POST FALLS - Data networking business Ednetics Inc., based in Post Falls, is finishing up construction on a new $7.5 million, 32,000-square-foot corporate headquarters building next to the University of Idaho Research Park.

Ednetics was founded in 1997 in President Shawn Swanby's apartment in Moscow. In 1998, it moved to the research park in Post Falls, just south of Interstate 90, where it has been leasing space ever since.

It will be moving from the 5,000 square feet of floor space it occupies at the park to its new facility next month, said Swanby, 37, of Coeur d'Alene.

The cost for the new building will cover construction and new equipment. The building will include demonstration space to show customers what technology Ednetics can provide them with.

The business employs a total of 36 people. It has offices in Bellevue, Wash., established in February 2005; and in Corvallis, Ore., established last summer, he said.

The technology company has 28 employees in Post Falls currently, but expects to have 35 by the end of the year, Swanby said.

The business will be hiring specialists in data applications and network engineering.

Swanby, a native of Idaho who was born in Boise, said keeping the corporate headquarters in Idaho was a natural fit for him.

"I like this state a lot," he said. "This state has a problem with the talent leaving. I wanted to do something here."

About 95 percent of Ednetics' business comes from the education sector, helping those customers build technology programs. The remainder comes from government, he said.

Of the education portion of its business, about 70 percent is kindergarten through high school institutions. The rest is colleges and universities, he said.

He said Ednetics works with about 150 school districts and universities.

The general contractor on the construction project is Leone and Keeble Inc., of Spokane. Architects West, of Coeur d'Alene, designed the project.

Construction started in January 2010, Swanby said.