By Dana DuGan
Community radio, a staple in towns all over the U.S., came to the Wood River Valley nearly four years ago as KDPI-FM 88.5 Drop-In Radio. It has steadily built a listening base and eclectic array of musical and talk show offerings.
Last week, the station moved from its former home on North Main Street in Ketchum to the Ketchum Innovation Center, at the corner of Sun Valley Road and First Avenue in Ketchum. With this move, KDPI joins an assortment of entrepreneurs in a newly designed space in what, to old timers, is still remembered as the old post office.
“KIC was created to help new and existing businesses get off the ground, grow and become sustainable, all with the goal of creating professional, full-time jobs in the Wood River Valley and boosting the overall year-round economy,” said Jon Duval, the executive director of the Ketchum Innovation Center.
“In addition, the organization looks to bring in new entrepreneurs, increasing the number of full-time residents and professional jobs that aren’t dependent on our traditional seasonal economy. This is accomplished by offering shared office space with like-minded entrepreneurs, access to a highly accomplished range of volunteer mentors and the opportunity to garner local investments.”
KDPI has approximately 25 unique shows on the air with a local volunteer staff of show hosts.
“The new space feels like a step up and will give us more visibility,” said Jean Jacques Bohl, a DJ with two shows on the station. “It will allow KDPI to interact with other entrepreneurial businesses.”
In fact, the new space, though smaller than its former home, will allow for collaboration with KIC’s other tenants, which is part of the station’s mission to bring community together through education, entertainment, local information and dialogue.
“We are deeply grateful to Jon Duval and KIC’s board of directors for inviting us in,” Scott Carlin, KDPI’s board president, said. “With KDPI joining the community of businesses in the Ketchum Innovation Center, an important puzzle piece falls into place in the bigger picture of creating a stronger community and economy in the Wood River Valley.”
Mike Scullion, who worked for years to obtain the Federal Communications Commission license, founded the station in 2013. Last year, a new antenna was erected on an existing tower atop Bald Mountain, which enables KDPI to broadcast Valley-wide.
“This will no doubt be a mutually beneficial relationship,” Scullion said.
Now the station’s general manager, Scullion said the nonprofit organization looks forward to using the reach of the station across the Valley and beyond to let people know that they are listening to KDPI-FM broadcasting live from the Ketchum Innovation Center.”
For more information, visit kdpifm.org, and ketchuminnovationcenter.com.
