Forum: Infrastructure Investment in Idaho

Idaho ended 2021 with a record $900M in budget surplus and is poised for another $1.4B by the end of 2022’s budget cycle, with a portion that will be dedicated to infrastructure improvements statewide. In addition Idaho will receive an estimated $3B that covers all infrastructure sectors with formula-based distributions, thanks to the November 2021 passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The funding comes at a critical time for our state - while we have seen unprecedented growth, Idaho’s infrastructure has not kept pace. In fact, Idaho scored a C- in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Report Card for infrastructure.

Areas of infrastructure investment in Idaho include:

• Repairing and rebuilding our roads and bridges (In Idaho there are 286 bridges and over 1,102 miles of highway in poor condition.)
• Improving infrastructure of Idaho’s airports
• Greater broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the estimated 53,000 Idahoans who currently lack it.
• Improving public transportation
• Building a network of electric vehicle chargers to facilitate long-distance travel and provide convenient charging options.
• Increased preparation of our infrastructure for the impacts of climate change, cyber-attacks, and extreme weather events. (From 2010 to 2020, Idaho has experienced 11 extreme weather events, costing the state up to $2 billion in damages.)
• Improving water infrastructure across the state and ensure that communities have access to clean and safe drinking water.

How are these funds being allocated (or accessed) at the city, regional, and state level? What types of projects are planned and prioritized? How are labor and material shortages impacting construction projects and their timelines?

Join us to hear insights from our panel of infrastructure experts:

Wayne Hammon, Chief Executive Officer, Idaho Associated General Contractors

Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, Deputy Chief of Staff-Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Governor Little

Kelley Packer, Executive Director, Association of Idaho Cities

Matt Stoll, Executive Director, Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS)

Moderated by Kâren Sander, Immediate Past President City Club of Boise, Idaho Area Business Development Lead HDR Engineering, Inc.