State Advisory Councils Meet This Week

Three statewide advisory councils will meet in Boise this week, both separately and jointly, to discuss economic development and tourism initiatives.

The Economic Advisory Council will meet 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday to review 25 grant applications for Community Development Block Grants for public facilities and downtown revitalizations. They will also review two job creation project applications from the cities of Craigmont and Buhl.

The meeting will be in the first floor West Conference room of the J.R. Williams Building, 700 W. State St.

The Idaho Travel Council will meet 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday in the executive conference room at the Idaho Department of Commerce, second floor of the J.R. Williams Building.

The agenda will include updates on the grant program and upcoming grant summit, international program, public relations, group tours, Idaho film office and Idaho Conference on Recreation and Tourism (ICORT) planning. An update from the staff of the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau as well as an update from ad agency Drake Cooper will round out the day.

The Idaho Innovation Council will meet 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the first floor West Conference room of the J.R. Williams Building, 700 State St. The agenda includes pending legislation for 2011, adopting an Idaho Innovation Strategic Plan, and discussing future work of the council. They will also discuss collaborating with the Idaho Technology Council.

All three councils will meet jointly from 8 a.m. to noon in the first floor West Conference room of the J.R. Williams Building, 700 W. State St. Council members from each region will provide updates from their area. The meeting will include updates from Department of Commerce Director Don Dietrich and staff.

Agendas for the three meetings will be posted online at http://commerce.idaho.gov/events/2011/01/travel-council-economic-advisory-counci....