There are threads of optimism in nearly every economic sector here as the year comes to a close. Whether Inland Northwest businesses can weave them into significant economic gains in 2003, only time will tell. At the least, the consensus opinion is

A 4-year-old Spokane company that cut its teeth assembling computer servers and workstations for schools and colleges, expects now to ride a wave of growth making digital video recorders for a big international electronics manufacturer.The PC a

Payne Financial Group Inc., a Missoula, Mont.-based insurance and financial services agency, quietly has opened a Spokane office and hired some veteran agents from other agencies offices here. Payne opened its Spokane office about three ago,

Window Products Inc., the big Spokane vinyl-window manufacturer, is moving its headquarters to Liberty Lake because the company is growing so quickly its overflowing its current central office. Window Products plans to move in February into

Pawn 1 Inc., the Spokane-based pawn-shop chain that launched an aggressive expansion strategy seven years ago and grew to nine stores, now is scaling back its growth plans after experiencing cash-flow problems of its own and ending a lengthy with a

Plans are being discussed for a 15,000-seat domed stadium that would be built on property near the Northern Quest Casino, in Airway Heights.Tim Bainter, who owns the Spokane Nightmare semiprofessional football team here and is involved in the a

Familian Northwest Inc., a Newport News, Va.-based mechanical- and industrial-supply distributor, has leased a 57,000-square-foot building and five adjoining acres in the Spokane Valley for its main Spokane facility.The company plans to start

A few months after finishing work on a 140-unit student-housing facility to serve Eastern Washington University, ConoverBond LLC, a Spokane development company headed by Rob Brewster Jr., is eyeing more projects in Cheney.Brewster says the has

When Kevin Cronkhite finished his high school class requirements in Bakersfield, Calif., one year sooner than most kids, his father, Fred, decided to enroll the 16-year-old in some vocational classes rather than send him off to college early. long

The Spokane Area Economic Development Council and the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce will ask the state Legislature this coming session to give counties the authority to levy a voter-approved sales tax to support economic development. The a a