Frontier Credit Union Partners with College of Eastern Idaho to Launch Future Tech Building, Applied STEM Institute

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on September 17, 2025

The College of Eastern Idaho (CEI), in partnership with Frontier Credit Union and Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA), is launching a new chapter in workforce development and STEM education in Idaho. This joint effort includes constructing the Future Tech Building and creating the BEA Applied STEM Institute and Frontier Credit Union’s STEM Scholarship initiative. The facility will be formally known as the Battelle Energy Alliance Future Tech Building in partnership with Frontier Credit Union.

“This is a transformative moment for CEI and our community,” said CEI President Lori Barber. “The generous contributions from BEA and Frontier Credit Union will provide our students with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive in the evolving energy and technology sectors. These investments directly support Idaho’s workforce and economic future.”

The Future Tech Building will house advanced labs, collaborative classrooms, and the BEA Applied STEM Institute, an innovative program to connect students with real-world learning and career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math. There will also be a conference space for STEM expert lectures that is available for rental as a meeting venue for the community.

This initiative is part of Frontier Credit Union’s investment in CEI’s new Future Tech Building and reflects the credit union’s 90-year mission to “Build Better Lives” through education, opportunity, and community impact.

This fall, Frontier will establish a dedicated STEM scholarship program for CEI students through its new Frontier Scholarship Program and will launch co-branded CEI Visa® Spirit debit and credit cards, with interchange revenue directly funding the scholarship initiative, reinforcing its commitment to education access across Idaho.

“As Frontier Credit Union celebrates 90 years of building better lives in Idaho, this partnership with CEI and BEA exemplifies our enduring mission to uplift communities through innovation, education and opportunity,” said Frontier Credit Union CEO Dan Thurman. “By investing in the Future Tech Building, launching the Frontier Scholarship Program and creating the Frontier Conference Center, we are helping ensure Idaho students, especially those pursuing STEM, have the resources and support they need to thrive. Together, we are laying the foundation for the next 90 years of progress and impact.”

About the Frontier Scholarship Program

• Supports CEI students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) programs
• Priority given to Frontier members and those who have completed the BEA Applied STEM Institute during K–12
• 100% funded by interchange revenue from CEI cobranded debit and credit card purchases
• Designed to increase access to STEM education and grow Idaho’s skilled workforce

Co-branded Debit and Credit Cards

• Available to all CEI employees, students, and community members statewide starting Aug. 21, 2025
• First time Visa® Credit Cards are being added to Frontier’s community giveback card program (previously debit-only)
• Everyday purchases directly support the Frontier Scholarship Program at CEI

Expanding the Proven Visa Spirit Card Model

The CEI partnership builds on the success of Frontier’s existing Visa® Spirit Card program, currently offered with five high schools across Eastern Idaho:

• Teton High School
• South Fremont High School
• North Fremont High School
• Salmon High School
• Madison High School – Coming Fall 2025

“This partnership with CEI and Frontier Credit Union directly supports our vision to change the world’s energy future and secure our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said John Wagner, Director of the Idaho National Laboratory, which is managed by BEA. “The Future Tech Building and BEA Applied STEM Institute will help build the talent pipeline — right here in Idaho — essential to American prosperity.”

CEI is scheduled to open the Future Tech Building, the BEA Applied STEM Institute and the Frontier Credit Union Conference Center in fall 2026.

Posted in Community Impact, Idaho, Regional Member News.