Kylee was raised in northern Idaho and became a resident of Post Falls in 2021. She graduated from Lake City High School then attend North Idaho College. Kylee started at Global Credit Union a little over 6 years ago and worked her way up to become the Branch Manager of the Post Falls branch.
Kylee joined the Post Falls Chamber Ambassador Committee in 2019 and has enjoyed all the opportunities that the Chamber offers. She has attended many of the Chamber’s events, making many new connections and learning about the many businesses that make up our Post Falls community.
Following her parents and other family members, who had made a move a year earlier, Kristin and the “love of her life” and husband of 18 years packed up a 3-month-old baby boy, a set of 13-year-old twin girls, and all their belongings, and headed for a better future in Coeur d’Alene. This journey was hard but worth every second of the planning and packing.
Kristin purchased a local scrapbooking business with her mother and sister and realized how much she loved meeting her new home city’s many patrons and community members. When the recession hit, Kristin had to join many other community members and close the scrapbooking business. Ever resilient, Kristin enrolled in an NIC Workforce Training Program and earned her CNA Certificate.
As a previous fitness trainer, Kristin knew she loved working with people and helping them improve their lives. In 2011, with a certificate in hand, she went to work for Guardian Angel Homes Assisted Living & Memory Care in Post Falls as a Caregiver. Having mastered the Caregiver position, Kristin set her sights on growth within the company and worked her way to the position she currently holds as Director of Community Outreach.
Kristin loves helping families find the loving, nurturing environment they seek for their loved ones. A place where families have the peace of knowing their loved ones are safe. She also loves being involved in many of the area’s community groups, such as Women in Business.
Darlene, a longtime Post Falls resident, moved here in 1988. She graduated from North Idaho College and completed her education at Lewis Clark State College and Gonzaga University. Darlene became the Marketing Manager for The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center in Spokane for 8 years, became a realtor in 2004, and began working with Kirbi Swanson at Treaty Rock Realty in 2016.
Darlene and her realtor daughter, Julia Boord, want to give back to their community, so they began hosting successful real estate classes, “How to Buy a Home With 100% Financing,” at the Workforce Training Center in Post Falls. Julia is also a designated Senior Real Estate Specialist.
Darlene has been a member and Ambassador for the Post Falls Chamber since 2017. She volunteers many hours at Chamber events and meets new people in our community, always with a smile.
She volunteers to support the Chamber’s many events, along with helping at The Fox Theater in Spokane.
She enjoys her large family, including her husband, son, two daughters, a granddaughter, and a cat and dog. Darlene enjoys many activities that the Northwest offers, including tap dancing, and would like to finish a Spartan race in Montana with her kids this spring!
Chris moved to Post Falls in 1974 and worked for the City from 1978-2008. She rose through the ranks there as the Deputy Clerk, Administrator Clerk, and City Clerk. Chris has been a longtime member and volunteer in the community, belonging to the Post Falls Community Volunteers, Historical Society, and American Legion and volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club and the Senior Center.
Chris joined the Post Falls Chamber Ambassadors Committee in 2010 and has been a SUPERSTAR committee member, participating in almost all of the committee’s Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings, and Business Appreciation Visits.
Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, and Rathdrum Chambers of Commerce
Thursday, January 11, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
Call to Order and Introductions
Present: Christa Hazel, Dean Haagenson, Luke Russel, Kiki Miller, Mike Bullard, Lauren Benedict, Katie Rose Hargreaves, Christina Petite. Present by Zoom: Doug Elliot, Nick Swayne, Nikki Swanye, Marc Kilmer, Caleb Davis, Caiti Bobbitt, Griffen Dietrich, Sandy Patano, Ashley Cameron, Damon Darakjy, Doug, Nicki Swayne, Mark Kilmer.
Federal Update: given by Mark Kilmer from Senator Risch’s office, national issues.
Local Update: Kiki Miller from CdA City Council reported on impact fees being raised, housing efforts, growth issues, and Housing Solution Partnership.
Report on State of the State:
Christa Hazel of North Idaho Republicans reported on the Governor’s State of the State address, mentioning positive initiatives she believes are important for business including Idaho Launch and response to the Fentanyl crisis. Christa Hazel emphasized new rules for the Republican Caucus on March 2: Registered Republicans must have their individual mailed postcards and must be physically present to participate. Venue to be announced. Watch the website. Sandy Patano mentioned the Capital Letters Newsletter with Highlights, Published for free by Idaho Statesman at:
Another useful resource is the free newsletter by Idaho Capital Sun.
Other items:
We agreed to host a State of the County event on May 10. Kristina will take the lead on the venue and details. Legislative priorities of the chamber will be sent out before the next meeting so we can prepare questions for County leaders.
We hope to reestablish bimonthly calls with our legislators during upcoming meetings.
The CdA Chamber reported that, as part of its revitalization, it is going to set up its own Public Policy Committee which will liaise with the Joint Public Policy Committee and work together on most things.
The League of Women Voters is hosting a free public educational event on open primaries/alternative voting methods, to be held at two locations on Sunday, February 18. One will be at the Post Falls Library from noon to 2 PM and at the CdA Library from 3 to 5 PM. Speakers will include Luke Mayfield from Reclaim Idaho. The League will provide a digital flier and other info so the Chamber can help publicize.
2024 Planned Chamber Events:
January 16th Connect luncheon Glen Miles KNPO. Sign up online
February 1 Governor Little luncheon address and Q&A.
Adjourn 12:00 p.m.
The public is invited. Tables can be sponsored by members for $1000 hosted.
The primary mission of the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, and Rathdrum Chambers of Commerce is to advocate for an environment that ensures the health and prosperity of our communities through strong and healthy businesses. Together, we advocate for tax policies and a regulatory environment that supports opportunities for growth, job creation, and profitability which strengthens the economic vitality of our communities and our region.
In addition, our Members were united in their concern that our Legislators work together to eliminate policies that unnecessarily restrict the free flow of commerce and industry which is vital to the creation and retention of jobs, ensuring continuing economic prosperity. Our joint Chambers advocate for the elimination of restrictions on the ability of employers and businesses to manage and regulate their businesses and their employees. The government should neither restrict nor mandate how business owners in Idaho operate their businesses.
We have established the following priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session and look forward to working with you on these issues.
Education and Workforce Development:
The Chambers fully support the recommendations of the Governor’s Taskforce on Higher Education that address the need to reduce costs & improve all educational pathways toward a meaningful career, from industry-based certifications to advanced degrees.
The Chambers continue to strongly support coordinated and focused efforts to better prepare our citizens for the State’s growing business workforce needs. These programs need to be oriented toward providing traditional students with career and technical education to prepare them for the workforce and also providing results-oriented pathways for more mature members of our workforce to upgrade their skills and stay current on the changing needs of employers. In addition to the four-year plus degrees provided by our universities, the Chambers fully support the continued funding and expansion of workforce development programs and continued increased emphasis on career and technical education, and skills certification within our schools and Community Colleges. We also support the expansion of apprenticeship programs. The Chambers support continued efforts regarding Reading Readiness initiatives and encourage pre-K funding exploration. We continue to support public schools, STEM education, mentorship initiatives, and career advisory programs.
Infrastructure: Roads, Bridges, Sewer, Water and Broadband:
We firmly believe that the State must explore and implement funding solutions that adequately address the pressing backlog of maintenance issues facing our State’s infrastructure. At the same time, we believe we must begin to fund new projects that are urgently required to address the continued growth that we are experiencing. In doing so we understand increased user fees as well as other new revenues must be addressed. We simply must invest more now or limit our ability to grow and negatively impact our State’s future prosperity.
Affordable Housing:
Communities throughout Idaho are experiencing a dramatic increase in rental rates and housing prices. This is impacting our ability to attract and retain employees, and is a growing concern for our businesses and directly impacts our efforts to foster economic development and job growth. Addressing this problem as demand for housing in our communities is impacted by growth and in-migration of those attracted by our State’s quality of life and personal freedoms is difficult. The existing programs operated by the Idaho Housing Finance Agency which provide below-market financing to first-time homebuyers should be expanded. Additionally, those IHFA and HUD programs that encourage and support the development of affordable multifamily rental housing should be fully funded and fully utilized. Additional programs that encourage partnerships with local non-profit housing providers and Community organizations to address the need for affordable housing should also be developed.
Tax Issues:
The Chambers continue to support a reduction in the tax burden on businesses in Idaho when fiscally responsible. Gradually lowering income tax rates and simplifying and reducing business personal property taxes will assist in the retention and expansion of existing businesses, as well as in the recruitment of new businesses.
Residential property taxes have skyrocketed and the property tax burden on residential properties has dramatically expanded, with roughly 70% of property tax collections now being paid by residential properties. Among the solutions the Legislature should consider are the following:
Replacing the current cap on the homeowner’s exemption with a formula that considers inflation.
Require those leasing public property to pay a lessee’s tax equal to the assessed property tax on the leased property.
Replace local property tax school “maintenance and operations” override levies with increased funding from state revenues.
Distribute internet sales taxes now held in a “Tax Relief Fund” to local governments and the State General Fund.
Reform Idaho’s impact fee law to make it truly fund the cost of growth including the cost of new schools, increased governmental operations including fire and police, and regional transportation improvements.
Remove the artificial property tax caps imposed by the passage of HB 389. This directly impacts our City’s ability to maintain infrastructure.
Our Chambers continue to support the passage of legislation granting local units of government authority to adopt local option taxes that are voter-approved for specifically defined local public improvement projects, with cost estimates, timelines, and sunset clauses. The ability to address local needs with local voter-approved tax revenues is critical to the continued growth and economic viability of our growing communities. The Chambers continue to support the use of the state’s Urban Renewal Law as an effective and flexible economic development tool that has proven essential in the expansion and improvement of public infrastructure, economic diversification, and the expansion of employment.
Healthcare:
As our state continues to see rapid population growth, access to health care remains a growing priority for Idahoans of all ages. The population boom of Kootenai County, combined with the labor shortage, is pushing the healthcare industry to quickly adapt to meet the needs of the community. We ask the state legislature to work with our healthcare communities to find solutions.
Telehealth is a mechanism to help the labor shortage and broaden access to care. The use of telehealth, specifically clinic-to-clinic telehealth, provides patients with access, convenience, and urgency to care. It also helps with the retention and recruitment of providers because it eases the workload and reduces burnout by lessening frequent travel to rural communities. As healthcare organizations look to expand their telehealth programs, they are running into barriers because the state has been slow to make necessary adaptions. We support the implementation of a state workgroup with qualified stakeholders from across the state to help grow and support these services.
Expand Nurse Education Funding and Continue to Support Graduate Medical Education (GME) Funding. The need for nurses and providers is ever-growing. One of the biggest barriers to expanding nursing school programs is not having enough faculty members to teach the students. More funding is needed to support these programs and increase faculty members’ wages to incentivize qualified and experienced nurses to become instructors.
Continue to support GME funding. The Kootenai Health Family Medicine program is proof that physicians practice where they are trained, with 25 of 36 of the program’s graduates now practicing in Idaho. Supporting and growing these programs throughout the state is essential to the future of health care in Idaho.
Behavioral Health resources of all ages are limited in northern Idaho. We ask for continued support and increased funding of the state’s Crisis Centers and explore ways to expand these centers to support our state’s youth. The need and demand for these services are only increasing year over year.
In 2018 Idaho voters approved Medicaid Expansion. With inflation and cost of living increases, we ask you to continue to support the will of the voters by providing affordable access to care for Idahoans.
Natural Resources:
Our Chambers continue to support policies that responsibly protect our environment and quality of life while supporting a business climate that nourishes economic growth. Sustainable management of our natural resources benefits both industry and the health of our public lands.
§ Committee continues to be the support arm for reverse job fair.
§ The committee continues to be the support arm for the 4H Hard Hat and Hotdogs Job Fair.
§ Educators thank you.
o New Ideas: how to bridge the gap between business and education.
§ ICCU financial education to high school- how to save and budget money, checking and savings account.
§ Send out surveys to businesses to get more ideas.
§ Career exploration for 8th graders new requirement.
· Ask the business for guidance in shadows or field trips.
§ How to increase awareness of KTEC.
· Business drop-ins are welcomed.
§ Support school w/ voting and levies.
§ “Coffee connections” at High Schools or Middle Schools and bring industry experts to come and talk about the industry.
§ Mentor / peer-to-peer from KTEC student to MS to show what it’s like.
· Business and Education Award for October
o Send a reminder school to bring nominations forward.
o Email Christina with nominations for 2023/24.
o Options:
§ Birdies Pie Shop- October Award
§ Walmart
§ CDA Inn
o
· Reverse Job Fair
o First Meeting 9/26 3 pm.
The event is Scheduled for March 19, 2024.
· H4
o Planning stage
The event is Scheduled for April 2024.
· Good of the Order
o Thursday 9/28 membership Thank you.
o PH sending out a community survey in October.
o PH meeting with schools on what students need drug awareness.
NEXT Meeting – October 24th, 2023
Meetings are scheduled monthly / 4th Tuesday of the Month / 8:30 am
Respectfully submitted by: Camey Yeager
The Business and Education Committee resumed after a few months’ hiatus during the summer months. The committee spent time discussing goals and ideas for 2023/2024 and their continued support for the Reverse Job Fair, Hard Hats and Hotdogs, businesses supporting education awards, and educators’ thank you celebration. The committee has some good ideas on how to support our school district and will send out a survey to our local businesses to explore some new options. Do you know of a local business that supports our education, teachers, and/or schools please contact Christina Petit at christina@postfallschamber.com to have them recognized.
Committee Members ☒ Brett Cummings ☒ Reann Capaul ☒ Colby Mattila ☒ Kim Young- Chair ☒ Suzanne Knutsen ☒ Roxane ☒ Trina Cottee ☒ Linda Benson ☒ Maren Maier ☒ Camey Yeager- Secretary ☒ Christina Petit
Guests Present ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Topic
Lead
Welcome, Instructions
All
Unleash Your Future Recap from Suzanne at NIBCA Suzane attended Unlock Your Future in September. Located in Liberty Lake for all middle school students from Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley. Introduce apprentice opportunities and career opportunities to middle schoolers. Different bays with companies set up to discuss their trade (healthcare and constructions). Teachers offered 1.5hr lecture before students so they received education on the trades. Grants available to help fund itIdea: All chambers (Hayden, Post Falls, CDA) involved in the area and have it at the fairground.New Idaho requirement for Middle Schoolers and job development Sub Committee Created: Suzane, ReAnn, Christina, Trina to meet and come back to committee next month with recommendations.
Suzanne Knutsen
Business and Education Award for NovemberNominations:Walmart- judging actives and supplies at costCDA Inn- Volunteers DECA DECEMBER River of Life Church- Snacks and clothing donationsNew Hope Fellowship- Donated snacks and clothing and helps with the holiday gift programCommunity Library Network– Summer Reading, STEAM, Discovery bus, NOVEMBERS Christina: send out list of who has been nominated in the last year
Kim Young
Reverse Job Fair Committee Leads neededRegistration Leader: VacantJudging Team Leader: Vacant Public Relations leader: Kimberly YoungChristina: send more information to Brett and Maren
Christina Petit
Good of the OrderDECA needing volunteers 11/29 at the CDA Inn 745 -145 Should we host a Career Job Fair so students look at careers How many businesses would be interested.Christina: send out survey to members What do students what this year?Juniors or Seniors?During school? Fridays? May? December? More to come
Adjourned
Minutes submitted by: Camey Yeager
NEXT Meeting – November 28th, 2023
Meetings are scheduled monthly / 4th Tuesday of the Month / 8:30am
Both Mark and Caleb discussed the issue of funding the government coming up in October. One thing that could affect our members is access to SBA and USDA funds. If the government stalls the process of funding these agencies, this could put businesses in our area in a tough spot waiting for financing. Even if they agree to a budget, the funding for these agencies could be different than planned.
Mark said Senator Risch is also a co-sponsor of the Helper Act, which would provide affordable mortgages for first responders and teachers who are first-time home buyers. This act will provide mortgages with zero down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance.
Local updates:
Christina shared with the group there would be an ITD I-90 Widening Project Open House: 4-7 p.m. Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center October 5th
Also, on October 9th, a Regional Legislative Meet and Greet – was put on by IACI, hosted by Idaho Forest Group, Athol Mill 5400 ID-54 Athol ID.
Presentation:
Rocky Owens, Senior Director – LSCS, presented a plan to host all Idaho legislators for a North Idaho Tour in November 2024. It will be a three-day event that will allow local businesses to showcase their businesses to the lawmakers. This event is scheduled every other year after the election of our legislators. In the past, this has been a very well-attended event, and Rocky asked for volunteers to work on the organizing committee.
He also shared that Tom Green had been named Interim Director of Government Affairs for North Idaho College.
Open Discussion:
We discussed the upcoming Legislator Breakfast. We have five legislators committed, and it will be held October 20, 7-9 a.m. at the CDA Inn. We will continue to reach out to the rest of the group since we only have one who has indicated they won’t be attending. Cost is $35/person.
Other Upcoming Events:
Forum for City Council, School Boards, and hopefully Mayors put on by CDAPRESS virtually, Dates TBD
September 19th Idaho Public Television Event, 5:30-7:30 DeArmand Building, NIC
October 19th Beyond the Ballet Event by Secretary of State, 11 am Hagadone Event Center, Ticket price TBD
The Business and Education Committee enjoyed an excellent University of Idaho Extension Campus tour. The University of Idaho Extension provides research-based programs responding to local issues and needs, helping citizens improve their social, economic, and environmental quality of life. The committee enjoyed Idaho STARS, Forestry, Home Horticulture, Eat Smart Idaho, Wagyu Beef, and Idaho 4-H Development presentations. 4-H is looking for donations from local businesses or community members to help keep the remarkable program open and available to our youngest community members.
Business and Education Committee will take a two-month break for the summer and resume meeting on September 26 at 830am.
