Futures Unlimited Inc., of Columbus, Miss., plans to open Feb. 11 an outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Spokane that will specialize in providing therapy for patients with nervous-system dysfunctions.


Ed Snapp, president and founder of the 14-year-old company, says it has leased about 2,000 square feet of office space at 1315 N. Division and will operate its clinic there under the name Northwest Futures Unlimited.


The clinic initially will employ seven people, five of whom are relocating to Spokane from the companys office in Mississippi. He says the Spokane clinics staff likely will grow to 15 within three years.


Futures Unlimited provides rehabilitation therapy for people who suffer from such nervous-system dysfunctions as cerebral palsy and post-polio syndrome, as well as from traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.


Snapp says the Spokane clinic will be the companys second office.


He says Futures Unlimited was drawn to Spokane because a large number of people suffering from post-polio syndrome live in Eastern Washingtontheres a support group of 600many of whom had traveled to Futures Unlimiteds office in Mississippi to find treatment.


Post-polio syndrome, he says, strikes people in their 50s and 60s who suffered from polio earlier in life. Sufferers of the syndrome typically lose muscle strength, fatigue easily, and have difficulty recovering from fatigue.


While Snapp recognizes a large patient population here already, he expects to attract people to the Spokane clinic from all over the western U.S. and Canada.


The Spokane Area Economic Development Council played a role in Futures Unlimiteds decision to open a clinic here, Snapp says. The Economic Development Council has been very helpful with the expansion, he says. They provided us with information about the region that was extremely useful in our decision to open a clinic in Spokane.