MakerPoint Studios co-founder Matt Williams works at the business in Sandpoint on Dec. 10. MakerPoint is a co-op with the latest fabrication and building technologies such as 3-D printing. Membership is open to the public and businesses. (SR photo: Kathy Plonka)

When Coldwater Creek went belly up last spring, Sandpoint braced for the blow to its economy. More than 300 jobs vanished, and the loss in earnings was estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. But the demise of the national clothing retailer based here also blew the seeds of innovation across the community. New businesses have sprouted from the company’s diverse talent pool – people who were committed to stay and make a go of it/Scott Maben, SR. More here.

Question: How hard would you work to stay in North Idaho, if your company closed its doors?

---

---