By Rocky WilsonOf the Journal of BusinessSpokane-area temporary-help and staffing agencies say theyre scrambling to find enough workers to fill demand fueled by an expanding economy here.Its an employees market, says Julie Prafke,

Gonzaga Universitys School of Engineering plans to launch a graduate-level certificate program for engineers next fall in response to growing demand for specialists in the power industry.The transmission and distribution (T&D) engineering be

The cost of auto insurance is expected to rise by just 0.5 percent this year, the smallest increase in six years, reports the Insurance Information Institute.The average cost for auto insurance nationwide for 2006 is estimated at $867, an of $4

Their Yellow Page ads tout no auto insurance problem we cant handle, no one refused, and no credit check.Theyre high-risk auto insurance brokers, and their bottom line is that anyoneeven those whove had their driving get car

The percentage of Spokane-area companies that offer employee benefits is higher than the comparable figure for the corporate sector statewide, says a report released by the Washington state Employment Security Department earlier this year. The

The Long John Silvers fast-food chain has opened an operation in the Spokane market in a space it shares with a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant just north of the Division Street Y.Matt Jankowski, who owns seven KFC franchise restaurants

Global Drug Testing Labs Inc., of Coeur dAlene, says it plans to move its headquarters to Post Falls and open a laboratory in Spokane Valley, and that it expects to expand further by adding outlets in Spokane soon.Global Drug Testing Labs to

Fluid Design Products Inc., of Spokane, says it has landed a contract to supply parts for a giant drilling machine that will be used on a tunnel project near the Niagara Falls, and that it expects to line up a contract soon for other big Design due

Iron Bridge LLC, of Spokane, has started work on a four-story parking garage at the Iron Bridge Corporate Campus, just east of the burgeoning University District. A building permit issued by the city of Spokane lists the projects value at $6

Twenty-three years ago, Paul Fishs girlfriend gave him an ultimatum: Make a go of his backpack-making businessa one-person, home-based sewing shop he called Mountain Gearor get a real job. Fish didnt know what he would do for a real in