May 2016

The Hailey Chamber of Commerce has just released its first edition of its Community Guide and Membership Directory just in time for the warmer months and summer visitors to the Valley.

Last year, the Chamber participated in a state-wide visitor’s campaign called 18 Summers, which speaks to the unfortunate reality that families only have 18 summers to spend with their kids before they’ve grown and begin to make a life of their own. The response to the Chamber’s participation in this popular program exceeded initial expectations and highlighted the need for a complete compendium of all that makes our Valley such a great place to live or visit. “We were blown away at the number of requests for information we received from people coming to the Wood River Valley for vacation,” notes Chamber operations director Pat Bowton. “This new Community Guide will really help us get some great information into the hands of people that we know are coming to the valley, months before they get here.”

“Idaho’s visitor numbers have been increasing every year,” states Matt Borud, chief development officer for Idaho Commerce in Boise. “Programs like our 18 summers campaign help boost those numbers and it’s great to see our partners like the Chamber benefit from their participation.”

Additionally, this year the Chamber has agreed to participate in another Summer Travel campaign developed and produced nationally by USA Today. “We anticipate that this summer is going to be a busy one with visitors in the Wood River Valley,” adds Pat. “With so much going on in our Valley every year, it’s easy to see why people want to be here. Our main challenge has always been finding the best way to get information about our Valley in front of the right people and programs like 18 Summers and the USA Today Summer Travel Guide are making it much easier.”

Chamber Community Guides are fairly common in many parts of the country that depend on tourism. Most are produced by large, out-of-state companies that create guides for many different communities. “We knew we needed to produce a Community Guide but we wanted to do it as local as we could so we hired Centerlyne in Bellevue to design and produce it,” said Chamber president Richard Stahl. “The Centerlyne team has done a really great job of putting everything we think is great about our Valley in one place.”

In addition to the printed copies of the guide, The Chamber will also have an electronic version it can send to fulfill many of the requests it receives for information. If you are interested is picking up a copy of the new Community Guide and Membership Directory please stop in to the Visitor’s Center at the rodeo grounds in Hailey or the Sun Valley Visitor’s Center at 491 Sun Valley Road in Ketchum.

Jeff Bacon
Membership Director
members@haileyidaho.com

When Rich Broadcasting acquired three radio stations in the Wood River Valley they knew they had added a rich history of radio to their group of stations located in Idaho and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. “We were really excited to be a part of the radio story in the Wood River Valley,” said Delyn Hendricks, Market Manager for Rich Broadcasting headquartered in Idaho Falls, ID. “KECH and KSKI have been valley staples for so many years and the addition of STAR 107 has given us a well-rounded offering for the musical tastes in the Valley.

“I like that we’re so much a part of the interconnected valley,” notes continuity director Charissa Lang. “There is so much information about all that happens every day in or community and we get to be the source that gets that information out to our listeners.” And it’s a big job. In addition to managing three separate music formats, the Rich Broadcasting team also manages social media channels for each station, produces ads for each and has local daily features, like KSKI’s Free Music Friday or Daily Trivia on KECH.

For KECH morning guy, Doug Donoho, the day starts early. “We normally get into the stations about 5:00 am to begin prepping the show for the day,” Doug notes. “With so much happening once the 6:00 hour starts, it’s important to know what your show highlights are going to be before we start.” Jamie Canfield, KSKI’s morning guy, mimics Doug’s thoughts. “It’s a good thing that Doug and I work so well together,” Jamie adds. “It’s not just that we spend a lot of time across the hall from each other, we start every weekday at a time of day that the body thinks it should be asleep. Don’t believe it – it’s not easy to get up at 4:30 every morning. Your body never does get used to it.”

Any big changes coming for the Rich Broadcasting team in the near future? “We’re excited about the new signs that are going on the outside of the building,” Adds Charissa. “These stations have been above the Hailey Hotel for years and unless you’ve won a prize or maybe came in to record an ad or give an interview you’d never know we’re here. The station’s logos on the building will really look great.”

Thursday, May 19th, Rich Broadcasting will be hosting this month’s Chamber Business After Hours in association with the Weekly Sun. The event, to be held at the Hailey Hotel at Croy and Main Street in Hailey is being promoted as a media party and will begin at 5:00 pm. Local restaurants will be serving small bites and The Hailey Hotel will be sampling wines and beers. Chamber members are encouraged to attend and bring a guest to introduce them to this great monthly networking opportunity.

Jeff Bacon, Members Services

To say Kevin Jones and Paul Holle have been a little busy lately may be understating it a bit. As owners of Sawtooth Brewery, 2016 has started at the same speed that 2015 left. Having opened their Public House in Ketchum, in February, the men are looking forward to their next big project, the finishing of their brewing facility, tap room and corporate office in Hailey.

“We figured it would be easier to just not have a life for awhile,” Kevin joked during a recent interview. “The pace of everyday life has definitely increased over the last few months.”

Kevin and Paul started Sawtooth Brewery in 2011 after they were introduced through a mutual friend. “Our friend knew we were both interested in good beer and maybe one day opening a brewery,” Kevin remembers. “It started relatively simple enough, it’s been quite a ride for the last five years.”

For Kevin and Paul, they’re pretty excited about having facilities in both Ketchum and Hailey. “We’re really grateful to be able to have our offices in Hailey,” Kevin notes. “People are telling us they’re glad we’re building this, so it’s been a great experience.”

The new brewing facility and tap room will hopefully open around Memorial Day Weekend, as the team is actually a little ahead of schedule. Initially, the beer will continue to be put in kegs and bottled in the company’s 22 ounce bottles. A canning line will give Sawtooth Brewery the capacity to can their beers as well. “The new canning line is a great addition to the way we offer our beer to the consumer,” Kevin said. “We’ve had good success with our bottled beers but a canning line really does make it convenient to take our beers more places. It’s going to be great.”

Unlike the Public House in Ketchum, the new tap room in Hailey will not offer a full menu. “The tap room is about having a place to brew our beers and share them with the public,” Kevin notes. “We will have outdoor seating and some live entertainment and a place where people can be with their dogs.” In addition to their regular beers on tap, the tap room will also have draft wines from several different vintners.

Keep your head up for an official opening date because it’s right around the corner and just in time for the warmer weather. “We’re really looking forward to this opening,” Kevin said. “We’ve had a commitment to the community since day one. Being able to have a business and work in a place like the valley is something pretty special and we’d like to thank the community for their support through all of this.”

Jeff Bacon, Membership Director