The results of a comprehensive new study of the economic impact that Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site operations have on the state reveal that INL is responsible for more than 24,000 Idaho jobs and generates a total economic impact exceeding $3.5 billion.

Boise State University’s College of Business and Economics was awarded a research contract by INL last February to conduct an expansive analysis of the lab’s multidimensional impact on Idaho’s economy. The findings are contained in a report jointly released today by Boise State and INL.

The study evaluated the combined operational impacts of all five major employers at the INL site – the U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office, as well as private contracting companies Battelle Energy Alliance (INL R&D and support services), Bechtel Marine Propulsion (Naval Reactors Facility operations), Bechtel BWXT Idaho (Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project) and CH2M-WG Idaho (Idaho Cleanup Project).

“Although state government is Idaho’s largest employer, it is important to keep in mind that most of its funding comes from sources within the state,” said Geoffrey Black, chairman of the Department of Economics at Boise State and a researcher on the project. “INL is not only the second largest source of jobs in the state, but nearly all of its funding comes from outside Idaho. This provides a huge shot in the arm to the state’s economy. Particularly in the eastern part of the state, nothing else comes close.”

Key findings of the impact study include:

• INL (based on 2009 year-end data) ranks as the second largest employer in Idaho. With more than 8,000 direct employees, INL had the largest impact on employment in Idaho of any employer other than state government and is by far the largest employer in eastern Idaho.
• Secondary effects of INL operations accounted for an additional 16,133 jobs, for a total of more than 24,000 Idaho jobs.
• INL increased personal income in the state by nearly $2 billion.
• Directly and indirectly, INL operations accounted for more than $135 million in personal income, corporate income, sales and other taxes paid to the state.
• Direct tax payments to the state of Idaho by INL employers and their workers significantly exceed the cost of state-provided services.
• INL employers paid $2.5 million to Idaho colleges and universities for their employees’ continuing education.

In explaining the overall relevance of these findings, the report stated that the stabilizing effects of INL and its relative increase in the share of employment, output, income and tax revenues allow for more effective functioning of state and local governmental services. This has been particularly relevant during the economic downturn.

“Funding and employment at INL has remained comparatively steady while other critical sectors of the state’s economy have been hard hit,” Black said. “The fact that such a large business entity has been a solid source of jobs, income and tax revenues is crucial to maintaining a much greater degree of economic vitality for Idaho. The state’s economic picture is substantially brighter than it would be without INL.”

In addition to Black, Boise State economics professors and researchers Don Holley and John Church worked on the report. This is the third INL impact study conducted by the trio.

Boise State and INL are partners on a number of research initiatives, including the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), a public/private partnership comprising Idaho’s three public universities, private industry and INL. CAES integrates resources and expertise to create new research capabilities, expand researcher-to-researcher collaborations and enhance energy-related educational opportunities. A key component of CAES, the Energy Policy Institute, is located on the Boise State campus. CAES also has launched an initiative to build an Energy Efficiency Research Institute (EERI) that will be housed at Boise State.

The full INL impact study can be viewed on the INL Impact Study Brochure.

Contact: Geoffrey Black, Boise State Department of Economics, (208) 426-1359, gblack@boisestate.edu
Media contacts: Marilyn Whitney, INL, (208) 334-9572, marilyn.whitney@inl.gov;
Sherry Squires, University Communications, (208) 426-1563, ssquires@boisestate.edu

“Undergraduate research is a unique experience for students who may never have had this opportunity otherwise,” said Siân Mooney, a professor of economics and director of the Boise State portion of a National Science Foundation grant that is funding the research projects. “Experience with undergraduate research can help students discover a passion for inquiry and lifelong learning.”

The Boise State researchers, students and their projects include:

— Biological sciences assistant professor Jennifer Forbey and junior Kristina Gehlken of Boise, rapid assessment of sagebrush nutritional quality

— Geosciences associate professor Shawn Benner and senior Adrianna Hummer of Boise, the impact of climate change on soil carbon in rangelands

— Civil engineering professor Molly Gribb and senior Esther Contreras of Nampa, soil hydraulic property studies in the Dry Creek experimental watershed

— Biological sciences assistant professor Kevin Feris and senior Steven Lalor of Boise, chronic ecosystem stress

— Economics assistant professor Scott Lowe, Economics associate professor Zeynep Hansen and senior Samantha Hobdey of Gooding, climate variability and water infrastructure: historical experience in the Western United States

— Economics assistant professor Scott Lowe, Economics assistant professor Kelly Cobourn and senior Blair Vanderlugt of Boise, the impacts of climate change on economic development and land use change within Idaho

— Civil engineering assistant professor Arturo Leon, junior Ashley Zumwalt of Meridian and senior Hadi Mirsadeghi of Boise, engaging undergraduate students in the operation and management of regulated river systems

The research is funded by Boise State’s share of a $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation in 2008 to the university and its sister institutions in Idaho. It was Idaho’s largest NSF grant to date and is targeted at understanding the current and future impact of climate change on the Snake and Salmon River watersheds. The grant was secured through Idaho’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

In addition to this year’s undergraduate research projects, the 2008 grant — to be funneled to the university over five years — provided another $42,000 for eight undergraduate research projects in spring and summer 2009.

Tom Gatiker

Most companies get it when it comes to going green. In addition to being good for public relations, environmentally friendly practices can help eliminate waste. And when you eliminate waste, such as excess packaging or unnecessary energy consumption, you save money.

But getting from good intentions to meaningful change is not without its obstacles.

Business professor Tom Gattiker’s research identifies barriers to successfully implementing environmental goals in the workplace and ways to break down those barriers, particularly as they relate to a company’s supply chain – the organizations, people and activities that transfer a product from company to company, and eventually to the consumer. Companies grapple with who should push for sustainable practices along the supply chain, what rationale for environmental measures resonates with employees, and how to get leadership across the company to buy into the process.

“My research is focused on the micro level,” Gattiker said. “A fair amount of research out there looks at the organization level but there’s not a lot that gives guidance to individuals about what it really takes to move projects forward in the workplace.”

Much of Gattiker’s work is funded and published by the Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies at the University of Arizona. Working alongside colleagues from the University of Tennessee and the University of Nevada, Gattiker has visited and surveyed hundreds of ground-level individuals and companies across the country that are striving to go green.

Whether companies are focused on energy savings, transportation-related improvements or reduction in waste or packaging, Gattiker’s research has shown that inspirational appeals, consultation and rational persuasion are far more effective than forcing environmental initiatives.

One of a handful of recognized experts in environmental supply chain issues, Gattiker’s work is internationally cited. His hope is that it helps champions of environmental initiatives succeed.

“I believe environmental issues are the challenge of our time and our generation,” Gattiker said. “Business schools have a big role to play.” – This article was published in the Research Magazine of Boise State University, Explore and written by Sherry Squires.

Craig Carter, Tom Gattiker and Lisa Ellram

The Journal of Supply Chain Management recently announced the winner of the 2008 Harold E. Fearon Best Paper Award. Tom Gattiker’s winning paper is titled: ‘‘Structure-Infrastructure Alignment: The Relationship between TQM Orientation and the Adoption of Supplier-Facing Electronic Commerce among Manufacturers.” Xiaowen Huang and Roger Schroeder were co-authors on the paper.

The winning paper was chosen by a subcommittee of the Journal’s Associate Editors. This year’s subcommittee members were Amelia Carr, Phil Evers, Britta Gammelgaard, and Larry Giunipero. The other finalists for the 2008 Award were:

‘‘Strategic Alignment and Purchasing Efficacy: An Exploratory Analysis of Their Impact on Financial Performance” Christian Baier, Evi Hartmann, and Roger Moser

‘‘The Information Technology Capability of Third-Party Logistics Providers: A Resource-Based View and Empirical Evidence from China” Fujan Lai, Dahui Li, Qiang Wang, and Xiande Zhao

‘‘Development of Cooperative Norms in the Buyer-Supplier Relationship: The Chinese Experience” Shaohan Cai and Zhilin Young

‘‘Supplier Innovativeness and the Role of Interorganizational Learning in Enhancing Manufacturer Capabilities” Arash Azadegan, Kevin J. Dooley, Phillip L. Carter and Joseph R. Carter.

The Harold E. Fearon Best Paper Award is generously funded by the Institute for Supply Management. This year’s Award was presented at the Journal of Supply Chain Management Reception at the Academy of Management Conference in Chicago, Illinois on August 8, 2009.

To see this paper go to 2008 Harold E. Fearon Best Paper Award.

The award, established in honor of John Lawler, former Journal editor and AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) Senior Vice-President, consists of a $500 cash prize and an award. It recognizes the author(s) of the best article published in the Journal during the twelve months ending with the December issue, as determined by the magazine’s editorial advisers.

The winning article was co-authored with Paul Miller, Professor of Accountancy, and Brian McAllister, Assistant Professor of Accountancy, both at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.