Addressing the Mountain West Competitiveness Conversation at its welcoming dinner the evening before the Conversation, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean shared her vision for Boise as an innovator. As the first female mayor in the city's nearly 160-year history, Mayor McLean is dedicated to advancing Boise. The city has experienced rapid growth in recent decades, with the Boise metropolitan area nearly doubling in population since the turn of the millennium. This growth has primarily stemmed from investments in local industries, particularly semiconductor manufacturing. The CHIPS & Science Act has significantly impacted this trend, injecting billions into local leader Micron and promoting the re-shoring of semiconductor production. However, McLean emphasizes that the CHIPS Act represents only the beginning and middle phases of boosting investment in innovative industries. As Chair of the American Conference of Mayors’ CHIPS Implementation Task Force, she is deeply involved in the implementation of this landmark microchip manufacturing bill and understands its potential benefits for communities. She describes the bill as "integral" to Micron’s decision to reinvest in Boise.
However, the CHIPS Act and Micron's investment alone do not tell the whole story. While these developments are substantial, they represent just one part of the innovation ecosystem being cultivated in Boise. Other companies, institutions, and universities play critical roles as well. Other companies, institutions, and universities have a critical role to play. Mayor McLean highlighted Dr. Dan Lamborn, Executive Director of Institute for Microelectronic Education and Research at Boise State University, who submitted an application for a $160 million National Science Foundation grant, to which the City of Boise offered a letter of support and is exploring avenues of potential funds matching in order to demonstrate the level of community buy-in behind his application and others like it. By actively supporting local innovators, Mayor McLean hopes to inspire ambition within the community and attract outside investors looking for a vibrant environment ready to innovate.
"There is a lot of work to do, not only thinking about how we can collaborate and innovate, but thinking about how we can meet the needs of the residents that are going to fuel these companies and these investments."
The Hon. Lauren McLean
Mayor of Boise, Idaho
Mayor McLean believes that the feeling of community sets Boise apart from other U.S. cities. The Competitiveness Dinner on August 6th coincided with "National Night Out," a community engagement event that originated to raise awareness about neighborhood crime but has evolved into a celebration with block parties, fairs, and a spirit of neighborliness. Under McLean’s leadership, this event has gained renewed attention and has become an annual celebration of community connection. For her, this event embodies the values that make Boise strong and reflects her administration's commitment to continually asking, “What more can we do to support our residents?”
With Boise growing rapidly and investments in innovation opening new opportunities, Mayor McLean envisions a bright future for the city. She thanked the attendees of the Competitiveness Conversation for choosing Boise and expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with them to make the city an even better place to live in the coming years.
