Health-plan costs for Spokane-area businesses are rising this year mostly in the single-digit to low double-digit percentage range, which is slightly lower than the rate hikes businesses experienced in 2005.Representatives of several of the say

Making the vocational leap from being an electrical engineer on nuclear power plants to pushing sub sandwiches was a dramatic change, but Spokanes Gary Turnidge says its one he doesnt regret.Recognizing in 1987 that the construction of on

Garco Building Systems, Washingtons largest metal-building manufacturer, is expecting to grow even more rapidly after racking up record revenue of nearly $35 million in 2005, says Bill Savitz, its president and CEO.The West Plains company is

If SIRTI were the petri-dish subject of a microscopic examination, it would be quite a sightmolecules darting about, gathering in new clusters, and transforming before your eyes. Perhaps the only constant these days at the Spokane Intercollegiate

Sams Club, the members-only warehouse-store chain operated by retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is coming to Spokane.Eric Berger, a Seattle-based Wal-Mart spokesman, says that plans submitted to the city of Spokane for an $11.7 million, on a

Although the Spokane Convention Centers big new exhibit hall wont open until mid-year, tourism experts here project a successful year for that industry in 2006, and an even better year in 2007.A nationwide resurgence in hotel occupancy and

The Portland-based Western Wood Products Association anticipates that demand for wood products will decline modestly next year, but even if it falls as much as the association projects, 2006 still wouldnt be a bad year.Its a matter of Butch

Two stalwarts of Eastern Washingtons agricultural industry, wheat and cattle, likely will continue to head in different directions in 2006, ag experts say.The Inland Northwest wheat industry, hurt by high fuel and fertilizer costs as well as

Precious metals prices have surged faster than expected this year and are showing no signs of slowing in 2006, mining executives say. Consequently, some Inland Northwest mining companies are looking to ramp up exploration efforts or production or a

CEOs at the Spokane areas bigger high-technology companies expect that the stronger revenues their companies enjoyed this year will continue in 2006.Dave Curry, president and CEO of World Wide Packets, the Spokane Valley maker of devices for