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

TelStar Associates Inc., a Boise-based computer-services company, says it plans this summer to open a Spokane office that could employ up to 30 people.TelStar is close to reaching an agreement with two companies here that would use its says and

Two Spokane construction companies and a Portland, Ore., company thats involved in expanding the Spokane Convention Center are the three finalists for a contract to do the first two phases of planned upgrades at Washington State Universitys in

The city of Spokane Valley has hired a consulting team to draft a plan for growth and change along the Sprague-Appleway corridor that runs through the middle of the city.Work on the $430,000 study has begun, and is expected to be completed late

Three years ago, Sturm Heating Inc. decided to take a big step in growing its longtime furnace repair and replacement business by expanding into plumbing, electrical, and new-home installations.Grow it did. The now 61-year-old Spokane company a