City leaders seek to woo new businesses to Chubbuck

Chubbuck is Idaho’s 16th largest city and it’s getting bigger. But some fear the population is growing faster than the local economy and they want to change that.

The bedroom community of more than 14,000 grew 46 percent from 2000 to 2010, but most of that growth was residential — not commercial.

“Three percent (economic) growth across the state. Bannock County right now is at less than half a percent,” said Chubbuck City Councilman Josh Ellis.

Ellis said Chubbuck should take a proactive approach to recruiting new businesses.

“Part of it is looking out and looking at areas that are losing businesses and then starting to go to those areas and say, ‘Consider us,'” said Ellis.

It’s worked in the past. In 2011, insurance firm Allstate opened a call center in Chubbuck, bringing with it more than 500 jobs.

In the last few years, a number of retail outlets have opened on Knudsen Boulevard, including a new Domino’s Pizza.

Mayor Kevin England said his plan for attracting new businesses includes lobbying for construction of a new interchange on Siphon Road. If built, it would provide a new way to get on and off Interstate 15.

England said a number of prospective businesses have expressed interest in one.

“When they come in and look at our industrial park, they recognize that once their product gets done, they’ve got to come all the way through town to get back on the interstate,” said England.

There’s no guarantee the interchange will be built, but there is renewed hope for new jobs. Word is spreading that Idaho Central Credit Union may expand its Chubbuck location.

“It looks as though they’re going to expand and so the hope is that we’ve created an environment where they can be successful and that they can expand here,” said Ellis.