Lucky Asian Mart LLC is expanding the region’s culinary landscape, as Spokane entrepreneur Stephanie Nguyen and her son, Jonathan, bring in Asian grocery favorites from the West Side to Eastern Washington.

For its latest episode of Elevating The Conversation, the Journal sat down with  Wade Larson, the executive director of the Production & Manufacturing Institute and the owner of Optimal Talent Dynamics, to discuss the Inland Northwest labor market.

Last month, the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center Tech Hub reapplied for federal funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce, seeking $39 million that would help establish a national test bed for next-generation aerospace prototypes in Spokane.

Against the backdrop of rising housing demand in North Idaho, JMC Idaho Inc. is consolidating its various business ventures under one regional entity and rebranding to Jacklin Northwest, while expanding its development footprint to include residential housing for the first time in its nearly 100-year history.

Dallas Lightner and Ryan Towner, co-owners of LT Real Estate LLC and LT Property Management LLC, say, despite a challenging year overall for the multifamily real estate market in 2025, they’ve managed to maintain steady growth by pairing real estate and property management services.

After taking over Spokane-based Associated Construction Inc. from their father in 2021, third-generation owners Brandon and Kyle Smith say their niche of working with longtime clients has led the company to a successful last two years.

At Spokane Media Credit Union, CEO Sarah Dahmen says work-life balance isn’t just a perk — it’s embedded in the institution’s mission. 

Fintech startup SecureSave has been acquired by Wisconsin-based HSA Bank, bringing the company’s emergency savings platform under the financial institution’s umbrella as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

As financial institutions look ahead to 2026, Inland Northwest banking leaders say the industry enters the new year with cautious optimism, steady deposit growth, and persistent affordability challenges that continue to shape the behavior of members and customers.

As the cost of health insurance rises, employers looking to reduce costs while still providing generous health and wellness benefit packages for their employees should explore options like section 125 cafeteria plans or level-funded plans and be willing to accept feedback from employees, industry experts in Spokane suggest.

Medical Lake School District has been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant with the aim of creating a pipeline of highly trained and certified school psychology professionals to meet the critical needs of rural school districts across Northeastern Washington. 

Eastern Washington University is moving forward with plans to launch a master’s in dental therapy program, a move that would place the university among a small handful of institutions nationwide offering the credential and expand access to oral health care in rural Washington, says Dawn Lewis-Kinnunen, dean of EWU’s College of Health Science and Public Health.