b'Information in this section should be updated yearly in tandem with the Idaho Technology Councils Idaho Knowledge Report publication.https://www.idahotechcouncil.org/knowledge-report/REGIONAL CHARACTERIZATIONIdaho can be usefully divided into ve primary economic regions: Northern Idaho, North Central Idaho, Southwestern Idaho, South Central Idaho, and Southeastern/Eastern Idaho.Northern IdahoStrengths Challenges Visionary GoalsStrong Innovative Ecosystem Access to Talent EducationLifestyle Workforce Housing Access to TalentEducation Aordability for All InfrastructureThe increasingly diverse economic base and lifestyle of the northern Idaho region have attracted thousands of new residents in recent years, making it Idahos second most populous region. The largest city, Coeur dAlene, is just 33 miles from Spokane, WA, where many Panhandle residents work. Industries playing major economic roles include lumber, a variety of manufacturing, mining, tourism, retail, agriculture, call centers, and the Coeur dAlene and Kootenai tribes. North Idaho College and the satellite campuses of University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, and Boise State University are a key component of providing a highly skilled and trained workforce.17 Another important regional factor for the near future is a new Amazon fulllment center in Spokane, WA. Amazon began hiring over 2,000 employees throughout the spring and summer of 2020 and oers a minimum $15 wage with a hefty benets package to its employees. This is expected to be very inuential in the bolstering the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic by oering job opportunities to recent college graduates and those who have lost their job due to the pandemic.18 Kochava: Kochava is the mobile phone industry standard for secure, real-time advertising data analysis and insight. Kochava helps people-based marketers establish identity, dene, and activate audiences, and measure and optimize their marketing across connected devices. The company enables the visibility into and management of billions of data points, millions of users, and hundreds of millions of dollars in lifetime value (LTV) and promotional ad spend. Headquartered in Sandpoint with 70+ software engineers and account managers, Kochava has sales and agency representation in major markets worldwide but grows their development and engineering infrastructure in the North Idaho region.3 Chief Architect: Chief Architect Software is a leading developer and publisher of 3D Architectural home design software for builders, designers, architects, and home DIY enthusiasts. For the professional market, the company publishes the Chief Architect software product line, the most popular product for residential home design. And, for the home DIY enthusiast market, the company publishes the top-selling Home Designer product line. The two product lines are compatible allowing professionals and home enthusiasts to easily share ideas. The company operates out of Coeur dAlene around 100 employees including software engineers, marketing, sales, customer support, and administrative sta.3 North Idaho College (NIC): The purpose of North Idaho College is to meet the diverse educational needs of students, employers, and the Northern Idaho communities it serves through a commitment to student success, educational excellence, community engagement, and lifelong learning. NIC is now a major force in 40 I D A H O I N F R A S T R U C T U R E G U I D E B O O K'