POST FALLS - Jeffery Sayer smells opportunity in the air for Idaho.

As in the aviation industry.

Sayer, appointed director of the Idaho Department of Commerce last fall, said he's confident that "emerging clusters" such as the aviation, research, biotechnology and recreation technology sectors will help pull the state out of the recession.

"(Aviation) is one of my favorites," Sayer told 110 people attending Tuesday's Post Falls Chamber of Commerce lunch at Red Lion Templin's Hotel. "We have a sector that most of us are unaware of."

Sayer applauded North Idaho for already taking off on aerospace, having been a thrust behind recently-formed Idaho Aerospace Alliance.

Aviation tours and meetings, including at Empire Airlines in Hayden on Monday and at the alliance's meeting this morning in Post Falls, are part of Sayer's trip through North Idaho this week.

Sayer described the recreation technology industry as "anything under a Cabela's roof."

He said CNN recently called him after it learned Idaho was among the nation's leaders in manufacturing to climb out of tough times.

Prior to becoming commerce director, Sayer had no state government experience, but spent 20 years building, leading and expanding companies. He had been a managing partner of Novayx Group, a business consultancy, and previously was president and chief financial officer for Mountain View Hospital in Idaho Falls.

"We at the Department of Commerce have set a new standard - run at the speed of business," he said. "Everything we're doing is geared toward that goal. We're doing everything we can to make sure that you as a business owner are successful."

Sayer said that, as much as the agency wants to focus on attracting new business and on exports, protecting and retaining existing ones is the top priority.

"Our fastest source for new jobs will come from growing our existing companies," he said.

He said the long-term foundation will be made by creating a low-cost environment for firms, workforce development and upgrading infrastructure.

Sayer said the state will need to think of it as "one big small town" and come together as "Team Idaho" to reach new heights.

"We can lead the nation if we want to," he said.

Sayer said the Legislature's recent passage of the $5 million Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) will strengthen the research partnership between the Idaho National Laboratory, the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, the University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University.

"IGEM will be a platform to get into the marketplace," he said.

Sayer said the film industry has been looked at as a possible avenue for Idaho, but there are challenges.

"The film industry wants 30 percent of the production costs returned in tax credits," he said. "Some believe it can be really successful here, but the underneath economics of it is really tough."