Economic Development
Business growth and relocation in Rupert.
- Phone
- (208) 436-9600
- Address
- PO Box 426, Rupert, ID 83350
- Hours
- Call for hours
- Staff
- Kelly Arthur Anthon, J.D. — City AdministratorLeslie Garner — CFO / Grant Specialist
Rupert is strategically located 45 miles from Twin Falls, 160 miles from Boise, and 180 miles from Salt Lake City. The center of Rupert's Historic Business District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and surrounds a beautiful town square.
For decades, Rupert has been the location of major cheese and food-manufacturing facilities. Major employers in and around Rupert include Brewster West (cheese production, including roughly 27 million pounds of Swiss cheese sold to Kellogg's), Calva Products, the Idahoan potato-processing plant, potato fresh-pack plants, a Les Schwab tire-production facility, the Frulact Group fruit-processing facility (200,000 sq ft, opened 2013), and Performix Nutrition Systems / Agri Beef Co.
The city can help businesses understand utilities, tax incentives, state and federal grants, and workforce availability across the broader Mini-Cassia area. Contact City Hall at (208) 436-9600 (fax (208) 436-9920) to start a conversation about relocating or growing your business in Rupert.
Utility Advantages
Because the City of Rupert is the purveyor of electrical power inside and near the city, it can offer electric incentive rates for new businesses — see the current rate schedules on the Electric Department page.
Industrial wastewater users can benefit from negotiated fees — agreeing to specified loading, flow, and pH limits in exchange for low, flat monthly rates. Current monthly wastewater flat rates: residential $56.91, county residential $62.63, reduced rate $31.27, basic commercial $68.31; industrial is contracted individually.
Natural gas is served by Intermountain Gas. Large-volume (LV-1) rates per therm: $0.40773 for the first 0–250,000 therms, $0.368424 from 250,000–750,000, and $0.29644 above 750,000.
Property Taxes
The average local property tax rate is $1.38 per $100.00 of assessed value inside the city, and $0.83 per $100.00 outside the city. Idaho sales tax is 6%.
Minidoka County / Rupert levy breakdown (per $1 of assessed value): County 0.003781324; Indigent 0.000440172; City of Rupert 0.005516602; School 0.002528125; Highway 0.001118264; Cemetery 0.000305887; Fair 0.000110658; Historical Society 0.000033801 — total 0.013834833.
Incentive Programs
Idaho Department of Labor workforce training — new and expanding businesses may qualify for training funds averaging a one-time payment of as much as $2,000 per employee.
Idaho Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) — infrastructure grants to cities on behalf of qualifying businesses, up to a maximum of $500,000.
Rural Community Block Grant (RCBG) — infrastructure extensions for utilities, streets, buildings, and telecommunications.
Federal New Market Tax Credits — for qualifying projects (minimum $4 million capital expenditure), a credit equal to 39% of the investment paid out over seven years — roughly 10–15% back on capital.
Idaho Tax Reimbursement Incentive (T.R.I.) — up to 30% reimbursement of income, payroll, and sales taxes for up to 14 years.
Idaho Code 63-602NN property tax exemption — county option exemption for qualifying investment; for example, a project with a $24 million assessed value could see savings on the order of $1.2 million or $600,000 depending on the exemption granted.
Urban Renewal / Tax Increment Financing — through the city's Urban Renewal Agency, a project with a $24 million assessed value could support approximately $4 million in project improvements.
Workforce & Community
The Mini-Cassia area is home to 43,623 people, with a civilian labor force exceeding 23,000 within a commute radius of up to 45 minutes.
Rupert has a fire area rating of "4" and an average three-minute emergency response time, which can reduce commercial insurance costs.