Idaho spent thousands at LA apparel store, Boise brewery in 'mad scramble' for virus gear

BOISE -- Idaho government officials spent $162,500 at a women’s clothing store called Fantazia Apparel in Los Angeles last spring. They spent $8,500 at specialty beer maker Clairvoyant Brewing in Boise. A producer of theatrical effects fluids in Tennessee called Froggy’s Fog received $15,000.

A public records request by The Associated Press showed just how far and wide the state ranged and what odd partnerships formed as officials scrambled to obtain personal protective equipment for medical workers as the coronavirus began spreading across the U.S.

Fantazia Apparel, which specializes in “high quality tops for missy sizes,” obtained 50,000 hard-to-get N95 masks through its Chinese manufacturer and sold them to Idaho at a cost of $3.25 each.

“It was very difficult to get that shipment and bring it to Los Angeles,” said Fantazia CEO Dany Separzadeh. “Eventually, we managed to do it. At that time, everything was expensive.”

Read more: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article247974080.html