Teton Regional Economic Coalition

03/23/2026

The IRS webinar “Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill: Business Tax Provisions” is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 12:00 pm.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=c502fbda56&attid=0.0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1860473656282845102&th=19d1baeee4b60fae&view=fimg&fur=ip&permmsgid=msg-f:1860473656282845102&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ8gJGPelnl9hZhDGEtv5_TcFwBkmTF-0gLfg8s0eHEC-rJmnN3xgoZBNTQTwVhzJysbbq8KxOz5BSAMjT3PsFOCg3W9SNhF-YIktLHrJUMyQHjWRy7B6ACVh7k&disp=emb&zw

03/20/2026

03/20/2026

Entrepreneurs!

LEARN TO USE AI and SOCIAL MEDIA ADS to GROW YOUR BUSINESS!

SBDC will offer free monthly webinars through the summer months.
Webinars are NOT in person. Still trying to fix that computer glitch.

Register for any SBDC/IIC class or webinar using this link:
http://bit.ly/3EKMrNf

AI 201: Tailoring AI to Your Business Growth! - seven week class
7 TUESDAYS from March 24th through May 5th from 3:30-5:30 pm
Erik and Jacob Madsen of Crescita Innovations
https://crescitainnovations.com

Strategic Facebook/Instagram Advertising! - four week class
4 WEDNESDAYS from April 8th through April 29th from 4:00-6:00 pm
Whitney Stewart of SocialScale Media
https://socialscale.media/

We help local businesses get more leads, convert them faster, and scale without chaos using paid ads, automation, and systems that actually work.

03/04/2026

The Bureau of Reclamation is hosting a webinar on how to do business with them. If you are interested please join. The registration link is below.

How to Do Business with Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)

Date: March 25, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM MST
Location: Virtual Webinar (MS Teams)
Registration Link: Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-do-business-with-bureau-of-reclamation-bor-tickets-1984140141575?aff=oddtdtcreator

Are you a business interested in working with the Bureau of Reclamation?
Join us for an informative webinar to learn about the business opportunities and processes at the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region (CPN).

This event is for small businesses, contractors, and suppliers looking to partner with one of the nation's largest wholesaler of water and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States.

The mission of the BOR is to manage, develop and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

Key Talking Points:

How to Engage with BOR: Learn about the different ways to partner with BOR.
Doing Business with BOR CPN: Receive an informative overview of forecasted procurement actions that are currently listed on the Acquisition Gateway.
What Does BOR Buy? Get a comprehensive overview of the wide variety of goods and services BOR procures to support its missions.
Commodities: Information processing resources, equipment (hydraulic turbines, pumps and valves, motors, etc.) and more.
Services: Technical services, engineering, facility support, and maintenance.
Construction: New construction, repair O & M, canals, dams, drainage facilities, levee erosion control, power plants, highway and more.
Where to Find Opportunities: Learn about the official sources for finding BOR solicitations and other federal contract opportunities.

Expand your business model to include the Bureau of Reclamation as your customer.

02/23/2026

Monday, March 23rd • 5-7 pm @ Lula Wine Bar, Driggs

Many small business owners find the world of financing confusing—especially how SBA loans and independent financial firms like Altura work together to provide flexible options.

On March 23rd, 5-7 PM at Lula Wine Bar in Driggs, Idaho, Altura’s Director of Lending Katie Cook and Senior Loan Officer Forrest Grigg will host an engaging informational session. They’ll break down the types of financing available (including SBA programs, conventional loans, and alternative solutions), explain how these options complement each other, and dispel common myths that hold businesses back.

Bring your questions for an open Q&A session. Whether you’re planning to start, grow, or refinance your business, this is your opportunity to gain clarity and confidence in your financing strategy.

01/23/2026

In small communities, how we communicate shapes everything we build. 💡 Join us for Chance Meetings on January 26 from 5–7 PM at Lula Wine Bar in Driggs, featuring writer and community leader Sue Muncaster on the practice of courageous communication. Drawing on 25+ years as an entrepreneur and civic leader, Sue will share practical tools for building trust, navigating disagreement, and turning tension into creativity. If you’re a founder, leader, or community builder, this conversation is for you.

Follow us for all things entrepreneurial in the Tetons and beyond!

01/23/2026

Idaho Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
https://agri.idaho.gov/marketing/grants-and-loans/specialty-crop-block-grant/?ck_subscriber_id=3835131524&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Potato%20Drop%20+%20Solar%20system%20trail%20%F0%9F%AA%90%20+%20Crop%20grant%20-%2020455056&sh_kit=d02eaf4c6f4f683559e4188170d9ce3bc73c9c6914c56c059b0d0e82afaf405f

The 2026 Farm Bill applications are OPEN.

Specialty crop grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and is allocated to the state to be awarded through a competitive grant process. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) conducts an annual competitive solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of Idaho specialty crops.

Eligibility Criteria

Projects must enhance the competitiveness of Idaho grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets and must provide a benefit to more than a single organization, institution, or individual. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. For a list of eligible and ineligible specialty crops, see Specialty Crop Definition.

Funds are available to interested local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and universities.

Projects may include, but are not limited to:

Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops
Pest and disease control
Sustainability
Enhancing food safety
Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops
Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems
Developing and enhancing domestic and international markets
Expanding availability and access to specialty crops
Enhancing local food systems
Improving production practices through innovative technologies
Improving agricultural workforce
Improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing good agricultural, handling, or manufacturing practices.
Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes.

2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Timeline

January 2026 – Request for Proposals Released
January 23, 2026 at 11 AM MST – Application Webinar
March 8, 2026 – Applications Due to ISDA
March 2026 – Applications Reviewed, Scored, and Selected
May 2026 – Idaho State Plan Submitted to USDA
September 2026 – Post-Award Webinar
October – November 2026 – Disbursement Agreements to Grantees
November – December 2026 – Anticipated Project Start Date
September 29, 2029 – Projects Conclude No Later Than

Idaho Specialty Crop Block Grant Program The 2026 Farm Bill applications are OPEN. Specialty crop grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and is allocated to the state to be awarded through a competitive grant process. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)...

12/08/2025

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is coming to Idaho for the very first time! This is an amazing, fully funded program designed to help small businesses grow and scale their businesses. It has a 15-year proven track record! The deadline to sign up is December 10th. Apply today!

Through a mix of online and in-person workshops, you’ll gain practical tools, connect with experienced advisors, and join a powerful community of entrepreneurs from across the country.

Eligibility requirements include:
• Small business owner or co-owner
• Business revenues over $75,000 in the most recent fiscal year
• Business in operation for 2+ years
• Business with 2+ employees (including the owner)

What you’ll gain:
• Tuition-free program funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation
• One-on-one advising and personalized guidance
• Hands-on curriculum on financials, marketing, negotiations and managing teams
• A 5-year customized growth plan for your business
• Access to a national network of 17,000+ business owners (85% do business with each other!)
• Proven results: 66% of alumni grow revenue and 44% create jobs within 6 months of graduating

The Idaho program begins in March 2026. The application is quick—it takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

Learn more and apply here: https://gs.com/10ksb-idaho

Join me on a 10KSB information session to learn more about the program:
• Monday, Nov. 24, 2025 at 1:30-2:30 p.m. MDT: https://zoom.us/j/92829032310
• Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. MDT: https://zoom.us/j/92829032310

Watch these videos to learn what 10KSB alum got out of this valuable program:
• 7-minute clip of some of our Montana alum: https://youtu.be/jcCwUa6M5Wc
• 15-minute video from BEW Live with National 10KSB alum Jessica Mortenson from Rexburg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1oiU2ajAZ0

Goldman Sachs Small Business Program coming to Idaho. Boiseentrepreneurweek.org. Jessica Mortensen

11/14/2025

Hello Teton Valley Businesses,

Mass + Surface Architecture is working on a new mixed-use Gateway Development in Driggs, designed to support businesses and employees across the Tetons. We’re helping them determine local business needs by reaching out to local businesses and nonprofits to complete a 5–7 minute survey about housing needs and commercial space requirements. Your input will directly inform unit mix, pricing, and shared amenities so they can build what the valley needs.

Take the survey: https://driggsgateway.fillout.com/survey

What they’re asking:

Would dedicated workforce housing help with recruitment/retention?
Approximate unit types/quantities and feasible lease terms/rates
Interest in a non-binding LOI (master lease) to reserve a block of units
Commercial space needs: size, use, TI, budget
Would a potential new START Bus stop be beneficial?

Privacy: Results will be analyzed in aggregate; individual responses won’t be published.

Your input will help them align real housing and space options with the needs of Teton Valley employers.

VISION FOR THE DRIGGS GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT

The Driggs Gateway Development is envisioned as a sustainable, mixed-use community designed to strengthen the economic and social fabric of Teton Valley. Guided by the principles of community, environment, and resilience, the project aims to provide attainable workforce housing and flexible commercial spaces that support local businesses, nonprofits, and essential workers. Through thoughtful design, energy efficiency, and high-quality construction, Driggs Gateway seeks to create a vibrant, walkable environment where residents can live, work, and thrive year-round. By collaborating with local employers and community partners, the development aspires to become a model for equitable,
resilient growth in the Mountain West — bridging the gap between housing needs and long-term community vitality.

https://mailchi.mp/4b75395ddacb/httpsdriggsgatewayfilloutcomsurvey

10/13/2025

Check out Ben Champlin’s excellent video filmed at the Lula Bistro and Silcon Couloir event that occurred on September 22nd. More events to come. To see more of Ben’s work visit his website Westwell Media (www.westwell.media)

YouTube video of the panel https://youtu.be/7ArwKjKM4bM?si=4TG5U1MZM9DJbRkc

Also check out the great video on local food producer support…Tucker Tyler’s passion for produce and local grown food.
https://youtube.com/shorts/jBWbvob9-kc?si=oPiDR7gkRSUvmq9s

Tucker Tyler shared his passion with me for Teton valley gown food.

10/13/2025

Tuesday, October 14th, 10am Free Webinar
Being Found Online
Register here:
https://stats.sender.net/link_click/e7gLXy-WQBoq8W-3WuO4W/7492c96071be0d5db06cb809c6097a92