Idaho officials plug Meridian as health care hub

Economic development officials are promoting a corridor in southwestern Idaho as a health care hub, as they count on an existing hospital and a new Idaho State University facility to help attract newcomers.

The area in Meridian, a suburb located west of Boise, is being called "The Core" and includes the 58-acre St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center, health care-related companies and professionals. Nearby, there's also the new Idaho State-Meridian Health Science Center, which offers 35 health care degrees in a building that once was an abandoned circuit board plant.

Phil Stiffler, who helps promote Meridian to companies considering relocating, said California firms are among those his city aims to lure to the site. Meridian already offers services, he said, making it potentially more attractive than other areas in Idaho and beyond that are touting little more than undeveloped ground.

"We can market The Core on its existing strengths: the hospital, ISU-Meridian; infrastructure like water, sewer and telecommunications that are already in the ground; available office space; affordable housing; and good schools in the area," Stiffler said in an article published Monday in the Idaho Statesman.

The site is located near Interstate 84, making for easy access to and from growing population centers like Nampa and Boise. The local airport is only minutes away.

Pam Bernard, chief operating officer at St. Luke's Meridian, said her hospital will serve as a training ground for ISU-Meridian students when they perform clinical procedures on patients.

"Everything that will sprout up from the combination of health care and education is going to be interesting to watch," Bernard said.

With Congress debating health care reform, some predict the outcome will be that medical services will be even more in demand.

In some instances, companies are already coming to the Meridian site.

One specialized medical outfit - its name hasn't been made public - is negotiating for 12,000 square feet of ground-floor space in the six-story Portico Office Tower. Another technology company is in talks to lease two floors, or 44,000 square feet, in the new building.

"The hospital and the school are like the anchor tenants in a mall," Robin Dodson, director of pharmacy student services at ISU-Meridian. "We call them `eds and meds.' Education and medicine. That's going to be the economic engine that drives The Core."