For the Love of Powersports | Brandon & Brittany Quinton, H2O Industries

Brandon and Brittany Quinton of H20 Industries

Brandon Quinton got into free-standing jet skis after having a 4-wheeler accident. With a wife and new baby he felt the sport was too risky, so he sold his 4-wheelers. He needed an outlet for his energy, however, so he turned it toward stand-up jet skiing, much like motocross freestyle.

After falling in love with the sport, he saw there was room for improvement with some of the aftermarket products. “Initially I was just riding and it wasn't enough adrenaline, so I moved into the aftermarket jet skis and wanted to do more aerial tricks and stuff which then introduced me to the idea that there's no cover options for these guys,” he said.

One idea for improvement was an electric conversion for the jet ski to increase instant power. It was an expensive venture, so he decided to start with something smaller and build up. That's when he began making covers. “Let's take business plan A and change it to business plan B and do the covers,” he said.

Starting out, he took his idea to a local canvas shop where they made the first cover and also created a pattern for him to make one on his own. Once they got it right, his wife, Brittany. encouraged him to make the cover and take it to market. She has turned out to be a perfect partner, taking care of the finances and acting as a sounding board. Quinton admits that she has brought forward good ideas that he wouldn't have thought of on his own. They do all this with three small kids, each just about one year apart in age.

“The market in Idaho is budding. You're starting to see more stand up jet skis,” he said. It plays naturally into the backcountry snow machine riders, since they can ride the jet ski in the summer when their sleds are put away.

Brandon admits he has no problem talking to people and the collaborations he has made have been from reaching out. “I want to see the sport grow. I'm all about helping the sport grow. I've pushed locally, getting people to ride jet skis,” he said. As a result of developing his knowledge base, people now come to him when they have questions.

In stand up jet skiing, there are competitions where money and prizes are won and there are all ages that compete. H2O Industries even sponsors professional riders that are from Idaho.

Earlier this year they partnered with a company that made the covers, but due to COVID-19 that business shut down. Brandon got word while he was driving home from a vacation with his family.

“By the time I got home, I'd made the decision I was taking my engine out of my jet ski, selling it, selling the rest of the covers, and buying an industrial sewing machine,” he said. He now owns two, and just moved into a new space where he sews the covers himself.

“I have a tendency to overcome whatever issues come my way,” he said.

Quinton's personal life has presented him with challenges over the years and demonstrated his level of tenacity. Growing up, he had to navigate his parents' divorce and the challenge of ADHD, which caused him challenges in school. To cope, it helped to find work where he's able to focus. “If I set tiny goals for myself, I work until that goal is done and then move on. It's the most efficient way for me to go through life,” he said. Still, learning that came only with time.

When he was 18 he was homeless from November through February, living in his vehicle. Some days he had to retreat to a public bathroom hand-dryer for heat. Wrong choices led to him being incarcerated over the course of seven years.

“It was awful," he said. "I finished (my) parole term and then worked. Work is what really got me through it all. While I was in there I had a lot of time for self-introspection.”

The time he served was a catalyst for him to change his core beliefs from failure to success. “It taught me a lot about myself -- when I got out I was different,” he said.

The future for H2O Industries has expanded to include snowmachine covers, with covers for high-end exotic cars to follow. When asked what advice he has for others interested in self-employment, Quinton says do market research and go for it. “Do it better and show people you can do it better," he said. "Just because you're small town doesn't mean you have to stay small town with your ambitions. It's not a small town anymore, because everyone's connected.”

Information

To learn more about High Octane Industries (H2O) visit their website at https://h2oindustries.com/. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook.

Cupbop Korean Barbecue to open location in Idaho Falls

The Cup Bob Combo

Broulim's customers may already be familiar with its fare, but Cupbop Korean Barbecue is scheduled to open its first standalone location Thursday at 3460 South 25th East, formerly the home of Soda Tsunami.

“It’s a unique offering. It’s a great flavor profile,” said Michael Bevans, one of the owners, in an interview with EastIdahoNews.com. “It’s going to be a great place for anyone looking for something that’s out of the normal offering of sandwiches and that kind of stuff.” Bevans said a grand opening is in the works for the first week of December.

He described Cupbop (Korean for "steamed rice") as a “Korean barbecue spin on a fast-food concept.” The menu includes kimchi and a variety of cup combo meals with a rice/cabbage mixture and sweet potato noodles. It also includes a choice of meat, ranging from barbecue chicken, Korean-style beef, spicy pork, or a tangy, deep-fried or regular deep-fried chicken, and it’s topped off with a sweet or spicy sauce.

Business growth throughout eastern Idaho is what prompted him to open a location in Idaho Falls. Cupbop got its start as a food truck in 2013 when Junghun Song and two of his friends attended a food convention in Salt Lake City. The first storefront opened two years later and has since grown to include locations throughout the west, including locations inside Broulim’s in Ammon and Rexburg.

Bevans says he’s planning to open another location on the west side of Idaho Falls soon and a store in Rexburg. Cu[bop Korean Barbecue will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Salt Lake Tribune: Cupbop serves up a winning combo for success in Utah and beyond 

INL offering tech-based economic development grants

Idaho National Laboratory is taking applications from non-profit organizations for its 2021 technology-based economic development grants.

INL’s Economic Development mission is to stimulate economic development, support new business growth, recruit new talent and support entrepreneurship throughout Idaho. To achieve these goals, grants are offered to support economic development efforts. Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Their ability to support the growth of businesses in our region, especially those related to energy, the environment and national security.
• Expected return on investment and impact to the community.
• Level of innovation and outreach to impact underserved areas or populations.

Organizations must be 501(c)(3) non-profit entities. Successful applicants must provide a copy of their IRS tax-exempt letter to receive funding.
 
The deadline for grant requests is Nov. 30, 2020. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be included in the review process. Decisions will be made by Jan. 15, 2021. Notifications will be sent to requesting organizations informing them of funding awards. Funds are for projects for the period of Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2021.
 
For full details on all programs, visit www.inl.gov. Links can be found by clicking on Partner With INL in the top right corner of the page, then choosing Economic and Workforce Development.

Mo' Bettahs restaurant slated for Sandcreek Commons

Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian-style restaurant is scheduled to open at the end of April 2021 at the Sandcreek Commons shopping center in Ammon.

The restaurant will occupy approximately 2,600-square-feet of the new 7,600-square-foot building currently under construction in the Sandcreek Commons shopping center. It will share the space with Firehouse Subs and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, according to a press release from Ball Ventures, the company that owns the building jointly with Woodbury Corp. of Salt Lake City.

The regional fast-casual restaurant chain was founded in Bountiful, Utah in 2008. The Ammon location will be the 22nd restaurant for the chain and the second location in Idaho.

Founded by Kalani and Kimo Mack, two brothers born and raised in Hawaii, Mo’ Bettahs aims to “transport you to a Hawaiian island experience” and strives to bring the authentic flavor of Hawaiian dishes to all who step in their restaurants.The menu features teriyaki chicken, teriyaki steak, kalua pork, and a breaded and deep-fried chicken katsu. Mo’ Bettah’s offers drive-thru, dine-in, delivery and catering service.

Interview with Kalani and Kimo Mack from 2017

“Mo’ Bettah’s Hawaiian Style is unlike any other restaurant in the Idaho Falls/Ammon area,” said Eric Isom, Ball Ventures' chief development officer. “Working with Mo’ Bettah’s management has been a pleasure. We can’t wait for the community to enjoy their delicious menu.”

“We are excited to be joining the thriving community of Ammon, Idaho,” says Andrew Smith, General Partner of the Savory Restaurant Fund where Mo’ Bettahs sits as one of their portfolio brands. “The state of Idaho and its communities have been a great place for us, the public loves our food and we are thrilled with this new project in Ammon.”

Companies involved in the design and construction include Wind River Construction, HK Contractors, Horrocks Engineers and Dixon & Associates. Brent Wilson with TOK Commercial is the listing broker for Sandcreek Commons.

INL small business subcontracting, purchasing hit new high in FY 2020

Despite being an incredibly challenging year, FY 2020, which ended Sept. 30, saw Idaho National Laboratory’s highest-ever levels of small business subcontracting and purchasing.

The lab spent around $352.5 million with small businesses, which made up over 66% of the spend on goods and services. INL also exceeded all five of its specific small business spending goals, including small disadvantaged, HUBZone, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and Idaho-based businesses.

This unusually high spend for goods and services occurred in large part due to the success of INL’s growing missions, including a thriving construction portfolio, expanding cybersecurity research and a heightened business need generated by the advanced nuclear projects slated for the INL desert site.

Along with these exciting new mission developments, the lab’s high attainment is especially impressive in light of the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented to businesses. Standard spending habits decreased significantly during the beginning phases of the pandemic, and efforts instead shifted toward purchasing items necessary to keep the lab safe, including hand sanitizer, disinfectants and cleaning supplies, and masks, in addition to filling consistent PPE needs not related to COVID-19.

This shifted focus allowed the lab to support several local small businesses in their extraordinary efforts to provide innovative solutions to overwhelming need during the pandemic. Even as COVID-19-related needs die down, these lasting partnerships will continue to benefit INL and the southeastern Idaho community.