Latest News

WTB reports net income tripled in '10

CEO Stanton says bank expects increase in loans in '11 after three-year fall

February 24, 2011

Washington Trust Bank has posted $9.1 million in net income for 2010, up substantially from the $3 million profit it reported the previous year, but still well short of the gains it experienced in 2007 and 2008. Peter Stanton, the bank's and the

Garco to launch $35 million complex

Project near Tacoma to include 179 rental units, some retail space

February 24, 2011

Mike McLean

Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, plans to start construction in March on a $35 million, 227,000-square-foot apartment and retail complex in the city of DuPont, Wash., about 17 miles southwest of Tacoma.The project, named The Trax at DuPont,

SRTC seeks applicants for director

Board splits top position into two posts; manager Miles is invited to apply

February 24, 2011

Linn Parish

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council plans to begin searching for an executive director soon, and it's unclear whether SRTC's longtime leader Glenn Miles will remain with the organization beyond April.Gary Schimmels, chairman of SRTC's of

Energy firm opens office in Valley

GSI recruit hires Ecolite to build heating panels, test small wind turbines

February 24, 2011

Linn Parish

Global Future Energy Holdings Inc., a company affiliated with Dutch energy-technology firm Advanced Green Energy Alliance Holding, formed a U.S. subsidiary and opened its first U.S. distribution center earlier this month in Spokane Valley. The a

Rejuvenated staffing chain looks to grow

'Temporary permanent' worker demand pushes Command Center gains

February 24, 2011

Kim Crompton

Command Center Inc., a Post Falls-based temporary staffing company with 51 offices in 22 states, posted a sharp gain in revenues last year—driven heavily by employers' reluctance to hire more permanent workers—and says it will be seeking

Downtown boutiques resist sales sag

Store owners survive in tough economy, see friendly competition grow

February 24, 2011

Chey Scott

Specialty boutiques in downtown Spokane were able to come out of the recession mostly unscathed, and some even say they've fared quite well over the last few years, despite drops in consumer spending.Some downtown shop owners say they believe is

PFD expansion plan advances

Project cost put at $60 million to $70 million; 2012 vote eyed

February 24, 2011

Kim Crompton

The Spokane Public Facilities District board was to receive a final detailed report this week on plans for an estimated $60 million to $70 million expansion of the Spokane Convention Center, which the district expects to put before voters next for

Two businesses buy, will occupy former church building on Indiana

February 10, 2011

A company formed by an accounting firm and a financial planning company here has bought a 5,100-square-foot former church building at 711 W. Indiana on Spokane's North Side, and the two businesses plan to move into the two-story structure.The &

E-commerce startup here launches custom-shelf site

Shelfwire.com allows users to customize their shelving designs online

February 10, 2011

Chey Scott

Ergami LLC, a small Liberty Lake, Wash.-based e-commerce company, has launched a website, Shelfwire.com, to offer wire-shelf storage units that can be custom designed online.Ergami President Joe Felice contends the site's online design called is

Pro Heating's assets sold to employee

Renamed Pro Mechanical shifts focus to reducing customers' energy costs

February 10, 2011

Kim Frlan

Longtime Pro Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. employee Jon Vanos has bought the assets of the 25-year-old Spokane company for an undisclosed sum and renamed it Pro Mechanical Services Inc. The commercial heating, air conditioning, and ventilation