U.S. Senator Jim Risch honors Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce for its 125th anniversary

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 125 years of supporting business and economic growth in southeast Idaho.

U.S. Senator Jim Risch, (R)-Idaho, visited Pocatello on September 8 to recognize the Chamber’s long history. 

“Chambers of Commerce around Idaho really do amazing things, and this Chamber is particularly well-known for its continuity and for the kind of service that it gives to the people who are members," Risch said.

Risch met with Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist, Chamber President Matt Hunter, leaders from the United Way of Southeastern Idaho and business representatives to congratulate the Chamber on its impactful work and historic anniversary.

The Chamber started as the Pocatello Commercial Club in 1893, and officially organized on December 10, 1901, to promote Pocatello as the "Gateway to the Northwest."

"This Chamber really goes back to the beginning of this community when Idaho State University was created," Hunter said.

He spoke of the Chamber's ongoing contributions – including supporting new housing developments in Pocatello and Chubbuck, to address the critical need for residences in the area.

“We got a lot more housing being built in this community than we've had for a long time." Hunter said. "... I have six kids that live here. Two of them own homes. The other four don't, and they would like to. I want to keep my children here. So affordable housing is an important thing, not just to me, but to this whole community.”

The Chamber is also looking for a new tenant for the L.A. Semiconductor property andsupports the proposed A.I. data center project in town.

“We think we need it," Hunter said. "We think it's a good economic project, especially for where they're planning to put it.”

Senator Risch presented the Chamber with a joint Congressional Record Statement he signed alongside U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson.

The Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce also honored Sam Nettinga as its first-ever Hall of Fame recipient in a separate ceremony Tuesday night.