The Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation is entering 2026 with a sharpened focus on three key areas — education and training, business and community development, and marketing — following a recent update to its strategic plan.

Executive Director Paige Olsen said the organization’s approach is less about setting rigid annual goals and more about creating a framework that allows flexibility and community involvement.

“We don’t really set annual goals, since we are a board of volunteers and I’m a one-woman show,” Olsen said. “We did, however, recently update our strategic plan to help not only our board members, but community volunteers get involved and bring information to the SVEDC that we may be able to help with.”

The updated plan centers on three core areas that Olsen says have remained constant in SVEDC’s mission:

• Education and training

• Business and community development

• Marketing, promotion and communications

Education and Training efforts aim to strengthen workforce development and business education opportunities through partnerships with North Idaho College, the University of Idaho, Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC), and local school districts. One long-term vision is the creation of a Valley Technical Education Campus (VTEC), modeled after KTEC in Rathdrum.

“There was a group of folks who were spearheading this before my tenure with the EDC,” Olsen said. “It’s one of those things that I keep close to the surface so when the right partnerships, conversations, or opportunity arises, we can move on it.”

Business and community development focuses on supporting existing businesses, recruiting new ones, and promoting housing, commercial, and industrial growth. SVEDC collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies to provide resources and guidance on development trends, regulations, and best practices that advance economic vitality and sustainable growth.

Marketing, promotion and communications will strengthen SVEDC’s visibility and investor relations. Plans include maintaining the organization’s website, refining its marketing strategy, and promoting the Silver Valley’s amenities and economic opportunities.

Olsen emphasized that these three pillars are not just organizational priorities: they’re community driven.

“They tend to always be a constant in what we are working on and towards,” she said. “Our goal is to create a structure where volunteers and partners can bring ideas forward, and we can help make them happen.”

As SVEDC looks ahead to 2026, Olsen said the organization will continue to lean on collaboration and adaptability to meet the region’s evolving economic needs.