Anusha Roy | KXLY4 Reporter Posted: 10:46 pm PDT October 11, 2011 Kootenai County’s unemployment rate is higher than both the national and state average at 11.6 percent.  However, one North Idaho Company is about to provide 200 new manufacturing jobs.  KXLY4's Anusha Roy reports. Click here for Video Newscast by Anusha Roy at KXLY "We will build bigger equipment than we build today. With the new expansion, we're going to also go into underground mining," CEO Ron Nilson said.Tuesday afternoon, workers prepared for a concrete pour at the new facility site that will help the company meet that goal.The new factory won’t open its doors until April, but Ground Force is already hiring."If you are a welder, a machinist, a diesel mechanic or have hydraulics experience call Ground Force because we are hiring today," Nilson said.Ground Force is expects to add 150 jobs in Post Falls, and 50 jobs at a second site in Plummer, Idaho.

by KREM.com & Cole Heath Posted on October 4, 2011 at 6:41 PM POST FALLS, Idaho—Hundreds of new heavy-duty manufacturing jobs are on their way to North Idaho. Ground Force Manufacturing is expanding in Post Falls and is building massive pieces of underground mining equipment. Company President and CEO Ron Nilson says his business is expanding into a new 85,000 square foot facility across the street from their current building.  He says this will bring 200 new skill jobs to the area within the next 18 months, but he says workers with the right skills are hard to find. The company has established an apprenticeship program designed to help future job candidates learn the necessary skills for the upcoming job openings. Company officials say job applications are now being accepted, and applications are available at Ground’s Force’s offices in Post Falls. Click here for Video Newscast by Cole Heath at KREM