Microsoft buying more space in Boise
Posted: July 9, 2008 09:13 PM PDT
Boise, Idaho — Although the company has been tight-lipped with any official announcement, it looks like Microsoft will be increasing it’s presence in the Treasure Valley.
You may remember Microsoft bought out Boise-based Proclarity over a year ago.
Since then employees have taken up residency in a couple buildings downtown and now it may not be long before those employees are moved into a much bigger location.
“From what your read is on this, Microsoft is coming,” I asked Jerry Todd, Boise City Planning spokesman.
“Tat would be my take, that they’re coming,” Todd responded.
And here’s the evidence to prove Microsoft will be making a much bigger imprint in Boise sometime in the very near future — a building permit filed in mid June, which shows the software giant is looking to fill up the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of the Idaho Independent Bank building.
It’sa huge space valued at $3.5 million.
“Yeah, it looks like they’re going to be using a total of about 33 thousand square feet in the Idaho Independent Bank building on three floors,” said Todd.
When Microsoft will move in is anybody’s guess, and may not be too important at this point.
What is, at least according to Paul Hiller from the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, is that Microsoft will be making a sizeable imprint in the Gem State.
“I think it’s very positive for Idaho, very positive for Boise. This is a major high tech corporation that is leasing more space and that’s a good sign,” said Hiller, “this is a big move. When Microsoft comes to your community and establishes a footprint, it has a very positive effect. And these are the high paying jobs that we expect to see more of here.”
But according to a company spokesperson, those reportedly high-paying jobs are not likely to increase beyond those that are already here.
In fact Microsoft released this statement, which reads, “Contrary to information in some of these reports, we are not hiring more employees. We cannot confirm the number of employees who will work in the space at this time, but we do plan to maintain presence in Boise as demonstrated by our decision to relocate offices to a more convenient location.”
But city officials are hopeful that decision may change in the future.
Paul Hiller says the fact that Microsoft has kept all other details close to the vest is likely a good indication that better news is on the way.
“For them to say we don’t want to get into the details right now is a very positive sign,” he said.
We have been told that an official announcement from Microsoft is forthcoming.
What we do know at this point, is that the new facility, once it opens, will be used for further software development purposes.
Phoenix, AZ, January 14, 2008. 
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