Scattered examples that some industry sectors here are beginning to climb from the depths of this lengthy economic downturn aren't numerous or noteworthy enough to suggest that next year will be markedly stronger than this one has been.In fact,

Floform Countertops, a Winnipeg, Manitoba-based manufacturer, dealer, and installer of countertops, has opened a 6,000-square-foot showroom in Spokane Valley.The facility, at 5320 E. Sprague, features displays of a range of countertop materials,

Murphy Bros. Inc., of Spokane, has submitted an apparent low bid of about $1.3 million for a city of Spokane project to widen and resurface a stretch of east Francis Avenue between Freya and Havana streets in northeast Spokane.That half-mile of

Rasmussen Sports Training LLC, doing business as Ultimate Athlete Sports Performance Training Center, has leased 5,900 square feet of floor space at 1116 E. Sherman, in Coeur d'Alene, and plans to move there from leased space at 7791 N. Aqua in Ben

A book released recently by retired Spokane businessman Chris Carlson provides a nostalgic respite from the increasingly partisan bickering and lack of effective leadership that seem to so dominate politics these days.Titled, "Cecil Andrus: the

On-Top Realty adds space on East SecondOn-Top Realty Inc., a full-service real estate brokerage launched earlier this year by Nick Barnes and his grandfather, Orville Barnes, a Spokane-area commercial real estate veteran, has expanded its office

Spokane developer Rob Brewster Jr. has started Scout Tavern LLC and plans later this month to open a new restaurant by that name in a downtown building he owns.The new pub-style restaurant is slated for a 3,000-square-foot space on the main of a

Rejen Inc., a Spokane-based franchisee of Cartridge World Inc., has opened a new store in Coeur d'Alene, its fourth outlet in the Inland Northwest. Pat McCord, who owns the franchise with Ben Irwin, says the company, which sells refurbished ink

Spokane Valley-based M3K LLC is developing a Spokane Valley restaurant and sports bar called The Ref. The new business is expected to open in early February.Fred Lopez, who owns M3K and The Ref, says he's remodeling about 7,000 square feet of at

A publicized tiff over the long-planned rehabilitation of a pedestrian bridge near the Iron Bridge Corporate Campus appears to be moving toward resolution, despite a flurry of emails between a partner in the multimillion-dollar office complex and a