What Costco needs to do to be part of Economic Development Incentive program

In case you haven’t heard the big news, retail giant Costco is coming to Idaho Falls. Plans were announced at Thursday night’s City Council meeting.

This is part of Idaho Falls’ Economic Development Incentive program.

The program requires a request to be filed 60 days before filing a building permit. It also requires that 100 or more jobs be created. The jobs have to pay a minimum wage of $15 an hour. The company must also provide benefits.

“If the company applying, in this case, is Costco, does satisfy those requirements, then they’re eligible for the waiver of certain fees that are associated with the construction of a new facility,” said Mayor Rebecca Casper.

An incentive could also include an Expedited Permitting Process.

The 150,000-square-foot retail facility will have a gas station in front at the northwest corner of Lincoln and Hitt roads.

Construction is expected to begin in September. The anticipated opening date is August 2020.