Latest News

$1.5 million project slated at Music City Building

Structure to be converted to living, commercial uses

April 13, 2017

Spokane-based developer GVD Hospitality Management Services Inc. plans to start work this month on a $1.5 million renovation project at the vacant Music City Building downtown, continuing work at its properties along the 1000 block of west First Avenue.

Small Business Watch

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April 13, 2017

Staff Report

A new full-service bicycle shop called Mojo Cyclery has opened in Spokane Valley. Located just south of Interstate 90, at 1405 N. Argonne Road, the shop specializes in bike repairs, fits, and sales. Owner and operator Morgan Johnson says he's leasin

O'Quinn to leave county post

Commissioner takes CEO job at Inland Northwest Community Foundation

April 12, 2017

Staff Report

Spokane County said this morning that Commissioner Shelly O'Quinn has accepted the position of CEO for the Inland Northwest Community Foundation and will leave the board of commissioners in June. Per state law, three candidates to replace O'Quinn w

Kootenai County building industry riding surge

Health care-related projects top high-profile construction

March 30, 2017

Mike McLean

High-profile construction projects valued at more than $210 million are planned or under way this year in Kootenai County, which has been seeing a steady surge in construction over the last few years. Multiyear residential developments potentially exceedi

Transportation spending set to increase this year

Work on the NSC picks up again, city tackles CSO tank projects

March 30, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Nearly $210 million in new and continuing transportation-related construction projects are slated for 2017 across Spokane County, an increase of $70 million from last year. The increase is likely due at least in part to a planned resumption of construct

Single-family, multifamily markets still hot

Some observers, though, foresee possible late-year softening

March 30, 2017

Kim Crompton

The residential construction market here, much like last year, is expected to continue to sizzle through the rest of this year, although a worrisome lack of developable lots and qualified subcontractors is increasingly on developers' and builders' min

School construction projects continue to bustle

Recent bond approvals will fuel work into 2021

March 30, 2017

Ned Wendle, Mead School District's director of facilities and planning, says the widespread voter approval of school bond measures two years ago was analogous to unbending a knot in a twisted yard hose with the water turned on high. 'Bonds were being

Construction momentum rolling here in 2017

Industry builds on strong permit year

March 30, 2017

Mike McLean

Coming off a year in which projects valued at well over $1 billion were issued building permits throughout Spokane County, 2017 is looking to be a strong construction year. A sampling of larger Spokane-area projects underway and planned this year totals

Douglas, Eden, Phillips, DeRuyter & Stanyer PS law firm keeps to roots despite growth

Succession, estate planning among rising practice areas

March 30, 2017

Mike McLean

Douglas, Eden, Phillips, DeRuyter & Stanyer PS has one of the longer names among Spokane law firms, but some of the members say they don't want the smallish firm to get much bigger. Douglas, Eden, Phillips, DeRuyter & Stanyer has nine lawyers, eight of

Washington Trust Bank parent posts strong growth in net income

Company sees increases in assets, loans, deposits

March 30, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

WTB Financial Corp., the Spokane-based parent of Washington Trust Bank, has reported significant full-year growth, with increases in net income, loans, deposits, and assets, for 2016. The company reported net income of $52 million for last year, up from