We continue our long-standing partnership with the Journal of Business to bring you the 27^th Annual Economic Forecast with a theme highlighting “National Forces, Local Reality” from a panel offering local, regional, and national insights. 

While  businesses in the region are working tirelessly to manage challenges related to increased operating costs, GSI is working with our partners to address these same issues through our work in policy advocacy to mitigate the effects of tariffs and taxes on our region’s economy.  

As the region’s business development organization, Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI) is a nonprofit that leads transformative business and community initiatives to build a robust regional economy. GSI creates the place where organizations come together to advocate for the region, drive strategic economic growth, and champion a talented workforce. We work on behalf of the Spokane community to build our economy so your business can thrive.

This work requires and succeeds through collaboration with partners. GSI is uniquely positioned to bring together and work alongside community leaders, businesses, the education community, legislators and elected officials, economic development organizations, nonprofits, and others to implement strategies to move key initiatives forward and transform our economy.

In 2022, with the support of over 40  partners, GSI launched the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy known as THRIVE Spokane. The goals of THRIVE Spokane center on resiliency, equity, and connectivity; all are necessary traits for us to collectively address the economic challenges facing us today. 

The last year has shown us that economic trends can shift rather quickly, and our collective strategic vision for economic development helps us be ready to face whatever the future holds. Hearing from economists is another piece of the readiness puzzle. There is no better time than now to focus on shared growth and continued resiliency.  

Partnerships and collaboration are essential to community success. It takes a unified effort to work together to move forward initiatives that transform our economy. We step toward 2026 with our partners to make real the vision of our economic success. As we learn from our region’s economists and imagine what the future of the region could be, we hope this forecast informs you and impacts the way you do business today, in 2026, and beyond. The lessons of the past show us that together we’re greater, join us at GreaterSpokane.org.

 Alisha Benson is CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated