Defense firm moves headquarters to Idaho

LMS Defense, Inc – a full service defensive training firm specializing in counterterrorism training to the U.S. military, law enforcement, corporations and security professionals – is relocating its corporate headquarters to Twin Falls.

The company also expects to establish a comprehensive counterterrorism training/education center in Twin Falls County to provide critical response and tactical training to civilian forces in the Northwest. The site will include an R&D facility for products and systems used in field operations for military and civilian security forces.

Why Idaho?

Founder and CEO John Chapman cites Idaho’s “business-friendly environment” for the reason he chose the state for its expansion.

Idaho’s Bureau of Homeland Security and the Idaho National Laboratory are interested in collaborating with LMS.

IGEM getting top support statewide

It’s impressive when a new program gets such resounding support.

IGEM – which will encourage research and resulting commercializing of that research – has struck a statewide chord. Governor Otter has called for $5 million in funding for this program and it has the full support of all three university presidents, the Idaho National Laboratory, the Department of Commerce and top technology companies.

IGEM stands for Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission. The mission is to generate a new wave of entrepreneurial ventures that utilize technologies coming from our public institutions.

At a press conference this morning – braving a hefty little snowstorm -- Idaho Commerce Director Jeffery Sayer summed up the reasons to support it:

“It will help our economy. It will bring jobs.”

The press conference at Boise State University drew a crowd to hear BSU President Bob Kustra (pictured at the podium) call for support of the program. He also laid out the argument that research leads to technologies that lead to new companies.

Congrats INL

The nation’s power grid is a little safer today, thanks to the Idaho National Laboratory.

INL is part of a team that won the 2011 U.S. National Cybersecurity Innovation Award for building cybersecurity skills needed to defend the power grid and other control systems. The team included the Controls Systems Security Program at Department of Homeland Security.

Together, they created a series of training programs for managerial and technical people in the critical infrastructure sector that are packed with up-to-date information on cyber threats and mitigations for vulnerabilities.

The training is useful across key infrastructure industries such as power, oil and gas, electrical, water, and others.

Need help exporting?

The Idaho Department of Commerce has a grant program that provides assistance to qualifying Idaho companies for increasing exports, finding new markets or learning how to get started. Grant monies can be used in a number of ways, including for market development and promotion activities.

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to companies with fewer than 500 employees that meet revenue requirements. Commerce received funding for this program – called the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant – from the Small Business Association.

The deadline for the next round of grants is March 2.

Full program information and applications are here: http://www.commerce.idaho.gov/international/-state-trade-and-export-promotion-step-grant/

North Wind on upward trajectory

When you’re a $100 million company, a 30 percent increase in sales is a big, big deal. That’s the projection this Idaho Falls company has for 2012. Along with that growth in sales could be another 100 jobs.

North Wind Group has achieved success despite the recession by anticipating new growth areas. The once environmental services-only firm now also offers engineering, construction, demolition and decontamination, and hazardous waste removal. President and founder Sylvia Medina is also considering additional sectors.

The company recently won contracts with the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of Energy. It has projects in Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Alaska among other sites around the country.

Medina sold the company to Cook Inlet Region, Inc., an Alaska Native Corporation, in 2009, but resolves to keep the company in Idaho Falls. She believes the location, near the Idaho National Laboratory, is a hub for the type of technical employees her company hires.

New aerospace manufacturer

To mix a couple of metaphors, a new aerospace manufacturer in Sandpoint is both taking root and taking off. Tamarack Aerospace Group makes aircraft technology and currently employs 13 people. That won’t be the case for long as the company is rapidly ramping up operations. It expects to grow to 300 employees over the next five years.

This is a great addition to Idaho's growing aerospace industry.

http://www.tamarackaero.com

Got Moose?

There’s a step between bagging that big game and enjoying it for dinner. John Campbell in Aberdeen is bringing his expertise in butchering from years at Albertsons stores to his own enterprise: Quality Meats.

Quality Meats will cut and custom wrap all types of big game such as elk and moose. Campbell is also willing to handle more mundane tasks, such as handling beef and lamb too. If serving moose to your friends isn’t impressive enough, Quality Meats can turn out jerky, salami and pepperoni from your catch.

The shop also has fresh meats available for purchase.

Thanks to Great Rift Business Development Organization for this post: http://grbdo.blogspot.com/search/label/Quality%20Meats%20in%20Aberdeen