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 elected female mayor in the city's nearly 160-year history, Mayor McLean is dedicated to advancing Boise as a city for everyone. 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, investing billions in the American semiconductor manufacturing industry, including companies such as Boise-headquartered Micron Technology, and promoting the re-shoring of semiconductor production. As Chair of the American Conference of Mayors’ CHIPS Implementation Task Force, Mayor McLean is deeply involved in the implementation of this landmark microchip manufacturing bill and understands its potential benefits for communities. She described the bill as "integral" to Micron’s decision to reinvest in Boise.
As an example, Mayor McLean highlighted Dr. Dan Lamborn, Executive Director of Institute for Microelectronic Education and Research at Boise State University, whose work with industry partners, federal agencies, and other research institutions across the globe is helping to develop a diverse semiconductor workforce for the future. By actively supporting local innovation and workforce development efforts, Mayor McLean hoped to inspire ambition within the community and attract outside investors, ready to be a part of Boise’s vibrant economic future.
McLean emphasized that the CHIPS Act, while incredibly significant from a funding perspective, also represents a unique opportunity to catalyze the innovation ecosystem being cultivated in Boise. Other partners – such as companies, institutions, universities, and the public sector – all have a critical role to play as well.
"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
Beyond its attractiveness as a growing city for innovation and economic opportunity, Mayor McLean highlighted another reason why CHIPS investors and future generations of workforce may be drawn to Boise - the distinct feeling of community that she believes sets Boise apart from other U.S. cities. As it happened, 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. This event is one of many in Boise – nearly 100 every summer in Downtown Boise alone – that celebrate community connection and contribute to the city’s overall spirit. Events like these embody the values that make Boise strong and reflects the city’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 envisioned a bright future, where organizations across all sectors come together to create a vibrant and welcoming 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 and work in the coming years.
