Teton Valley Business
Development Center
MISSION:
To develop a stable and diverse economy by retaining, strengthening and
recruiting businesses in Teton Valley.
F l e t c he r W h i t e , P re s i d e nt
B r i a n M c D e r m o tt , E xe c ut i v e D i re c t o r
M ay 2 0 1 5
H T T P : / / MA D E I N T E TON VA L L E Y.COM /
Contents
 Overview
 Focus
 Our Work
 Successes
 History
 Board of Directors
2
Why
•Economic diversity is good for community
• We can be better than Park City and Jackson
• Reduce seasonality
•Make things—hardware & software
•Value out, cash in
•Wealth creation, job creation
3
Overview
• From the Plan:
A. Focus Area: Business Recruitment and
Development
Bringing new businesses into the community is a
top priority of the economic development strategy.
Business recruitment should be focused on areas
where Teton Valley has a competitive advantage
such as recreational industries.
Economic Development Plan
Teton County, Idaho
May 2013
Goal A3: Coordinate the implementation of the
Economic Development Plan
There are many public and private organizations
working on economic development in Teton Valley.
One of the central purposes of the Economic
Development Plan is to coordinate efforts to
increase efficiency and avoid duplication.
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Overview
• Mission: To develop a stable and diverse
economy by retaining, strengthening and
recruiting businesses in Teton Valley.
• Goal: Grow full-time, year-round, family-wage
jobs
• Overarching strategies:
• Grow and attract recreation technology, creative and light
manufacturing businesses.
• Support and grow existing agriculture, retail, service, tourism sectors
•Do it all while retaining the valley’s
unique natural character.
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Focus on the Future
• Teton Valley’s greatest opportunity to diversify
its economy beyond tourism, construction,
public services and agriculture is to recruit
businesses that benefit from our unique
natural, recreational and infrastructure assets.
•We are working to develop complementary
recreation and aviation technology clusters,
supported by expertise in materials science
and machine tools.
•These clusters will produce high-value
products and provide well-paid jobs for
assemblers, machinists, engineers, designers
and product testers.
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Our Work
• Aggressively working to recruit companies to
Teton Valley. Scoured ski, bike companies.
• Since January alone, we have contacted 71
companies. More than 200 in last year.
• Working to create avionics and aviation
technical education and manufacturing at
Driggs-Reed Memorial airport.
• Supporting local start-up businesses with low
or no-cost rent and consultation.
• Providing business counseling and expert
consulting referrals to area businesses.
• Since January, worked with 15 businesses.
• Developed a recruiting brochure, branding
and website, www.MadeInTetonValley.com.
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Our Work
• Working now on the continuing game of
chicken and egg leapfrog: recruit, space,
recruit.
•Ned Thomas has purchased the former
Racin Station.
•A group will soon close a deal on a
significant portion of Driggs Center.
•Others also are looking at doing light
industrial space.
•Recruitment focus for next 12 months:
snow machine, fishing, software companies
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Our Work
•Our Made in Teton Valley brand aims to
create awareness of the history, quality
and integrity of the valley.
•Local producers will soon be placing this
logo on everything from agricultural
products to clothing, outdoor gear,
recreational experiences and more.
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Collaboration
TVBDC
Core Work



TV Chamber
Geotourism Center
Recruit new business • Promote, market and, 
increase yourism to
Provide strategic
Teton Valley
business and

• Provide support,
financing
education, and
consultation
networking
Support technical

opportunities to local
training
businesses
Provide superior
visitor amenity
Education on local
history, ecology,
etc.
Other?
Collaboration
Coordination
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Successes
• Entrepreneur Amy Hatch has
created Garage Grown Gear, a
website celebrating innovative
outdoor equipment.
•Amy launched the e-commerce
part of her site this Fall.
•TVBDC is supporting her with
subsidized office space and advice.
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Successes
• TVBDC advised custom outdoor
apparel maker, Burgess Custom,
on its selection of manufacturing
and show room space.
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Successes
• We recruited and helped settle
a boutique ski manufacturing
company, Sego Skis, in Victor.
They are initially investing
$250,000 and employing five
people.
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Successes
Among the local companies we’ve advised:
• SkyDef productions, aerial still and motion photography.
•Lucky Dog Fabrication mobile welding.
•Dayna Schmidt, computer service.
•Ayla Wear, a women’s technical outdoor base layer
apparel business.
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History
• Discussions began in 2010 among citizens
seeking to diversify the local economy.
• Citizens and consultants developed The Teton
Valley Economic Development Plan, which
Teton County formally adopted in 2013.
• The Teton Valley Business Development
Center was formed in 2013 with financial and
in-kind support from private donors and the
Idaho Department of Commerce, Teton
County, and the cities of Driggs, Victor and
Tetonia.
• In November 2013, the TVBDC hired executive
director Brian McDermott, a former corporate
marketing and communications executive.
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Board of Directors
TVBDC board members
Affiliation
Position
Fletcher White
Brian Gibson
CEO ProGuide Direct
Alliance Title
President
Secretary
Wayne Maness
Victor City Council, U.S. Bank
Treasurer
Jen Magnusson
Gloria Hoopes
Bill Leake
Blixt & Co.
Mayor, City of Tetonia
Teton County Commissioner
Director
Director
Director
Hyrum Johnson
Mayor, City of Driggs
Director
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