City leaders anticipate new temple to spur economic growth

The historic announcement a temple will be built in Pocatello for the first time, ever, was made during Sunday’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints General Conference session.

City of Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said, generally, when a temple is built in a new city, that area sees between a 20 and 40 percent increase in economic growth, and hopes the same will happen to Pocatello.

“We’ve worked hard, we’ve seen a lot of economic development, we’ve seen a lot of economic growth, and it will be exciting to see more of that if that’s what will truly happen,” Blad said.

He anticipates more restaurants, jobs and higher-paying jobs to pop-up after the temple is built.

Blad also said the temple will not ask for any tax breaks and will still be expected to pay all of the fees expected of everyone else who moves into the community.

Developer Ryan Satterfield said he and his family donated 10 acres of the nearly 75 acre property east of Satterfield Drive to the church where it’s speculated the temple could be built. He said if the church chooses that site, he would end up coordinating a chunk of that project.

“We’re certainly hopeful this site here might work for them, but if it doesn’t, that’s okay,” Satterfield said. “Wherever the temple is would still help the community.”

However, Blad said church officials need to first come up with a design first before choosing a site. He said that could take roughly one or two years.

Satterield said if the church chooses that particular site, property value around that neighborhood probably would not be impacted too much. He said, there are a number of other factors that play a role into determining the property value aspect.

“It’s probably not as severe as what some might think,” Satterfield said. “Overall, a community needs economic drivers in order to have property values increase. The jobs really have to be there in order to drive the demand for homes being built. The temple has potential in bringing some of those economic drivers, but overall, Pocatello needs to continue bringing in those good, high-paying jobs.”

Blad said the city has been steadily seeing more growth, and has been preparing itself for the type of growth spurt the community could experience once the temple is built.

On Thursday night, the city council will meet to discuss annexing that nearly 75 acre piece of land being discussed as a potential temple location.