Business Plus Investor Spotlight

The Collins Connection is

Showing the "Magic" in the Magic Valley

The Collins Connection, a division of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Idaho Homes & Properties, is much more than a Magic Valley Real Estate Agency – in many cases they serve as an extension of the recruitment efforts for local employers.

Founded by Kent and Cindy Collins, the Collins Connection is committed to creating seamless connections between buyers and sellers across Southern Idaho. “We believe that economic development is driven by recruiting and keeping good employees in the Magic Valley,” said Cindy Collins. “We have a formal program, working with local employers, to meet-and-greet prospective employees that are considering moving here, and we introduce them to all the magic our region has to offer.”

The Collins Connection team are relocation specialists who take people from all over the country - and even the world - on tours of the Magic Valley. “We want to let them know that Idaho is more than sagebrush and potatoes,” said Keegan Preece, Sales Associate at the Collins Connection. “We help them determine not only their residence needs but consider their lifestyle as well.”

The Collins Connection team can often customize tours for new employee prospects before they arrive. A typical tour can focus on everything from exploring local communities and activities, to trips into the mountains and along the Snake River.

“My favorite question to candidates is ‘What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?’ said Cindy Collins, Associate Broker at the Collins Connection.

“We also ask if there is anything they particularly would like to see or have more information about and customize the entire process to the family. Many of the candidates enjoy outdoor activities, which we have an abundance of to show them. We often take clients on a visit to Shoshone Falls, Centennial Park, and show them our Visitor Center and canyon rim trails. We can also help schedule meetings with our school districts, private schools, host mini tours of the CSI campus, and even tour our medical facilities. We often take them on a walk through our downtown and visit neighborhoods they may want to live in.”

The Collins Connection is also committed to community involvement. During the annual KTVB 7 Cares Idaho Shares charity drive to benefit the Idaho Food Bank, Collins Connection hosts a large trailer outside their offices to collect and then distribute non-perishable food and household items to people in need. “Last year, we distributed items to over 500 children. I’m really proud of that,” said Preece.

“The Collins Connection has been an investor in Business Plus since the beginning,” said Cindy Collins. “It is such a good chance to bring industry leaders together for more involvement in how our region’s communities grow successfully. Business Plus shares economic development updates with speaker panels at their community meetings with valuable information for our business leaders.”

Employee recruitment and retention is critical to economic development in the Magic Valley and The Collins Connection is playing a key role in making that successful by inviting people to become part of this flourishing community.

Over the past 30 years Business Plus has joined like-minded business leaders together to grow our economy. Our mission is to ensure that we all play a role in Southern Idaho’s economic growth, business investment, talent recruitment and training.

If you’d like to learn more about Business Plus or become an investor, please contact us at www.businessplusinc.org, email rebecca@businessplusinc.org or call Rebecca Wildman at 208-539-6470