U.S. News & World Report: Boise is among the Top 10 Best Places to Live
Boise was singled out by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Live in America in the June issue. Here’s a slide show of the Top 10 cities and a signature photo from each community.
The U.S. News ranking was based on a methodology that included cities with a population of 100,000 or higher with a relatively low cost of living, low crime, strong economies and lots of fun things to see and do.
“In selecting our Best Places to Live for 2009, U.S. News took a thrift-conscious approach: We looked for affordable communities that have strong economies and plenty of fun things to do,” said writer Luke Mullins. “The cities we selected are as distinct as America itself—ranging from a quaint suburb to a live-music mecca.”
Boise’s top 10 ranking comes on the heels of numerous high marks that the City of Trees has received from prominent national publications. Last year, Forbes ranked Boise as the 2nd best place in the country for business and careers, the fourth straight year that Boise landed in the top five. Forbes also ranked Boise as the 7th best Up and Coming Tech City last year. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranked Boise as the 4th Best Place to Live, Work and Play last year as well.
The U.S. News ranking was based on a methodology that included cities with a population of 100,000 or higher with a relatively low cost of living, low crime, strong economies and lots of fun things to see and do.
“In selecting our Best Places to Live for 2009, U.S. News took a thrift-conscious approach: We looked for affordable communities that have strong economies and plenty of fun things to do,” said writer Luke Mullins. “The cities we selected are as distinct as America itself—ranging from a quaint suburb to a live-music mecca.”
Boise’s top 10 ranking comes on the heels of numerous high marks that the City of Trees has received from prominent national publications. Last year, Forbes ranked Boise as the 2nd best place in the country for business and careers, the fourth straight year that Boise landed in the top five. Forbes also ranked Boise as the 7th best Up and Coming Tech City last year. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranked Boise as the 4th Best Place to Live, Work and Play last year as well.
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UGOBE is first technology company to locate headquarters in Eagle
The City of Eagle has landed the first major technology company, UGOBE, to establish a headquarters facility in the planned Eagle-Star Technology Corridor. UGOBE officials announced in a news release Monday (Oct. 6) that the business move would potentially bring about 60 new jobs with it.
UGOBE, an inventor of robotics, has been operating a 9,000-square-foot research and
development facility in Eagle for several years. The company created the Life Form Pleo, a cute green Camarasaurus, that won many awards for best invention in 2006, and Furby, an electronic furry toy robot that sold millions worldwide for Tiger Electronics in the late 1990s.
To learn more about Pleo, click here. To see a You Tube video of Pleo bonding with dolphins at Sea World, click here.
To view a news story in the Idaho Business Review about UGOBE’s decision to move its headquarters to Eagle, click here.
C. Lloyd Mahaffey, an Eagle-based businessman and former Apple computers executive, said he expects more robotics-type companies to possibly locate in Idaho. “This creates a solid robotics foothold in the TreasureValley, which will spawn other companies over time. When one company comes, others have a tendency to follow. This opens a whole new area of technology interest in the Treasure Valley that doesn't currently exist.”
Mary May, Community Liaison for M3 Companies, has been involved in the preliminary discussions and planning for the Eagle-Star Technology Corridor. “The news about UGOBE is very exciting and a great first step for this emerging sector,” May said. “We know that our friendly community, quality schools, pro-business climate and quality of life all played a part in bringing UGOBE to Eagle.”
Technology companies that are being courted in the Eagle-Star Technology Corridor include those that create computer games for kids, software development firms, alternative energy companies and more, she said. Another goal is to create a business incubator facility for entrepreneurs, similar to the Water Cooler in Boise.
UGOBE, an inventor of robotics, has been operating a 9,000-square-foot research and
development facility in Eagle for several years. The company created the Life Form Pleo, a cute green Camarasaurus, that won many awards for best invention in 2006, and Furby, an electronic furry toy robot that sold millions worldwide for Tiger Electronics in the late 1990s.To learn more about Pleo, click here. To see a You Tube video of Pleo bonding with dolphins at Sea World, click here.
To view a news story in the Idaho Business Review about UGOBE’s decision to move its headquarters to Eagle, click here.
C. Lloyd Mahaffey, an Eagle-based businessman and former Apple computers executive, said he expects more robotics-type companies to possibly locate in Idaho. “This creates a solid robotics foothold in the TreasureValley, which will spawn other companies over time. When one company comes, others have a tendency to follow. This opens a whole new area of technology interest in the Treasure Valley that doesn't currently exist.”
Mary May, Community Liaison for M3 Companies, has been involved in the preliminary discussions and planning for the Eagle-Star Technology Corridor. “The news about UGOBE is very exciting and a great first step for this emerging sector,” May said. “We know that our friendly community, quality schools, pro-business climate and quality of life all played a part in bringing UGOBE to Eagle.”
Technology companies that are being courted in the Eagle-Star Technology Corridor include those that create computer games for kids, software development firms, alternative energy companies and more, she said. Another goal is to create a business incubator facility for entrepreneurs, similar to the Water Cooler in Boise.
Eagle Cycling Park draws 2,000 for Trailpalooza event
(Photo by Mari Briggs)Less than a year after the official ground-breaking last winter, the new 240-acre Idaho Velodrome & Cycling Park in Eagle is really beginning to take shape, with multiple trails open for bicycling, hiking and trail-running. The cycling park is located just a couple miles from M3 property in the Eagle Foothills.
About 2,000 people flocked to the park, located by the junction of Floating Feather Road and Horseshoe Bend Road, on Sunday, Sept. 14, to participate in a “Trailpalooza” event sponsored by Duke Enterprises and Larry Miller Subaru. The day started with a 2.5K fun run, and then there were trick-riding demonstrations, bike demos, food, live music and lots of biking on trails.
To view videos of cyclists riding a dual slalom course in the park, click here. To view video of people riding trails, click here.
The park now has five cross-country trails, covering a total of 8 miles, a concrete Skateboard Park, a dual slalom course, a pump track, free-ride jumps and more. The trails are built for all abilities, from beginner to expert.
The Velodrome portion of the project is under construction. It will be a 330-foot oval concrete outdoor cycling track, similar to tracks seen in Olympic and European cycling competitions.
Organizers seek to provide a cycling experience for everyone – BMX, mountain bikes, road bikes, track bikes, free-riding and cycle-cross. “Our goal is to develop a world-class facility that is accessible to the community, young and old, to participate and enjoy the lifetime sport of cycling,” said Dave Beck, president of the Idaho Velodrome and Cycling Park Association. “To our knowledge, this facility brings together more cycling disciplines in one place than any other cycling facility anywhere in the world.”
“For kids who grow up in Eagle and the surrounding area, this is going to be an awesome training ground and a place to grow cyclists from the ground up,” Beck said.
The park has been developed with more than $2 million in cash and donations, including funding from the City of Eagle, private donations and in-kind donations.
For more information about the park, see http://www.idahovelopark.org/.
Community flocks to Eagle Food & Wine Festival
The second annual Eagle Food & Wine Festival Aug. 22-23 was a big hit – at least 1,000 people attended the two-day festival. The Gala Dinner & Auction at Spurwing Country Club was sold out on opening night, and 300 people participated in three seatings of 100 each in the Chef’s Tent at Merrill Park on the main day of the event.
M3 Eagle was a major sponsor of the event for the second year in a row, in addition to Food Services of America, which donated all the food for the Chef’s Tent.
“This year’s event was a tremendous success, exceeding all expectations,” said Mary May, M3 Eagle Community Liaison who helped organize the dinner at Spurwing and the Chef’s Tent events. “To have this kind of response from the community to benefit such a worthy cause was just overwhelming. We’re thrilled.”
The event benefited the International Special Olympics World Winter Games, which is coming to Idaho for the first time in early February 2009, and the Eagle Chamber of Commerce.
At the Chef’s Tent, 14 acclaimed chefs prepared special small plate entrees, paired with Idaho wines. Tom Atkins from 43 Degrees North Catering, for example, was paired with Three Horse Ranch vineyards from Eagle. Michael Mohica and Martin Oshiro from Ono Hawaiian Café, were paired with the Nampa-based Sawtooth Winery, and Travis Levi from Bardenay was paired with the Williamson Winery, based in Caldwell.
The concept of the Eagle Food & Wine Festival is to provide a showcase for local food and wine. Earlier this year, the City of Eagle formed the Eagle Wine District, an overlay that includes the Eagle Foothills, where M3 Eagle’s 6,005-acre master-planned community may include a viticulture component.
The Eagle Wine District is a sub-area within the Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), a vast 8,263-mile region in Idaho and Eastern Oregon that was designated by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in 2007. The designation elevates the status of Idaho wines and assists in marketing and sales.
Festival participants and chefs already are getting on a waiting list for next year’s festival, to be held Aug. 21-22, May said. The Treasure Valley Wine Society will be a partner next year, she said, which should bring in even more wineries to the event.
M3 Eagle was a major sponsor of the event for the second year in a row, in addition to Food Services of America, which donated all the food for the Chef’s Tent.
“This year’s event was a tremendous success, exceeding all expectations,” said Mary May, M3 Eagle Community Liaison who helped organize the dinner at Spurwing and the Chef’s Tent events. “To have this kind of response from the community to benefit such a worthy cause was just overwhelming. We’re thrilled.”
The event benefited the International Special Olympics World Winter Games, which is coming to Idaho for the first time in early February 2009, and the Eagle Chamber of Commerce.
At the Chef’s Tent, 14 acclaimed chefs prepared special small plate entrees, paired with Idaho wines. Tom Atkins from 43 Degrees North Catering, for example, was paired with Three Horse Ranch vineyards from Eagle. Michael Mohica and Martin Oshiro from Ono Hawaiian Café, were paired with the Nampa-based Sawtooth Winery, and Travis Levi from Bardenay was paired with the Williamson Winery, based in Caldwell.
The concept of the Eagle Food & Wine Festival is to provide a showcase for local food and wine. Earlier this year, the City of Eagle formed the Eagle Wine District, an overlay that includes the Eagle Foothills, where M3 Eagle’s 6,005-acre master-planned community may include a viticulture component.
The Eagle Wine District is a sub-area within the Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), a vast 8,263-mile region in Idaho and Eastern Oregon that was designated by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in 2007. The designation elevates the status of Idaho wines and assists in marketing and sales.
Festival participants and chefs already are getting on a waiting list for next year’s festival, to be held Aug. 21-22, May said. The Treasure Valley Wine Society will be a partner next year, she said, which should bring in even more wineries to the event.
M3 Eagle works with community for charitable events and public recreation
The Eagle Foothills have always been a popular place to go for outdoor recreation. With its commitment to community and nature, M3 continues to provide a public trailhead for general recreations and to work with local community and charitable organizations desiring to use the land for special events. The public access trail is off Willow Creek Road in the Little Gulch area, north of Eagle.
So far this year, M3 Eagle has hosted the Children’s Archery Challenge 3D Shoot in April, as well as the Eagle Extreme Endurance and Diabetes rides in May.
Tom Haver, president of the Children’s Archery Challenge 3D Shoot, said it’s been beneficial to hold the shoot on M3 property because a spacious area is required for the event. Over one weekend, three different archery courses for 1,200 kids are set up. The event raised nearly $10,000 for St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital and $1,500 for Hunt of a Lifetime, a non-profit group that awards guided fishing and hunting trips to children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
“We love M3 – we couldn’t do this event without them,” Haver says.
The Diabetes Ride, co-sponsored by Humphreys Diabetes Center and Camp Hodia, had 230 participants and raised $28,000. Half of the proceeds went to the Humphreys Center and half went to Camp Hodia, says Lisa Gonser, Director of Marketing and Community Relations. “M3’s support was central to our success.”
A new hiking and trail-running guide for the greater Boise area features a description and map of a 5-mile loop in the Little Gulch area, which lies on M3 property, Avimor and Idaho Department of Lands property.
See link below for a map of the Little Gulch loop.
Please contact Mary May at M3 Eagle for more information regarding events or event requests. Mary can be reached at mmay@m3companiesllc.com or (208) 939-6263.
gulch.doc
So far this year, M3 Eagle has hosted the Children’s Archery Challenge 3D Shoot in April, as well as the Eagle Extreme Endurance and Diabetes rides in May.
Tom Haver, president of the Children’s Archery Challenge 3D Shoot, said it’s been beneficial to hold the shoot on M3 property because a spacious area is required for the event. Over one weekend, three different archery courses for 1,200 kids are set up. The event raised nearly $10,000 for St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital and $1,500 for Hunt of a Lifetime, a non-profit group that awards guided fishing and hunting trips to children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
“We love M3 – we couldn’t do this event without them,” Haver says.
The Diabetes Ride, co-sponsored by Humphreys Diabetes Center and Camp Hodia, had 230 participants and raised $28,000. Half of the proceeds went to the Humphreys Center and half went to Camp Hodia, says Lisa Gonser, Director of Marketing and Community Relations. “M3’s support was central to our success.”
A new hiking and trail-running guide for the greater Boise area features a description and map of a 5-mile loop in the Little Gulch area, which lies on M3 property, Avimor and Idaho Department of Lands property.
See link below for a map of the Little Gulch loop.
Please contact Mary May at M3 Eagle for more information regarding events or event requests. Mary can be reached at mmay@m3companiesllc.com or (208) 939-6263.
gulch.doc
Kiplinger ranks Boise as nation's 4th best city to live, work and play
Amy Becker, a financial writer for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, discovered the city of Eagle when she traveled to Boise recently to write a profile about Idaho’s capital city for its top 10 ranking of the Best Cities in which to Live, Work and Play. Boise was ranked No. 4 nationwide.
When Ms. Becker spoke with Eagle resident Lloyd Mahaffey, a former technology executive who is bullish on Eagle becoming a grape-growing region capable of producing fine wines, he revealed the city’s potential. He is developing a community with 10 homes designed in a similar fashion to Italian villas, with each one having their own 4-acre vineyard.
M3 Eagle is also contemplating the development of vineyards as part of a 6,005-acre master-planned community in the Eagle Foothills. Overall, the Kiplinger’s report puts Boise in the national spotlight as a great place to live, work and play, which will cause more favorable publicity for the area and potentially encourage people to move to the area. .
Boise’s No. 4 ranking by Kiplinger’s came just a few months after Forbes ranked Boise as the second-best place to start a business and a career, and the seventh Up-and-Coming High Tech City. The full Kiplinger's story will be out in the magazine’s July edition.
Ms. Becker wrote in Kiplinger’s that, “Mahaffey moved to the former farming town in 2004, hoping to find a laid-back place where his kids could hunt and play tennis while he dabbled in winemaking and developed real estate.”
Mahaffey told her, “When you first arrive, you have to downshift and adjust to a more relaxed pace.”
Kiplinger’s team of experts looked at factors such as population growth, percentage of workforce in the “creative” class, income growth and cost of living in coming up with their top 10 list. The creative class consists of scientists, engineers, educators, writers, artists, entertainers and others, who add economic and cultural influence to a city and make it a great place to live.
For more information, please click on the Kiplinger’s article:
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2008/05/2008-best-city-boise.html
When Ms. Becker spoke with Eagle resident Lloyd Mahaffey, a former technology executive who is bullish on Eagle becoming a grape-growing region capable of producing fine wines, he revealed the city’s potential. He is developing a community with 10 homes designed in a similar fashion to Italian villas, with each one having their own 4-acre vineyard.
M3 Eagle is also contemplating the development of vineyards as part of a 6,005-acre master-planned community in the Eagle Foothills. Overall, the Kiplinger’s report puts Boise in the national spotlight as a great place to live, work and play, which will cause more favorable publicity for the area and potentially encourage people to move to the area. .
Boise’s No. 4 ranking by Kiplinger’s came just a few months after Forbes ranked Boise as the second-best place to start a business and a career, and the seventh Up-and-Coming High Tech City. The full Kiplinger's story will be out in the magazine’s July edition.
Ms. Becker wrote in Kiplinger’s that, “Mahaffey moved to the former farming town in 2004, hoping to find a laid-back place where his kids could hunt and play tennis while he dabbled in winemaking and developed real estate.”
Mahaffey told her, “When you first arrive, you have to downshift and adjust to a more relaxed pace.”
Kiplinger’s team of experts looked at factors such as population growth, percentage of workforce in the “creative” class, income growth and cost of living in coming up with their top 10 list. The creative class consists of scientists, engineers, educators, writers, artists, entertainers and others, who add economic and cultural influence to a city and make it a great place to live.
For more information, please click on the Kiplinger’s article:
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2008/05/2008-best-city-boise.html
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