Feb. 26, 2021, letter from 20 corporate leaders of Idaho’s largest and most influential businesses
Dear JFAC Members,
We are writing to request that you please support Governor Brad Little’s proposed budget recommendation for higher education. As some of Idaho’s largest employers, we rely on the bright young talent that our universities and colleges bring to our workforce. Funding higher education is one of the most important investments Idaho can make for our state’s future.
In this rapidly changing world, it is imperative that Idaho’s higher education institutions have the necessary funding to produce the top talent needed to support our businesses. Quality higher education ensures that students build the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for the next generation of Idaho’s workforce.
Idaho’s higher education system has weathered unprecedented challenges this year from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our higher education institutions have had to cut staff, reduce non-essential programs, and take on increased expenses to keep students and staff healthy. It is critical that we adopt a full budget to ensure Idaho’s colleges and universities can recover quickly and are funded at a sustainable level. The past year must not create a lingering financial drag on Idaho’s system of higher education. We need students to get back to our colleges and universities, preparing for the jobs of tomorrow.
The pandemic has created many innovations and opportunities as businesses rapidly adopted novel technologies and processes to adjust to the challenges of the last year. That need for adaptability is only going to accelerate. Every business in Idaho needs our colleges and universities preparing students from all walks of life for the jobs of the future. The success of every student matters; collectively, they help our companies, our economy, and our state continue to thrive.
Thank you for the work you’re doing to ensure Idaho invests responsibly in the future of our citizens. An educated, skilled, and adaptable workforce is essential to ensuring a robust Idaho economy for years to come. We believe that Governor Little’s modest budget increase is a wise investment to move ahead. We support the proposed higher education budget recommendation and hope you will pass it with the urgency it deserves.
Signed,
Albertsons Companies
Avista Utilities
Blue Cross of Idaho
Boise Cascade
Chobani
Clearwater Analytics
Clif Bar & Company
Cradlepoint
Hecla Mining Company
HP
Idaho Forest Group
Idaho Power
Intermountain Gas Company
J.R. Simplot Company
Kount
Lamb Weston
Micron Technology
Regence BlueShield of Idaho
Saint Alphonsus Health System
St. Luke’s Health System
CC: Idaho House of Representatives Leadership
Idaho State Senate Leadership
Letter to Dr. Marlene Tromp from Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee
I am writing to express my gratitude for the partnership we have with Boise State University during these unprecedented times. While we will always be confronted with challenges, it’s comforting to know we can support each other when needed.
Last week, the Boise Police Department experienced a spike in positive tests for COVID-19 which threatened to compromise our ability to staff police operations. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Boise State University for your assistance in providing COVID-19 testings for our officers and their families.
… Not only was the timeline faster than we could have imagined, they went above and beyond by treating our request with grace and kindness. Thanks to your assistance, we were able to bring officers back to work in half the normal time, allowing us to maintain our high standard of service to the community and our partners.
Letter from Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI) regarding free COVID testing Boise State provided on Jan. 11, 2021, for all elected officials and staff working in the Capitol building
The IACI Board of Directors and staff extends our sincere appreciation for the time, effort and coordination in our partnership for the Covid-19 Testing Event for Capitol staff this week. Your support and service in providing health care testing and lab processing staff for those working in challenging circumstances in the Capitol is greatly appreciated by the business community. We recognize the many challenges you and your team face in your important educational work for our great state. We commend you for your ongoing dedication to serving Idaho with the highest standards of integrity and commitment. We at IACI are honored to work with you, and we look forward to future occasions to partner together in efforts to create educational and employment opportunities for all Idahoans.
“Clearly, education is the best investment we can make because of the dividends it pays to the individual who gets it and for society at large … Instead of trying to weaken our colleges and universities, we should be investing even more in them. After all, they are fulfilling the essential mission of creating a brighter economic future for our students, businesses and for all Idahoans.”
— Rod Gramer, president of Idaho Business for Education