AmericanWest Bank, the main operating subsidiary of Spokane-based AmericanWest Bancorp, says it will grow its operations in Eastern Washington by opening branches in Airway Heights and College Place, Wash.AmericanWest has submitted applications

Community bankers here largely disagree with a recent national survey of their contemporaries that says 60 percent of such bankers believe there are too many branches in the markets they serve.Even Kurt Gustavel, president and chief operating a

The Washington state Employment Security Department says its efforts to help agricultural employers find workers are getting results. Through its WorkSource offices in 21 counties, the agency says it has provided more than 13,000 job referrals

The organic food industry is growing at a rapid pace in the U.S., and agricultural experts here say Washington states organic food production reflects that trend, as does rising demand from Spokane-area consumers for the food.Organic food and

A 40-year-old Spokane company that started as a corn-dog maker and evolved into a fruit-juice packager with revenues projected at $40 million this year says it will seek to make further acquisitions and eventually could become a national company, a

Linda Waali and Chris Dever say it was passionpassion for America, U.S. military history, and gunsthat brought them from the Seattle area to Spokane about 1 1/2 years ago to invest everything they had in a retail venture. The two women, 38

Spokane construction concern Max J. Kuney Co. has been awarded a $17.2 million state contract to build six bridges along the planned north-south freeway route beginning in August.All of the bridges are to be constructed north of Francis Avenue,

Wilbert Precast Inc., the 100-year-old Spokane-based concrete-products manufacturer, has bought the assets of Yakima Precast Inc., a concrete-products maker in Yakima, Wash.Dan Houk, president of Wilbert Precast, says the company completed the

Columbia Paint & Coatings Inc., the Spokane-based manufacturer and retailer of paints and coatings, has opened an outlet in Ellensburg, Wash., giving it 39 stores overall.The store occupies a 6,000-square-foot, leased building at 710 N. in the

Medford, Ore.-based Lithia Motors Inc., which owns Spokanes Camp Automotive Inc., says its in the process of buying land in Liberty Lake possibly to build a new facility for its Mercedes-Benz dealership here.The automobile-dealership chain