Latest News

Idaho bank's earnings hit $9 million

Mountain West's profits slipped some, but assets, loans grew during 2008

February 12, 2009

Mountain West Bank, of Coeur d'Alene, has announced earnings of $9.07 million for 2008, down 35.6 percent from its profits in 2007.For the fourth quarter, the bank posted earnings of $2.14 million, down $1.3 million from the fourth quarter of as

Berg Cos. opens Cd'A office, plans facility in Post Falls

Vying for federal contracts, company looks to break ground before year's end

February 12, 2009

Ben Rascoff

The Spokane Valley-based Berg Cos. recently opened a Coeur d'Alene sales and marketing office and hopes to begin construction of a manufacturing facility in Post Falls before the end of the year, says Lindsey McDonough, company spokeswoman.She a

Two industrial park tenants juggle facilities to add space

Tire wholesaler, sheet-metal fabricator expand at SBIP

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Two tenants of the Spokane Business & Industrial Park, in Spokane Valley, say they are increasing the amount of space they lease there. One of the two, sheet metal fabricator Apex Industries Inc., is expanding into a more than 14,000-square-foot

Restoring pieces from the past

February 12, 2009

Ben Rascoff

Veteran woodworker Russell Rapp's business, Capital Antique Restoration, is one of a dozen or more furniture repair and refinishing shops in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area, but its name belies a unique history that encompasses historical artifacts

Furniture store to close after yearlong effort

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Horizon Furniture Inc., of Spokane Valley, says it plans to close its doors next month after a year of efforts to cut costs as the furniture industry here has struggled. The 12-year-old furniture retailer has seen business suffer with the times,

Wandermere Fred Meyer to be remodeled

Boise company hired as contractor for $10 million project, work to begin soon

February 12, 2009

David Cole

Fred Meyer Stores, of Portland, has hired Boise-based Engineered Structures Inc. (ESI) as the general contractor to do a $10 million remodel of its store north of Spokane near Wandermere Mall.Caroline Pavlinik, business development director for

Purcell cuts 28 workers, rehires 10

Outdoor cabinet maker saw sales slump to end year, rebound last month

February 12, 2009

David Cole

Purcell Systems Inc., a maker of outdoor cabinets and enclosures for telecommunications equipment, laid off 28 people early last month, but since has brought back 10 of those employees on a temporary basis, says CEO Pete Chase.The layoff was a a

Sterling sees '09 return to profitability

Spokane financial company won't provide guidance on expected level of profit

February 12, 2009

Richard Ripley

Sterling Financial Corp. expects to return to profitability this year after posting a steep loss in 2008, but says it won't provide guidance to investors on how much profit it might earn in 2009.Dan Byrne, the company's executive vice president

Real estate agent ranksdwindle here

Trend in people leaving realty business follows big slump in home sales

February 12, 2009

Mike McLean

Following a steep decline in home sales here, the ranks of real estate agents also are thinning out.Rob Higgins, executive officer of the Spokane Association of Realtors, estimates that membership in the association has fallen to 1,950 today, a

Job lull rocks temp agencies

Staffing industry takes a nosedive in difficult economy

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

The number of temporary positions available in Spokane is way down and is following a national downturn in the industry, say temporary staffing representatives here.Nationally, the temp industry has been bleeding jobs for more than a year, losing