Latest News

Unit of Spokane Valley manufacturer Wagstaff grows

Applied Technologies unit doubled sales last year

January 5, 2012

Wagstaff Applied Technologies, a division of Spokane Valley-based manufacturer Wagstaff Inc., has in the works several sizable projects, including two multimillion-dollar contracts with the U.S. Department of Energy, that will keep it busy steady a

In the News

January 5, 2012

Dec. 30 / Condon names city administratorSpokane Mayor David Condon, who officially took office Jan. 1, named Theresa Sanders as administrator for the city of Spokane, the city's highest appointed position. Sanders worked for the city under a as

Calendar

January 5, 2012

Meetings & EventsThe Spokane chapter of Executive Women International will hold an educational forum open to the public on Friday, Jan. 6, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. David Horsager, author of

Lumber market to remain sluggish

December 15, 2011

Kim Crompton

The wood products industry shows little sign yet of emerging from the protracted slump it has endured, although it could see slight improvement next year.Spokane-based Potlatch Corp., which has about 1.5 million acres of timberland and also has

Commodity markets mostly look favorable

December 15, 2011

Chey Scott

Prospects look generally positive for commodities produced in the Inland Northwest, although wheat—an important crop here—could face some tough challenges in the coming year.Phil DiPofi, president and CEO of big Spokane-based ag lender

Retailers here foresee slow improvement

December 15, 2011

Chey Scott

Retail spending volumes here haven't changed much in the last year, and Inland Northwest industry observers say that they anticipate activity slowly will continue improving through 2012 as effects of the recession linger."In the minds of the are

Tourism here expected to increase

December 15, 2011

Chey Scott

Inland Northwest tourism leaders accurately foresaw no increase in the number of visitor-attracting events here this year, but they predict that travel likely will pick up the pace again next year. They say, though, that 2012 activity isn't to &

Better results expected in '12, bankers say

December 15, 2011

Treva Lind

Spokane-area bankers say 2012 is expected to usher in slightly better results for financial institutions after seeing some improvement in 2011, but they sprinkle any projections with caution based on the economy's lingering uncertainty.They cite

A few sectors said to continue leading recovery

December 15, 2011

Mike McLean

Health care, tourism, and manufacturing will continue to lead economic growth in Kootenai County, while the real estate market there likely will see tepid improvement at best in the coming year, some North Idaho observers say.Kootenai County's a

Health care isn't recession proof, faces challenges

December 15, 2011

Treva Lind

Tough economic times have tapped on the shoulder of the region's health care sector this year, an industry that in past recessions held steady. The destabilizing impact of the struggling economy is expected to carry into 2012.Industry leaders in