Three and a half years ago, Itron Inc. proved that it wasnt afraid to take big bites when it agreed to spend $255 million to buy Schlumberger Electricity Metering, a leader in the North American electric meter market.Now, in a move that makes

A little more than a year ago, Michael Igo thought he would have to close his struggling West Plains knife and cutlery business. Then, he sought help from Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs microenterprise development program. Since then, he to

Late payments for most consumer loans rose in the third quarter of 2006, says the latest American Bankers Associations Consumer Credit Delinquency Bulletin, released last month. ABAs quarterly survey of more than 300 banks nationwide tracks

When Mark Sonderen was seeking funding for new equipment to expand production at Sonderen Packaging here, his banker recommended that the longtime paperboard carton maker seek financing through whats called an industrial revenue bond.Such is

For the second year in a row, the percentage of Washington employers that offer health insurance declined, according to a 2006 benefits survey released last week by the state Employment Security Department.The percentage of employers offering a

Spokanes tight labor market, with the countys average annual unemployment rate at 5.6 percent in 2005 and 5 percent last year, hasnt spurred employers here to sweeten their benefit packages noticeably yet to attract the workers they need, say

Payne Financial Group Inc., a Missoula, Mont.-based insurance brokerage that operates a growing office here, says Spokanes strong economy has been helping drive its robust, companywide growth. At the same time, the company, which has its top

A new Spokane Valley company named Independence Home Center Inc. has opened a Fleetwood Homes manufactured-home dealership just south of Interstate 90 near Barker Road.Peter Zeman, who owns Independence Home Center, says the new dealership is a

Inland Power & Light Co. says it is considering developing a 25,000-square-foot administrative building on the West Plains, near its main warehouse and maintenance facility, and moving its headquarters there from 320 E. Second, where its offices it

Servatron Inc., a Spokane Valley-based contract electronics manufacturer, says that after experiencing flat revenue growth in 2006, it expects to make strong gains this year and is adding floor space at its plant to prepare for future company has a