People think of Sandpoint as a tourist town, and that is true. However, tourism ranks way below the other main employers. In order, our biggest employment sectors are manufacturing, government, education, and then tourism. So, while tourism provides a healthy boost to our economy, without producers such as Coldwater Creek, Quest Aircraft, Airtow, Lignetics, Thorne Research, Unicep Packaging, and Litehouse Foods, we would have far fewer high-paying jobs.
Our most recent addition is Smart Plugs: a green technology company that manufactures high-tech, cleaner burning spark plugs, and a combination catalytic converter/smart spark plug.
This new technology helps not only our cars burn fuel more efficiently and cleaner, but provides much better gas mileage for our autos. The company is a research firm that is also developing cleaner, lower-cost fuels, including fuel made from lumber waist, which could be a big boost to areas of timber production, such as Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
I interviewed Mark Cherry of Smart Plugs this last Tuesday on my radio show North Idaho Business who clued us in on this next wave of high fuel-economy, after-market products.
Right now they are in the final stages of the R&D and will be moving into full production in the next several months. By the time they reach full-capacity manufacturing, they will be employing 40-50 high-paying, highly skilled employees.
SmartPlugs are endorsed, I am told, by our own Dr. Bird, world-famous aviator and inventor. This is about as strong an endorsement as we can get locally. Dr. Bird has been featured on 60 Minutes, and has numerous patents. Plus, he provides the Bird Aviation Museum in Bonner County. If you haven't been there it is something special, and just one more reason to love and enjoy Sandpoint.
Great new product that is great for both our economy and ecology.
To learn more, visit www.SmartPlugs.com
Here is another article about the Smart Plug: http://www.automorrow.com/articles/smartplugs.html
Comments (1)Subscribe to CommentsComment