IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Idaho National Laboratory continues to be a major contributor to the state's economy, according to an annual report.
The INL Fiscal Year 2018 Economic Summary takes a look at a variety of economic impacts the eastern Idaho facility has on the region.
Some of the highlights include:
•INL's total economic impact exceeded $2 billion in Fiscal Year 2018, a 6.4 percent increase over the prior year.
•INL directly employed an average of 4,349 workers during the fiscal year. That makes INL contractor Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA) Idaho's sixth-largest private employer and ninth-largest employer when compared to all public and private businesses.
•INL spent more than $148 million with Idaho businesses.
•BEA contributed $618,700 in charitable giving, technology-based economic development grants and K-12 STEM giving.
"To see the positive impact the laboratory has on Idaho's economy is incredibly rewarding," said INL Director Mark Peters. "Not just because we are helping improve the quality of life in our own backyard, but also because INL's steady growth shows that we are serving our fellow citizens by striving to resolve the nation's big energy and security issues."
The annual report was prepared by the Moscow, Idaho-based Emsi, a labor market analytics firm. The Fiscal Year 2018 economic impact summary is available online.
The INL is one of the Department of Energy's national laboratories. The lab is the nation's leading center for nuclear energy research and development.
