IdaTech, which makes power generators that use hydrogen as fuel and generate water as the only byproduct, inked distribution deals with three companies in Latin America and Southeast Asia, said Amy Anderson Clem, the Bend firm's marketing communications manager. The deals will allow IdaTech products to be sold in those regions through existing sales networks, Clem said.

In addition, IdaTech also announced it was awarded a second contract from the U.S. Army's Communications Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center. The contract, worth $2.55 million, is an extension of a $3 million contract announced last August.

IdaTech also secured two additional contracts to develop hydrogen purification technology for two unnamed companies, one based in Japan and another in Europe, Clem said.

"Things are very positive right now," Clem said. "Our deals with the Japanese and European firms show that we are deepening our relationships there, in markets that are very interested in renewable energy. With the (Latin America and Southeast Asia) deals, it really enables us to increase our sales footprint. We've focused on the North American and European markets up to this point, and we're really glad to be expanding into new markets."

The deals reflect a renaissance of sorts for IdaTech, which cut 17 jobs in January 2006 when two federal contracts it was operating under were suspended. The cuts dropped the number of workers at IdaTech to roughly 65 people.

Last July, British banking firm Investec PLC bought IdaTech from IdaCorp Inc. IdaTech lost roughly $8 million in 2005, according to financial documents.

But IdaTech has since signed several distribution deals domestically, including one with the state of Washington, while making marketing inroads in Europe, Japan and Latin America. It also received $3 million in federal appropriations last September to develop power generators for military purposes.

The deals this weekend have boosted the company, Clem said, and IdaTech is now at 77 employees. She added that more expansion is planned, although no specific numbers or time frame for the addition were announced. The company currently has five open positions, according to IdaTech's Web site.

Bend Mayor Bruce Abernethy said he is excited to see IdaTech rebounding from early 2006, especially considering the city gave the firm $30,000 in incentives in 2004 to keep it in Central Oregon.

"It was unfortunate when they lost the federal funding (in 2006)," Abernethy said. "But it's the nature of the business they're in, and they're coming back strong."

He added that he is hopeful IdaTech's boom will attract other technology companies to Central Oregon, adding living-wage jobs to the region.

"Certainly, we've used IdaTech (to showcase Central Oregon) in the past," Abernethy said. "And we'll continue to use them in the future. It bodes well for our ability to develop an industry cluster for (companies that develop renewable energy)."

Roger Lee, executive director with Economic Development for Central Oregon, agreed, adding that cutting-edge technology like the type IdaTech develops is more likely to bring attention to the region.

"Ballard (Power Systems Inc., another fuel cell maker) certainly put Vancouver, Canada, on the map," Lee said. "The most exciting part of this is that IdaTech is building new technology, and it'd be nice if we can build a tech cluster locally."