Bonneville County Realtors see better times in '12

It may be that Jana Merkley took the helm of the Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors at the low ebb of the local real estate market.

At least Merkley, who came on as the association's CEO in June 2011, hopes that's true. She sees it as her job to be optimistic, and she says there have been signs this year that her optimism is warranted.

"We're getting more calls from agents who want lockboxes, we seem to be consumer confidence coming back," she said.

Merkley is also CEO of the Snake River Regional MLS, which is getting ready to post its annual statistics for 2011 on its Web site, www.snakerivermls.com.

Across the board, the numbers were down from 2010.

In light of what has been happening in the rest of the country, "I just think it hit us later," she said. Given the encouraging economic numbers that have been coming out lately, combined with record low interest rates, there is cause for hope this year.

She encourages anyone looking to buy a home for the first time to take Finally Home! class, which is sponsored by the Idaho Partners for Homebuyer Education. "There is a lot you can learn from it, and a lot of mistakes you can avoid," she said. "Most people I talk to say, 'I wish I had taken this earlier in the process."

Motherhood Maternity chain opening store in Idaho Falls

Motherhood Maternity, a Philadelphia-based chain of maternity stores, will be opening in the space on 17th Street between Toys R Us and Down East Outfitters.

Remodelers got to work Thursday on the 2,323-square-foot space. The store will open sometime this spring.

The chain is a subsidiary of  Destination Maternity Corp., a maternity apparel retailer with more than 1,000 locations. Founded in 1982 as a catalog business, the company went public in 1993 and has since grown with new stores, the acquisition of existing maternity stores and new brands. In 2008 its sales were reported at $581 million.

For more information on the company, visit the Web page at http://www.motherhood.com/

Employers sought for late March job fair in Idaho Falls

Eastern Idaho employers and businesses are invited to take part in the Mayor’s Business Day in Idaho Falls, scheduled for March 27 at Idaho Falls High School from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sponsors are the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, the City of Idaho Falls, the Idaho Department of Labor and Grow Idaho Falls, Inc.

The day will begin with the Department of Labor Job Fair, in the small gymnasium from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Employers interested in participating should contact Julie Buttars at the department's Idaho Falls
office, by e-mail at Julie.buttars@labor.idaho.gov or by phone at (208) 557-2500 ext. 3562.

In conjunction with the day's events, the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce will hold its 10th Annual Area Business Connection business-to-business tradeshow, with more than 50 business vendors participating in the large gymnasium from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Any interested vendors should contact Kerry McCullough, the chamber's programs & events coordinator, by email at kmccullough@idahofallschamber.com or by phone at (208) 523-1010.

The Grow Idaho Falls luncheon and presentation with take place in the small gym from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Seating is limited, so anyone interested should RSVP by e-mailing admin@growidahofalls.org or by calling Grow Idaho Falls at (208) 522-2014.

Developer plans May 25 opening for Idaho Falls Marriott Residence Inn




Work recommenced in January on the Idaho Falls Marriott Residence Inn.

 The Salt Lake development company that has taken over the Marriott Residence Inn by the Broadway Bridge in Idaho Falls is shooting for a May 25 opening.

“We feel like we are on track, although there are a lot of things that have to fall in place,” said John Brunt, the project manager for Woodbury Strategic Partners. “We want to have it open for Memorial Day and the summer tourism season.”

Work on the 98,700-square-foot hotel ground to a halt in 2008, when the original developers, McNeil Development, ran into financial trouble in connection with the failure of Arkansas National Bank. Brunt said one thing that made it easier for them to restart the project was the fact that McNeil had enclosed the building, which kept out water that might otherwise have gotten in and caused major damage.

Still, there were repairs to be made and Marriott’s standards had evolved in the time the project was in limbo. Once the six-story hotel is finished, Brunt said the estimated cost will top $20 million.

The hotel has 108 guest rooms, two meeting rooms, a large exercise room and pool. “There’s a lot more common area than a typical Marriott Residence Inn,” Brunt said. Although the exterior is in keeping with the other buildings of the Taylor Crossing development (a style Brunt described as “eclectic classical”), the interior will be more modern and streamlined.

Broulim's receives award for beef marketing efforts

Broulim's Fresh Foods, a seven-store grocery chain based in Rigby, was recognized Thursday with a  National Retail Beef Backer award at the 2012 Cattle Industry Annual Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Nashville.

Funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, the award is given in recognition of grocery establishments that do an outstanding job of marketing and merchandising beef in the meat case.

Broulim's received the award in the Independent Retailer category for the second year in a row. According to the notes in the announcement, "customers shopping at Broulim's can count on employees to have knowledgeable information on new beef cuts, recipes, safety, labeling and even the production process that goes into delivering a quality product."

The Beef Checkoff Program was written into the 1985 Farm Bill. It assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, and a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the program under USDA approval.