Boise: A Great Place for Business
"Boise is an excellent place to live and work. We have access to the best of everything.”
The word is out: Boise is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities. What’s more, almost two-thirds of this inbound wave (largely relocating from larger West Coast cities) are well-educated millennials under 40. Professionals increasingly seeking big-city amenities, culture and career opportunities with a little more room to breathe in the wake of COVID-19 are finding Boise to be a perfect fit.
As the Treasure Valley’s already impressive talent pool continues to grow and diversify across a range of tech and industries, businesses are taking note. Tandem Diabetes (makers of the t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology) opened its Boise office in September 2019, with teams focused on customer support, and growing into IT, Facilities and HR.
“Having access to a local talent pool with experience in those areas has been extremely helpful as we recruit and grow,” says Gioia Woo, Associate Director and Boise Site Head. “We’ve also been able to begin building a strong relationship with Boise State University which has allowed us to educate students on Tandem and our job opportunities here in Boise. We’ve additionally had success relocating Tandem employees from San Diego and new hires from other states.”
Woo cited the mix of a strong company culture and benefits/compensation package, as well as the perks and affordability of the city itself. “Boise is in growth mode, and the rate in which people are relocating here proves it.â€
Darren Stuck, Director of Business Development, CXT Incorporated (the national leader in precast concrete modular buildings used in parks, municipalities and more), agrees. In January 2020, CXT relocated its primary Western US production plant and corporate office to a newly constructed 85,000 square foot facility in Nampa, Idaho (just 18 miles west of downtown Boise). The facility currently has over 70 full time workers with plans for continued growth.
Stuck credits both the city and state’s pro-business approach and the local wealth of skilled talent in helping CTX decide to relocate to the region. “Our [relocation] focus was primarily driven by location and proximity to our growing customer base. The business leaders … have done an exceptional job of supporting us throughout our initial discovery and the relocation process as a whole.”
When it comes to talent, Stuck says Boise has exceeded expectations. “We have been extremely pleased with the quality of our workforce. We have been able to attract and hire a number of very talented people within all levels of the organization, which will be a huge part of our future success and growth.”
The city itself has proven an incredibly effective recruiting and retainment tool for businesses. “With our offices located in Midtown Boise, we’re located steps away from the Boise Greenbelt and Ann Morrison Park,” says Woo. “Our offices are adjacent to Downtown, Boise Bench and West End, making our location highly desirable and providing [us with] access to great talent in the Boise area. Boise is a family-friendly city and is an excellent place to live and work. We have access to the best of everything.”
Woo also acknowledged local organizations like the Boise Chamber in further supporting businesses like Tandem. “The Boise Chamber is a great partner for any business looking to lay down roots here in town. They do an excellent job welcoming and educating employers and ultimately setting them up for success. This an all-around great place to live and as Boise continues to grow, I’m confident it will only get better.“