Gov. Otter says economic diversity is key for the state
Gov. Butch Otter, Lt. Gov. Brad Little and Idaho Commerce Director Megan Ronk made rounds to see Pocatello’s latest economic development projects Wednesday.
The Statehouse team made its way to four locations: ON Semiconductor, Western States Caterpillar and the future buildings of the Mountainview Event Center and Grace Lutheran High School.
As he stood in the skeleton of the MEC, Otter said, “I’ll guarantee you this too will be a big part of the economic development.”
Otter believes with every economic investment there’s a faith investment — faith the economic one will do well down the line.
“You never know what else is going to be created as a result of the event center, or as a result of this school,” he said.
He’s sure the MEC and new high school will add different revenue flows to complement the area’s current ones. As we’ve reported, Idaho became the No. 1 state for job growth. Otter credits that distinction to the state’s diversifying economy.
Whether it be through chain restaurants and stores or big businesses moving into town, diversity is key for Idaho to have a bright future, according to Otter.
“The more we can divide up the agricultural pie, the timber pie and the mining pie means the better off we’re going to be because we’re constantly adding value to that. We’ll be able to sustain that economic growth,” he said.
