Sandpoint Gets Second Wind After Company Goes Belly Up

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — The bankruptcy of national clothing retailer Coldwater Creek last spring posed a serious challenge to the northern Idaho city of Sandpoint, as more than 300 jobs vanished.

But The Spokesman-Review reports that the community is getting a second wind — thanks in part to former workers at the company who stuck around and started or joined new firms.

They include Carlo Pati and Kara Berlin, who have contributed to the rapid growth of the outdoor adventure company Rush-On, and Matt Williams and Mike Peck, who founded a company that provides wood and metal shops, a laser cutter and a 3-D printer for artists and entrepreneurs who need them.

Many say they love their lifestyle in Sandpoint and didn't want to leave when Coldwater Creek went belly-up.

Officials say the loss of Coldwater Creek still hurts. But they're upbeat about a wave of hiring in aerospace, biomedical, software, food production and manufacturing.