Economic Development Data for Boise

Boise Population

218,978 people live within the city limits

Approximately 325,794 employees reside within 45-minute drive

Median Age, 2011: 34.7

Area: 64.0 sq. mi

Elevation: 2512 ft. above sea level

Average household income, 2011, est.: $89,886
Median household income, 2011, est.: $64,433
Average home price, 2011: $164,900
Per capita income, 2011: $37,430
Cost of living index, 2011: 94.0

Educated Workforce

Boise State University

In 2011 BSU conferred 3,599 degrees, including 219 associate, 157 certificate 2,571 baccalaureate, 641 master's and 11 doctorate degrees
BSU is the largest university in Idaho with 19,664 students
203 academic programs are offered in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health Sciences, and Social Sciences and Public Affairs
Employs 2,092 benfit-eligible and 1,196 temporary non-benefit people

	Largest Undergraduate Enrollment for 2010
	Nursing - 1,243
	Psychology - 832
	Criminal Justice - 759
	Biology - 675
	Art - 635
	Communication - 625
	General Business - 612
	Elementary Education - 560
	Accounting - 512
	Mechanical Engineering - 459

	Largest Graduate Enrollment for 2010
	Educational Technology - 357
	Technology Teacher Education - 316
	Social Work - 190
	Business Administration -173
	Instructional and Performance Technology - 170

University of Idaho – Boise

The University of Idaho Boise is a graduate, research, and professional development center and is part of the larger University of Idaho Land Grant system based in Moscow, Idaho.

In 2010 the University of Idaho Boise conferred over 100 academic degrees and certificates, including 4 specialty certificates, and 8 baccalaureate, 47 master's, 31 specialist and 12 doctorate degrees.
The University of Idaho Boise annually serves over 1200 academic students and over 1300 professionals in non-credit development programs.
The University of Idaho Boise offers over 40 graduate degree, academic certificates, and professional development programs.
In the Boise Center proper, the University of Idaho employs 130 faculty, staff, and researchers with another 17 Extension faculty and staff in the Extension Office in Boise.
- Focus areas are:
  Internationally-recognized research scientists and facilities, primarily in water, river management, and ecology
  Graduate degrees in Architecture, Education, Engineering, Law, Natural Resources, and Environmental Science
  Community outreach in Agriculture, Energy, Youth Development, and Community Sustainability and Design
  Collaborative partnerships in Medical Education (WWAMI), Energy Studies (CAES), TechHelp, TRiO Educational Opportunity, and K-12 Science and Technology Education (i-STEM)

College of Western Idaho - Regional Community College

Opened January 2008

Market Access

Freeways – I-84 provides quick access to downtown Boise, surrounding cities and airport facilities

Rail – Boise City owns 18.2 miles of the Boise Cut-off, extending rail access into industrially-zoned
areas near the airport and south of the city

BOI – Boise Airport

Less than 10 minutes from downtown Boise
Less than 1 hr. 30 minutes by air to Seattle, Portland, Bay Area, Reno, Salt Lake City
Less than 2 hr. 30 minutes by air to Denver, Los Angles, Phoenix
5 major airlines, with direct flights to several major cities

Low Cost of Business

Energy

Second lowest in energy costs in the western states
Hydropower is dominant source of electricity in the region
Much of downtown Boise is heated by geothermal energy

Taxes

Corporate income tax rate 7.6
Individual income tax is graduated from 1.6 to 7.8%
Average property tax rate is 1.9% (one of the lowest in the US)
Retail sales are taxed at 6%
Unemployment taxes

Development Project Permitting

On average, less than 5 days for small- and medium-sized projects
On average, under 4 weeks for major projects

Project Management

The city has implemented a project management program for certain qualifying projects in which a specialist is assigned to the project to help the company smoothly navigate the permitting process.

Commitment to the Environment

The new City Hall West will likely attain LEED-silver certification, the third newly opened branch library is LEED-gold
The City substantially improved its residential curb side recycling program to increase number of participants and decrease the amount of waste going to the county landfill
The City sponsors the Idaho Green Expo, a two-day exposition that provides attendees with valuable information about reducing their carbon footprint
The City owns farmland on which it grows switchgrass that is sold for biomass fuels
Boise has the largest municipal geothermal system in the country, and are expanding it across the Boise River to heat most of the Boise State Campus

Boise Facts

Area: 64.0 sq. mi
Elevation: 2512 feet above sea level
Sunny Days: 210

Average summer high temp: 90.6 F
Average winter low temp: 36 F
Annual precipitation: 12.11

Amenities

Parks

137 parks
22.5 miles of greenbelt pathways

Trails

125 miles of trail in the foothills are available for mountain biking and hiking

Recreation:

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation is only 16.5 miles from downtown Boise, featuring 2600 acres of downhill skiing and 35 km of Nordic trails in the winter, and a disc golf course and hiking and biking trails in the spring, summer and fall

Downtown

Parking

First Hour Free in the Central Parking District
6 covered parking garage locations near shopping and restaurants
800,000 annual parking visits
Monthly parking rates $100
Surface lot parking available
All Available parking

Business Climate

Largest dynamic, prosperous, vibrant urban center within a 300-mile radius
Center of government, business, culture and entertainment for over 460,000 people
Employs 30,405 people
Home to more than 700 businesses that range from major employers to the entrepreneur
Business incubators focus on entrepreneurship and innovation in high-tech
Home to over 300 retail and service businesses – 81% locally owned, 90 restaurants – 76% locally owned
Home to Boise State University; nearly 19,000students
The technology sector contributes more to Idaho’s gross economy than agriculture, timber and mining combined

Pedestrian & Bicycle Counts

Map - pedestrian & bicycle count locations
Pedestrian & bicycle count numbers only summary
Full Reports: December 2011, October 2011, May 2011, December 2010, October 2010, August 2010, May 2010, December 2009, October 2009, August 2009

Recent Development

265 new residential units completed since 2007
356,235 of new office square footage since 2005
183,869 of new retail square footage since 2005
Idaho’s first LEED Platinum office building – Banner Bank Building
Renovated 112-room luxury boutique hotel and an ultra-modern remodeled 1960s motel

Residential

3,893 residents live in downtown Boise
2,372 live in multi-family units

Office and Retail

Downtown Boise remains the highest submarket in the Boise Valley in 2010 with approximately 415,000 square feet of direct vacant and sublease space
Total inventory is 3,470,472 SF - 25% of the total market
Class A vacancy is 5.1% with 2,038,182 SF inventory
Lower vacancy rates than the overall Boise Valley
Average full service asking rents in 2010 were:
- Class A – 17.70
- Class B – 16.36
- Class C – 13.07
- Overall – 14.84
Current retail vacancy rate downtown is 18% or 130,463 SF
Total downtown retail inventory is 731,589 SF

10 national retailers downtown

	National Retailers
	Ann Taylor Loft
	Anthropologie
	Chico's
	Helly Hansen
	Jos A Bank
	Office Depot
	The North Face
	Title Nine
	Urban Outfitters
	White House - Black Market
	Lululemon Athletica
	See Jane Run
	Tom James Co

	National or Regional Restaurants
	Old Chicago
	Bonefish Grill
	PF Changs China Bistro
	Old Spaghetti Factory
	Ben & Jerry's
	Gandolfo's Deli
	Jimmy Johns Gourmet Sandwiches
	Pita Pit
	Caruso's
	Blimpies
	Tully's Coffee
	Proto's Pizza

Visitors & Tourism

85,000-foot convention center hosts close to 250,000 event participants each year
5,000-seat event center is home to 3 professional sports teams and hosts latest touring concert artists
1,469 downtown hotel rooms
20 golf courses within 20 miles of downtown
45 minutes from Bogus Basin Ski Resort
45 minutes from white water rafting on the Payette River

Quotes

"We continue to be amazed at what a fashionable city Boise is becoming, and we clink our wineglasses to toast what is sure to be a fabulous conclusion to a fantastic weekend." Buddy Levy, Horizon Air Magazine, March 2010

"Blame it on the heat. And the Trey McIntyre Project. We are now Boiseans." A Texas couple was coldly systematic about choosing the right place to retire. February 5, 2010

"I don't think it's overstatement to suggest that our town represents everything that remains great about America: potential, youth, natural beauty, quality of life. When we visit friends who live elsewhere, they ask, 'Boise? Really? Why do you live there?' But when friends visit us, they say, 'Oh, wow, now I see.'" Anthony Doerr, Smithsonian magazine, April 2009.

"The range of dining options was another surprise about this multi layered city." Andrew Nelson.
National Geographic Traveler, March 2006

"In Washington people ask where you work or went to school," say Adrienne Swain smith, 36, who moved to Boise with her husband and two daughters from the East Coast a year ago. "Here it's 'what type of dog do you have?' or 'where did you get your bike?'"
CNNMoney. com Best Places to Live 2006

"Boise is a vibrant market, and its downtown is one of the exceptional urban cores in America for its energy, safety, great employments base and university," says BoDo developer Mark rivers, a principal with Brix & Co.
Horizon Air Magazine, April 2005

"Downtown Boise has been following a pattern common to cities as they revitalize their cores: offices by day, dining and nightlife after hours and on weekends," says Michael Gifford, executive director of Idaho Associated General Contractors. "The market has figured out there’s a demand for these cool old buildings to be used for brew pubs, boutiques and housing."
Horizon Air Magazine, April 2005