topic of great interest, City Administrator Emery Penner brought up the subject of the city swimming pool and said right now the first question to settle was whether or not the pool will even be opened this year. He said details like Sunday openings, hiring, operating hours and raising rates could be decided later. Councilor Jim Bockelman made a motion to open the swimming pool for the 2021 season and it passed unanimously. It was also agreed that more detailed records of use need to be collected this season in order to make more knowledgeable decisions.