Commerce director Don Dietrich told lawmakers Tuesday that’s he’s doing his best to sell Idaho products. “We are a sales and marketing organization,” he told members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Tuesday. “It doesn’t matter to us if we’re selling potatoes or semiconductors. If we have an opportunity to put our products in front of people we’ll do it. We’re shameless that way.”
The Idaho Department of Commerce has had its state spending reduced from $8 million in the last budget to $4.5 million in the current budget, but increased federal funding has actually led to a net increase in money for the department. There have been furloughs and five layoffs at the agency due to funding changes. One area that commerce won’t be putting its marketing dollars in the next budget is toward film and television production. The department requested $1 million in rebates to lure TV and movie production to Idaho, but that money isn’t being recommended by the governor.
Dietrich is joining Otter in the push to help Idaho get the F-35 fighter jet missions for the Treasure Valley. “If we don’t get these missions for Gowen and Mountain Home … it could put our bases at risk,” Dietrich said. Losing out to other states could potentially lead to the closing of military bases in Idaho, he told lawmakers. The commerce department is in charge of the IdahoF35.com website and billboards around the Treasure Valley.