INL tallies up contribution to local economy

The U.S. Department of Energy operated Idaho National Laboratory has spent more than $1 billion dollars in the state of Idaho since 2005.

“Every year we look to do 30 percent of our procurement volume within the state. This will continue out as long as we have the contract here,” said INL Small Business Program Manager Stacey Francis. “We have good partners here, we have good employees, we have good businesses that support us and we’re going to continue to use those businesses.”

Francis said the laboratory works to build and shape small businesses to support its research efforts. Managers look for businesses to provide lab equipment, office supplies, construction and other goods and services through subcontracts. Dana Trautner, vice president of L&L Mechanical, said 90 percent of its contracts are with the laboratory. The company’s latest project has been upgrading the chiller and water system for most of the computers in the INL’s Engineering Research Office Building in Idaho Falls.

“The INL is the biggest contributor, next to farming, to the local economy. They do promote getting local businesses, they partner with local people first and that have been really paramount in keeping the area going,” said Trautner.