First in a two-part series.
Part 2 will be published Wednesday, Oct. 13.
Word was broken Wednesday of numerous fronts moving forward in the battle to build a stronger local economy.
The Wood River Economic Partnership, a nonprofit whose members are local business owners employing a total of 2,500 workers, organized a gathering of the valley's leading economic development groups at the Roosevelt Grille in Ketchum on Wednesday. Representatives of education, the possible replacement airport, city governments, Ketchum's Community Development Corp., Sustain Blaine's Economic Development Corp. and Fly Sun Valley Alliance updated one another on their latest efforts, often revealing developments unannounced until now.
Access Sun Valley card
The cost of an Access Sun Valley card has dropped from $150 to $99, according to project manager Neil Morrow.
The card, sold by Fly Sun Valley Alliance, allows cardholders to receive discounts at a variety of valley businesses. Some discount examples are a Rico's dinner for 25 percent off, a 15 percent discount on Elephant's Perch clothing, half off a Wood River Community YMCA day pass, 10 percent off an auto detailing or servicing at Wood River Motors and deals at 39 other businesses. All cardholder deals are listed on the website www.accesssunvalley.com, which is where cards can also be purchased.
Morrow has been going door to door persuading businesses to buy in, and reported that 51 businesses are currently participating. He said the goals are to get 200 businesses into the program and sell 1,000 cards the first year, with more in future years.
Card revenues would be used to underwrite air service to the valley from California cities such as San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oakland, as well as Denver and beyond. Other ski resorts, such as Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Jackson Hole, Wyo., have successfully conducted similar consumer card programs that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to increase airline service with subsidies, known as minimum revenue guarantees.
Morrow said a successful program here would relieve Sun Valley Co. of being the prime source of guarantees for air service.
Affordable housing
Northwood Place, Ketchum's sole affordable-housing complex, has received enough applications to fill 70 percent of its 32 for-rent apartments, according to Ketchum Community Development Corp. Executive Director Jon Duval, who said two of the complex's five buildings are almost done. Apartments span from one-bedroom units to three-floor, three-bedroom, townhouse-style units, and should all be done before winter. Duval said two families moved in a couple of weeks ago.
"It's great to have people who work up here actually live up here," he said, adding that the CDC is moving forward on a second lower-income housing project planned at the city-owned parking lot at the corner of Leadville Avenue and Sixth Street.
Replacement airport
"The next six months are the most vital," said Friedman Memorial Airport Manager Rick Baird of the replacement airport being planned for one of two possible sites.
He said the process was initiated Wednesday to begin drafting an analysis determining if the replacement airport is financially feasible and where the money will come from to pay for it. He said this document should be done and made public in six months. A website has been created for up-to-date info: www.flysvra.com. Friedman Memorial Airport's 2010 annual report can also be accessed via the site.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
Friedman Memorial Airport Manager Rick Baird updates the valley’s economic development leaders on the progress for planning a replacement airport to serve the valley.
