Latest News

Nelson Brothers Inc.: Inventor at heart

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July 28, 2016

Rod Nelson, president and owner of Spokane Valley-based Nelson Brothers Inc., has developed a conceptual prototype for a sprinkler system he says can conserve water by being programmed from an app downloaded to a smartphone or tablet. 'The potential is

GSI submits strategic plan to its directors

Organization hopes to boost business climate

July 28, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Greater Spokane Incorporated has submitted to its board a strategic plan for implementing changes designed to help improve the Spokane area's business climate. The recommended course of action stems from a $300,000, three-part study called Driving Comp

Allsport opens Indian Motorcycle dealership

Liberty Lake power sports center expands

July 28, 2016

Mike McLean

Allsport, a recreational motorsports dealership in Liberty Lake, is now the Indian Motorcycle dealer for the Spokane and Inland Northwest market, says Allsport owner Eric Holt. Holt says he recently expanded the Allsport facility at 19595 E. Broadway wi

Acquisition accelerates rise in revenue at Rentsys Recovery Services

Old IT-Lifeline operations bolster recovery services

July 28, 2016

Linn Parish

Rentsys Recovery Services' revenue-growth pace has accelerated in the past 2 1/2 years, and the company's managing director, Walt Thomasson, attributes that growth largely to its acquisition of Liberty Lake-based IT-Lifeline Inc. Based in College St

HomeStreet expands commercial lending here

Seattle-based institution also planning retail branch

July 28, 2016

Mike McLean

HomeStreet Inc., a Seattle-based lender that does business as HomeStreet Bank, has expanded commercial lending services into Spokane and has hired financial services veterans Steve Storey and Cliff Poffenroth to lead commercial lending here. HomeStreet B

Creator of dental referral app expands network

Orthodontist here devised Refer.to to simplify process

July 28, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane creator of Refer.to, a Web application that enables dentists to send referral information digitally to colleagues and patients, has begun expanding the number of dental offices within its network. Orthodontist Josh Johnson came up with the idea

Working parents face rising child-care costs

Meantime, number of openings here declines

July 28, 2016

Blythe Thimsen

Children might be a priceless gift, but for many parents the literal financial burden is becoming much heavier as they grapple with rising child care costs. According to the Economic Policy Institute's family budget calculator, which 'measures the i

Thai Bamboo owner mulls new restaurant on South Hill

$1.5 million building would go up along 29th Avenue

July 28, 2016

The owner of Spokane-based Thai Restaurant LLC has submitted a proposal to the city of Spokane calling for a new, larger Thai Bamboo restaurant to be built at 2203 E. 29th, on the South Hill. The predevelopment application lists the estimated constructio

Magnuson Hotels 'copes with growth'

Hotel servicer focusing on its brand marketing

July 28, 2016

Mike McLean

Thomas and Melissa Magnuson, founders of Magnuson Hotels, are becoming experts at what Thomas Magnuson describes as 'coping with growth.â€ Magnuson Hotels' growth rate currently is somewhere between hyper growth associated with initial industry acce

Tomato Street might open in River Park Square

Banner suggesting arrival hangs at old Rock City

July 28, 2016

A Tomato Street restaurant banner hangs in the space that previously housed Rock City Grill restaurant on the ground level of River Park Square, suggesting that restaurant will be the next tenant. Neither River Park Square general manager Bryn West nor T