Introduction

This analysis is part of a comprehensive review of Idaho's economic development policies and practices. It examines the "Idaho Strong 2023-2028 Statewide Economic Development Strategy," a critical document that provides definitive evidence of how the state's focus on big businesses permeates all levels of economic development in Idaho.

Document Significance

The Idaho Department of Commerce, as the lead economic development agency for the state, states its mission as:

"To foster a business-friendly environment to aid in quality job creation, support existing companies, strengthen communities, promote innovation and market Idaho domestically and internationally."

While previous analyses of Department of Commerce documents have consistently shown a 100% focus on big businesses with zero attention to small businesses (under 20 employees), this document is particularly significant. It proves that this big business focus is not limited to the state agency but extends to all regional economic development entities across Idaho, including those in rural areas.

Document Overview and Origin

The "Idaho Strong 2023-2028 Statewide Economic Development Strategy" is a 28-page report containing approximately 9,000 words. It was developed by the Economic Development Districts of Idaho (EDDI), a collaborative effort of the five Economic Development Districts serving the state.

This bottom-up approach, involving representatives from each district and input from the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP), was designed to create a coordinated, high-level economic strategy for the entire state. The stated purpose is to align strategic economic development efforts throughout Idaho and leverage resources at all levels for greater overall economic development impact.

Analysis Purpose

This analysis serves to:

1. Demonstrate how the big business focus of the Idaho Department of Commerce is reflected in regional economic development strategies.
2. Identify any explicit or implicit benefits for small businesses under 20 employees.
3. Interpret the document as a sales pitch for big businesses considering expansion or relocation to Idaho.
4. Provide further evidence that the state of Idaho's economic development strategy is 100% focused on big business, with zero focus on small businesses.

By examining this document in detail, we aim to conclusively show that the prioritization of big business interests in economic development is not just a policy of the state agency, but a pervasive approach that extends to all levels of economic planning in Idaho.