The Pocatello area is changing and one might say that there’s something for everyone in those changes.

A third microbrewery is preparing to open in our city, joining a growing list of alcohol-related establishments that have begun serving customers during the past year.

If you’re into beer, wine and/or liquor, the new establishments provide a wide variety of beverages and drinking environments.

We know there are some in our community who might see these new establishments as something negative, but we believe these new businesses are a sign of progress that will cause people to want to live here.

And that’s a good thing.

For many potential Pocatello area residents, having a choice of quality microbreweries, bars and other places to get a drink is a big plus. These establishments are a sign of progress for the Pocatello area and it’s a trend that bodes well for our community.

Another incredibly positive development for Pocatello is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple that will be built on the city’s north side. The groundbreaking for the temple is set for March 16 and hundreds are expected to attend.

The long-awaited temple is not going to be praised by everyone but to a large percentage of Pocatello residents it’s awesome news.

It’s also well-documented that having a Mormon temple in your community means good things economically. By having such a temple in Pocatello, the city will be an even more attractive place to those of the LDS faith. The Pocatello area’s restaurants and retails stores will definitely get a boost from all the people from the surrounding area who will regularly visit the temple.

Although it might seem like comparing apples and oranges, the arrival of the temple as well as the opening of many alcohol-related establishments are making the Pocatello area look better to different groups of people — but in the end it’s all a win for our community.

And there are other reasons to believe the future is bright for the Gate City area.

A resurgent Idaho State University under the leadership of new President Kevin Satterlee and the promised commercial and residential development in Chubbuck as well as in the Northgate area of Pocatello are all positives.

We even believe that the Pine Ridge Mall’s efforts to reinvent itself will eventually bear fruit. The addition of a charter school and large fitness complex to the mall likely portend a future that includes an expanded role for the mall that goes beyond just retail stores. We believe Pine Ridge Mall is here to stay.

Old Town Pocatello, where many of the new alcohol establishments are opening, is seeing encouraging signs of progress, too.

Then there’s the growth of the new Grace Lutheran High School, the announcement that a sprawling medical campus will be built in Chubbuck, the expansion of the Greenway trail system, and all the cool things going on at Zoo Idaho.

Yes, we’d all like to see better paying jobs come to our community and there are those among us who might view what we call progress as something negative.

But we believe the changes we’re all seeing are positive and we can’t help but be optimistic about what the future holds.

One only has to look at the newly lit neon sign atop the Yellowstone Hotel to realize that the Pocatello area’s future is bright.

We’re thankful for all the signs of progress and encourage you to feel the same.