Prospective companies are reading all about North Idaho and the cheaper cost of doing business here in an effort to spark economic development.

More than 300 targeted firms in Washington, Oregon and California have received a promotional publication developed and sponsored by District 5 legislators Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene and Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene.

The booklet details the comparative costs of doing business in Idaho versus neighboring states.

"It's time we exploited our economic advantages," said Henderson, adding that the marketing effort is being done without taxpayer dollars. "We should shout from the mountaintop that costs for electric and gas utilities is less in Idaho. In fact, the kilowatt rate here is half the cost in California."

Nonini said the cost for workers' compensation insurance is also lower in Idaho than many states.

"This savings alone is often enough to convince a company to relocate here," Nonini said.

Hammond said he heard from an Anaheim, Calif., company that makes electronic parts for high-tech manufacturers soon after the publication was sent.

"They commented on a desire for a location where there is a more conservative government," Hammond said.

He said the company will be referred to Jobs Plus, the area's economic development agency, if relocation discussions become promising.

The first mailing of brochures included 112 companies that had made requests for data from Jobs Plus during the past year. The mass mailing also included a list of companies in western Washington and Oregon that had been selected for special promotion by Idaho Gov. Butch Otter in his Project 60 program.

Two contributions of $500 each to pay for postage have been received. One contributor asked to remain anonymous and the other was the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry.

Each brochure costs $1.60 to mail.

Companies' testimonies about why their firms moved to North Idaho and information about colleges in the region is also included in the publication, along with other information.

"The availability of and access to local education and training increases opportunities for economic success," said Cyndie Hammond, executive director of Lewis-Clark State College's Coeur d'Alene campus. "This brochure and its intended results compliment Lewis-Clark's tag line - Connecting learning to life."

Legislators are looking for more companies that may be interested in relocating to North Idaho and would like to see the information.

"The public can be an immense help by giving us the name or names of companies they may know in another area," Henderson said.

A prospect may be a former employer or business associate or friend or a relative, or someone who comes here for a vacation or for hunting or fishing.

Names and addresses of prospective companies can be provided to Jobs Plus at 667-4753 or Hilde@jobsplusonline.org or Henderson at 773-2269 or fhenderson@house.idaho.gov.

"We'll do the rest," Henderson said. "We need jobs - good-paying jobs - and any suggestion could get the area a new employer. Who knows, we may uncover a mother lode of opportunity."