Partnership to get outside companies to notice Rexburg
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REXBURG — The city is expanding its economic development efforts through a new partnership.
Rexburg has partnered with REDI, the Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho organization based in Idaho Falls.
“It certainly will, we believe, make our community more visible in the eyes of companies that may not have noticed us before,” Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill said.
Park Price, chairman for REDI, said the organization is dedicated to promoting eastern Idaho, particularly the innovation quarter between Pocatello and Rexburg.
REDI is active in promoting cities in east Idaho through trade events across the country. Price said site selectors and location experts for large companies look for one central location to find information, that’s where REDI comes in.
By being a part of REDI, Rexburg will be able to gain more exposure to companies looking for new locations.
“By adding Rexburg in this group they’ll be able to be one of the communities that will be offering up location potential for companies,” Price said. “(Rexburg is) well positioned for that because they have a very young work force.”
Merrill said Rexburg has a high concentration of young people and viable talent pool that larger companies are looking for.
“Not only with our local young people but also the BYU-Idaho students that are here — that’s just a really treasure trove for companies that are looking for talent,” Merrill said.
Merrill said REDI will not take away from the city’s current economic development efforts.
“They main idea of REDI is to just create a synergy along with our existing economic development staff, and mainly to extend our reach out further,” Merrill said.
Merrill said there aren’t solid guarantees as far as how many more jobs could be added to the economy, but he is enthusiastic to attract new companies.
“We’re excited to get the message out about Rexburg being a great place, and we’re hoping to attract some great companies to provide some good jobs for the people here,” Merrill said.