Jan. 10 / Mark Richard becomes DSP president

The Downtown Spokane Partnership named former Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard to be its new president, replacing Mike Tedesco, who was fired last fall. A lifelong Spokane-area resident, Richard didn't seek re-election to the county commission after serving two terms, ending in late December. Marla Nunberg Genther, who had served as interim DSP president after Tedesco's departure, returned to her previous position as the organization's vice president.

Jan. 9 / Fairchild makes short list

The U.S. Air Force said Fairchild Air Force Base is among those that have made its short list of potential future homes for the KC-46A aerial refueling tankers. It said it next will conduct detailed site surveys at each candidate base and expects to decide this spring on which bases will host the new Boeing Co.-built planes. The Air Force is projected to receive 179 KC-46A aircraft between 2016 and 2028, and it said it expects by 2028 to be housing KC-46As at one formal training unit and up to 10 main operating bases.

Jan. 8 / Convention center finalists selected

The Spokane Public Facilities District selected three design-build teams involving Spokane-area companies to compete for the contract to build a Spokane Convention Center exhibit hall expansion and to rehabilitate a portion of the Spokane River shoreline near the convention center. The teams that will compete for the $60 million-plus project are Garco/ALSC/LMN, Lydig/Integrus, and YLK JV/Bernardo-Wills/tvsdesign. The PFD expects to select a design-build team in April and for work to start by early summer and to be completed by January 2015.

Jan. 8 / Providence acquires medical group

Spokane-based Providence Health Care said it has acquired the Northeast Washington Medical Group, a multispecialty practice that operates in Stevens, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties. The practice includes 26 physicians, seven advanced-practice providers, and 118 other employees. Its new name will be Providence Northeast Washington Medical Group, and it will continue to operate its three current clinics, including two in Colville and one in Kettle Falls, Providence said. It said the group also operates a medical laboratory that conducts about 80 percent of the laboratory tests ordered by providers in the region.

Jan. 4 / INB parent plans private placement

Northwest Bancorporation Inc., the Spokane-based parent of Inland Northwest Bank, said it expects to raise about $3.9 million through a private placement of common stock. The company said it entered into an agreement Dec. 28 with six accredited investors, including Spokane developer Harlan D. Douglass, who will be issued the company's stock. It said in a regulatory filing that it wants to use proceeds from the placement to bid on the company's preferred stock held by the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the TARP Capital Purchase Program.

Corrections & Amplifications

Mareesa Henderson is the Spokane-based divisional director of human resources for West Corp. Her name was misspelled on a Largest Spokane County Employers list in the Journal's Dec. 20 edition.

Rachelle Stocum, who joined Northwest Trends/Flooring America, in Spokane Valley, recently as business development specialist, previously owned a Direct Buy franchise in the Tri-Cities. Stocum's previous position was stated incorrectly in the Journal's Dec. 20 edition.