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ABOUT US

ABOUT US

 

We welcome you to explore North Idaho with Coeur d'Alene Area Economic Development Corporation. Since 1987, over 125 companies have taken the opportunity to expand or relocate to the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho area. The strong and vibrant economic options of North Idaho are surpassed only by the quality and beauty that surrounds us. As a business owner, you will embrace the financial benefits of Idaho which allow for low taxes, affordable housing, and a trained workforce. CNN Money ranked Idaho the

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#1 State for small business

#1 in regulatory and tax code friendliness

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I look forward to working with the Kootenai County communities to create that balance of taking care of our existing businesses, growing entrepreneurial activities, and recruiting new businesses to help diversify and strengthen our economy. Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation has had a long and successful program, and I know that together we can create further success to give our region a brilliant and vibrant future.

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– Gynii Gilliam

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MISSION

MISSION

The Coeur d’Alene Area EDC (CdAEDC) is the economic development organization for Kootenai County, representing all the rural communities in the region and the four larger communities: Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum. Our mission is to build a healthy economy for the region by strengthening the base, diversifying the economy, supporting the creation of new jobs, and advancing workforce development in cooperation with local, regional, and state economic partners, and existing businesses and industries to facilitate business retention, expansion, and attraction.

SERVICES

SERVICES

We offer confidential business services, free-of-charge and customized to your specific needs. Think of our office as an extension of your business development division. Our services include:

 

  • Identifying potential sites in partnership with our local commercial brokers and building/property owners

  • Coordinating and managing all logistics for site selection trips

  • Providing economic and business development data about the region

  • Identifying local and state incentive programs and navigating the application process

  • Facilitating permitting processes at state and local levels

  • Organizing strategic meetings with business leaders and government officials, from local to state level

  • Connecting companies with a workforce by making the screening, interviewing, hiring and training easy

  • Connecting companies with agencies and organizations relevant to business needs and community involvement

  • Establishing B2B relationships within north Idaho and eastern Washington to strengthen and build businesses

  • Promoting businesses and organizations through marketing and PR

  • Creating tailored services to meet businesses’ needs

ACHIEVEMENTS

ACHIEVEMENTS

-SINCE 1987-

Over
125
Companies 
Assisted

More than
7,198
Jobs 
Created

Over $722.5
Million 
Total Capital Investment 
in County

$144
Million 
Total 
Annual 
Payroll

OUR INVESTORS

INVESTORS

WHY INVEST IN Cd'A EDC?

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Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation is working to expand and diversify the economic base for Kootenai County. By getting involved, you can help contribute to the economic vitality of beautiful North Idaho. Our services are confidential and free of charge. We have assisted over 125 companies relocate or expand their business to North Idaho. The economic impact of these recruited companies has resulted in:

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If you’re interested in making a difference in our community, come join our partnership! CdAEDC is a community 501(c)6 non-profit organization, funded by private business, public entities, and private individuals. For over 30 years, CdAEDC has served the region by offering confidential services and assistance to businesses interested in locating or expanding in the region.

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Our stakeholders are community and business leaders interested in seeing our region continue to become stronger and more diversified. Some have been investing in our community since the inception of the organization in 1987. We welcome your investment in our community from $1,000 to $50,000 and beyond. For additional information please call us anytime at 208.667.4753

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If you’re interested in making a bigger impact and want to join our board, please call Gynii A. Gilliam at 208.667.4753.

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If you would like to learn more about becoming a supporter of CDA EDC, please contact us at 208-667-4753, or info@cdaedc.org

OVER 7,000 JOBS CREATED 
+
MORE THAN $62 MILLION

IN PROPERTY TAXES PAID

WHY INVEST
INVESTOR LIST

VISIONARY (25,000+)

PREMIER ($15,000-$24,999)

PLATINUM ($5,000-$14,999)

SILVER ($2,500-$4,999)

BRONZE ($1,000-$2,499)

BUSINESS ($500-$999)

COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS (NON-VOTING)

Chair – Mike Kennedy

- Intermax Networks

Vice-Chair  Kara Heikkila

Witherspoon Brajcich McPhee, PLLC 

Past Chair – Brad Marshall

- J-U-B Engineers
Treasurer – Tag Jacklin

Riverbend & Jacklin Land
Mayor Jim Hammond

- City of Coeur d’Alene
Rep: Troy Tymesen
Mayor Ron Jacobson 

- City of Post Falls
Rep: Shelly Enderud

Mayor Mike Hill

- City of Rathdrum

Rep: Leon Duce

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Brad Hagadone

- Hagadone Corporation

Clint Schroeder

- Hagadone Corporation Media Division
Nick Swayne

- North Idaho College
Andrew Fields

- University of Idaho, Cd’A Campus
Chris Meyer

- Parkwood Business Properties

Scott Marikis/Reed Chase

- Empire Airlines
Cynthia Donato

- Kootenai Health
Richard Young

- Idaho Central Credit Union

Carla Cicero

- Numerica Credit Union

Marty Dickinson

- STCU

Eve Knudtsen

- Knudtsen Chevrolet

John Hemmingson/

David Weeks

- Lakeside Companies

Duffy Smock

- Windermere Real Estate
Alivia Metts

- ignitecda
Dena Naccarato

- PF School District 273
Todd Kiesbuy

- Avista Utilities

Jessica Bauman

- Express Employment Professionals
Pam Houser

- Jobs+ Action Committee
Wally Jacobson

- Panhandle Area Council
Gynii A. Gilliam

- President & CEO

BOARD MEMBERS

BOARD MEMBERS

OUR TEAM

OUR TEAM

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GYNII GILLIAM

PRESIDENT

Gynii joined the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation in March of 2015. She is charged with helping create vital communities in the region by diversifying the economy and helping business create jobs. Since joining Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, she’s been instrumental in building a strong community economic development team that she credits with helping close to 100 expanding and relocating businesses bring more than $150  million of new capital to the region, along with over 2000 new direct jobs and around $75M in new payroll from 2015 to 2019..

 

She has over 25 years of experience in the field, in both the private and public sectors, from rural communities to urban centers. She served as the Chief Economic Development Officer for the State of Idaho, where her team helped bring over $700 million in capital investment and 3500 new direct jobs to the state over an 18-month period. Prior to joining Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, Gynii had a private consulting firm focused on providing workshops to help “Elected Officials and Stakeholders become Champions for Economic Development.” She has also taught a graduate course in Community and Economic Development as an adjunct professor for Boise State University. Previous work in the state, also includes eastern and central Idaho, where among other things, she helped start a rural distance learning program in central Idaho for nursing students, guided the ED team in recruiting Allstate to eastern Idaho for their 4th regional center, and co-directing the Urban Renewal program for the Pocatello region. She has also worked on successful projects in Los Angeles and Detroit.

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Ms. Gilliam holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and studied abroad at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. She was a California State Scholar and the recipient of the Rackham Graduate School Fellowship.

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Gynii is involved in local, regional and national boards, including the International Economic Development Council, Inland Northwest Economic Development Partnership and the Idaho State Economic Development Association. She has presented at the National Council of State Governments, the Northwest Food Processors Association, the Pacific Northwest Economic Development Council, and at many other national events. Gynii has two grown boys: Jono an Architect in Los Angeles, California; and Michael, an ER nurse in Boise, Idaho.

 

Email: gynii@cdaedc.org

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JOSH WISE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Josh Wise grew up in the mountains of Victor Idaho where he learned to enjoy the outdoor amenities through snowboarding, camping, running, backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. He attended Eastern Oregon University where he completed an undergraduate degree in three years and went on to receive a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on economic development.

Josh enjoyed serving others on campus by developing relationships, connecting resources, and facilitating discussions all skills he continues to use today to help businesses prosper.

 

While attending college he met another Idahoan Lauren who is now his wife and loving mother of their children. The passion and enthusiasm for the home state of Idaho lead Josh to return after college to help individuals and businesses know about this great state at the newly formed Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho where he worked with numerous stakeholders to unify a region and maximize individual resources. As the Economic Development Specialist for the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation- Jobs Plus, Josh continues to work for the betterment of Idaho for the families and communities of this great state and region.

 

Email: josh@cdaedc.org

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LOREN WHITTEN-KABOTH

INVESTOR RELATIONS/SPECIAL PROJECTS

Loren grew up in Oregon and attended the University of Arizona on a 4-year voice scholarship where she studied opera performance, after which she also attended and graduated with a BS in Psychology from Portland State University. After graduating college, Loren sang with Portland Opera, in Portland, Oregon for several years as a paid member of AGMA, the American Guild of Musical Artists. She also enjoys playing the trumpet. Married Dieter Kaboth in 1991 where she was introduced to bow hunting, elk calling (Dieter is the 4-time World Elk Calling Champion with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation), enjoying all aspects of the outdoors together.

 

Loren and Dieter then moved to Pierce, Idaho in 2007 where they lived in their “hunting cabin” for eight years. In 2009, Loren began her career as the Economic Development Director for Clearwater County Economic Development located in Orofino, Idaho servicing Orofino, Pierce, Weippe and Elk River. Her greatest accomplishment as the director was the collaboration with various organizations to bring the National Guard Youth Challenge Academy to Pierce, Idaho. After several years, it is still going strong and has brought with it, approximately 53 jobs to the remote town of Pierce. 

 

After moving to Harrison, Idaho in 2015, Loren transferred her Economic Development role with Idaho Commerce to then become the Shoshone County Economic Development Director, working out of Wallace City Hall to serve several small rural communities.

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Currently, in the role of Investor Relations Liaison/Special Projects with CdAEDC/Jobs Plus, Loren draws on 14 years of experience in the economic development industry throughout north Idaho.

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Loren enjoys reading, singing with Chorale Coeur d’Alene and especially keeping company with Farley, their golden retriever.

 

Email: loren@cdaedc.org

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RAVEN LUCIANO-DESMITH

AMERICORPS/VISTA

MEMBER

Raven Luciano-DeSmith is an AmeriCorps/VISTA member who is the newest addition to our team. She started her service on 11/2022 and will end service on 11/2024. 

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 “Born in Honolulu, HI, Raven moved to Coeur d’Alene in March 2022. In the midst of wanting to find ways to be involved in her new community, the opportunity to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at CdAEDC/Jobs Plus fell into her lap. In her service as a VISTA member, she assists in gathering regional economic data to find solutions for community challenges like workforce housing and the need for skilled workers. Raven plans to major in Biology at NIC in hopes of becoming a cosmetic chemist in the future.”

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