September 1, 2022

The Clearwater Economic Development Association (CEDA) and Northwest River Supplies (NRS) announced today that they have completed a real estate transaction for CEDA’s building at 1126 Alturas Dr. in Moscow. This marks more growth and business expansion with the local and 100 percent employee-owned NRS on the heels of its 50th Anniversary celebration.

“Northwest River Supplies is an outstanding local business that was started in Bill Park’s garage fifty years ago and has since grown into the internationally renowned business that it is today,” said Moscow Mayor Art Bettge. “Alturas Park was established to provide a location for local businesses to grow and thrive and NRS’s purchase of this building is just another example of that coming to fruition.”

NRS conducts a range of business activities in its headquarters at 1638 S Blaine St, including design, warehousing, repair, sales and assembly of watersports equipment and apparel. Founded in 1972 by Bill Parks, who joined the faculty at the University of Idaho College of Business and Economics in the same year, NRS has grown from a mail-order business operated in Parks’ garage to a global outdoor sporting goods brand and prominent employer — with approximately 140 employees on the Palouse. NRS purchased the former Tidyman’s grocery store site on South Blaine in 2006 to accommodate rapid growth, and in 2019, moved from its previous headquarters to the newly expanded building. “For us, growth isn’t just about getting bigger, it’s about deepening our commitment to our customers, employees and community,” said NRS CEO Bryan Dingel. “We’re excited about the opportunity to continue investing in Moscow and in our future. As we celebrate our 50th year in business, this move helps prepare us for the next 50 years.”

The 12,476 square foot building on Alturas Drive was constructed in 2004 and until now, was leased by Comtech AHA Corp. NRS plans to move its product development and repair operations to the building, which will allow room for continued expansion.

Latah County Commissioner and CEDA Vice President Kathie LaFortune was involved in the deliberations and recognizes the significance of this transaction. She said, “NRS is an outstanding local success story for Moscow and the county. We could not be happier to help meet its needs and support CEDA’s future goals.”

As a nonprofit regional economic development organization, CEDA will use the proceeds from the sale to invest in projects in north central Idaho that benefit, and are consistent with, the community economic development goals of the association.

“When we decided to sell this spring, we recognized NRS was across the parking lot from the building and it seemed like a perfect opportunity,” said CEDA Executive Director Dodd Snodgrass. “We knew we wanted to find a local buyer and encourage new business expansion in Moscow. Selling to NRS accomplished just that.”