Economic & Lifestyle Overview
In the midst of the Coeur d’Alene River District of the Panhandle National Forest and home to major Silver Valley businesses, Kellogg is a true fusion of business and play. Nearly 2,000 residents call this quaint town home. Key employers are based here like Silver Mountain, Dave Smith Motors, Shoshone Medical Center, and a plethora of small businesses in lodging, dining, and shopping. Tourism creates many jobs and stimulates the economy of Kellogg but is not the only robust industry.
Kellogg is a gateway for year-round recreation and is 1 of 2 of the most affordable ski towns in the Rockies two years in a row according to Realtor.com. Popular winter sports include skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing. Our town is also a summertime destination for mountain biking, trail biking, golfing, fishing, hiking, and camping. Most days residents can splash in Idaho’s largest indoor waterpark, enjoy the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene Greenbelt, or take a scenic gondola ride on North America’s longest single-stage gondola.
When you set foot in Kellogg, something in you changes. The rush of busy city life melts away. The quiet of the forest spreads into your mind. Relaxation and peace are all around you, and you breathe in more with every inhale of fresh mountain air. The south fork of the Coeur d’Alene River babbles, and the background hum of I-90 reminds you that you’re not too far off the grid. You’re right where you’re meant to be, not in the middle of nowhere, but right next door. You have all the amenities for the vacation or business of your dreams, and the endless forests are available if you ever simply want to get lost for a while.
Here is where you attain true work/life integration: a healthy balance of blending your love of the outdoors with your professional passion. You can disconnect to reconnect with yourself, your friends and family, and nature, or you can plug in and dive deep into your work. The residents of Kellogg know how special and unique this town is, it’s time for you to discover how your business fits in here.
Business Outlook & Competitive Advantages
There is ample opportunity for retail shops, restaurants, and bars if you build your business’s audience based on the audience that visits here. Capitalizing on that year-round tourism industry by offering a unique, memorable experience will set you up for the best kind of advertising: word-of-mouth and referrals.
There are many opportunities here for businesses in the tourism, hospitality, and recreation industry, but there is more beyond that industry as well. Our low cost of living and strong transportation corridor set up Kellogg perfectly for outdoor outfitters and manufacturers. With millions of acres and 4 distinct seasons, R&D testing can be completed in a variety of settings. There's the ability to test extremes as well as average conditions for new products and gear.
Uptown Kellogg is a great location to consider when looking at where to place your business within Kellogg. This is a historic main street district filled with traditional buildings with retail below and residential units above. Uptown is a walkable area with curbside parking, wide sidewalks, a few benches, branching pocket parks, and has been enhanced visually with a local artist’s sculpture and blooming flower baskets through the summer. North Idaho College, named 2018 national Entrepreneurial College of the Year, also has a location in Uptown and sits right next to our library. The college is an advantage for bringing in a unique audience and it can facilitate advance workforce training and continuing education, benefiting the overall business environment.
Like all of Shoshone County, there are a few benefits to being a Superfund designation. Kellogg received an infrastructure investment funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and local funds. The city of Kellogg took on a 3-year project to replace the water and sewer lines and then repave every city street. Completed in 2019, the city’s streets, water, and sewer lines are now a fully modernized local infrastructure. There is additionally a surplus of power in Kellogg attributable to the power grid. The substation built within it was designed to power the mine. Our utilities can support nearly any business venture because we have all the right things going on in terms of infrastructure. You won’t find this enviable situation in many other rural communities.
In addition to our utilities and infrastructure, Kellogg resides within an Opportunity Zone, New Market Tax Credit, and HUBZone designations. This means that there are federal programs that promote investment opportunities in our area. As a business owner or investor, you could work to reap the benefits. The Opportunity Zone designation may allow property investors to reduce their federal capital gains tax, giving you more money in your pocket to reinvest into new business. The New Market Tax Credit is designed to incentivize investment in low-income communities. According to Tax Policy Center, “The US Department of the Treasury competitively allocates tax credit authority to intermediaries that select investment projects. Investors receive a tax credit against their federal income tax.” Kellogg is also recognized as a Historically Under-utilized Business Zone, which gives our city HUBZone program benefits. The HUBZone program requires federal agencies to set aside a portion of contracts for businesses, giving you the opportunity to attain an otherwise competitive contract.
Regardless of our rural living, Kellogg has incredible access to health care, procedures, and emergency care from Shoshone Medical Center and a brand-new rural health clinic facility. All the health providers in the area care about providing and educating residents of Kellogg on holistic, healthy living. There are local experts in place to provide care for your family and employees right in town.
Whether you are coming here to capitalize on Kellogg’s tourism industry, the transportation corridor, the small-town charm, the entrepreneurial spirit, the modern infrastructure, the availability of power, the federal program designations, or the accessible health care, Kellogg is where you can make your business dreams come true.
History & Unique Facts
Kellogg was incorporated in 1907. Uptown Kellogg used to be the commercial retail center for the town, and much of our history was built upon the mineral and environment resources found in and around our town. Mining and logging shaped what Kellogg is today. The city was a major mining center from its founding through 1970, and mining is still active today, though not as sizable. The Bunker Hill Mine and Smelting Complex, and Sunshine Mine were both world-leading producers in lead, silver, and other raw materials. They served as the area’s major employer and was a sizable focus of living in the history of Kellogg.
Kellogg also has one of the most unique high school football fields in the nation, and this happened because a mine donated the land, creating a loophole. There’s a local favorite bar, Dirty Dog Saloon, overlooking Teeter’s Field. Where else can you grab a beer and get stadium-height seating during the Friday night football lights?
