Thirty years ago Blackie, Lucky, Shadow, and Spot were common names for the family dog. Nowadays, mans best friend is more likely to be dubbed Lucy, Jimmy, or Samnames usually reserved for human members of the family. The names reflect

A Spokane venture-capital fund that has its roots in the Momentum economic-development movement has received a federal license that gives it access to $22 million in additional investment fundsincreasing the pool of capital that it and a to

A consortium of banks that do business in Spokane and North Idaho is being formed to finance construction of speculative commercial buildings to boost economic development here and in North Idaho.Nine banks in Spokane, three in North and a

Advanced Hardware Architectures Inc., a Pullman, Wash., company that designs and markets specialized computer chips, has laid off half of its 80 employees. The late-July cutbacks affected all of the companys departments.Asian flu came

Sherman Enterprises, of Hayden, Idaho, says it hopes to build a nine-acre shopping center as part of a 32-acre development it plans at the southeast corner of U.S. 95 and state Route 54, at Athol, Idaho, as early as next year.Developer of

Financially struggling Alloy Trailers Inc., of Spokane, is seeking U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval here to sell its assets to California-based Alliance LLC for between about $2.2 million and $2.8 million.A hearing on the matter is scheduled

Itronix Corp., of Spokane, has named a new chief executive officer to succeed Steve Gevurtz, who stepped down earlier this year.The new CEO, David C. Dayton, a 28-year veteran of the electronics industry, joined 6-year-old Itronix late one

Spokane developer Joe Stanek says he is developing a $7 million to $8 million shopping center at the northwest corner of U.S. 2 and Mount Spokane Park Drive in the Mead area that apparently will be anchored by an Albertsons Inc. project, be

Focus 21, Spokanes new five-year economic-development effort, has allocated $882,000 for projects aimed at achieving its goal of creating 10,000 good-paying jobs here between 1997 and 2002. One of the projects involves development of a A

Randy May sits quietly next to his pickup and trailer, watching traffic at one of Spokanes busiest intersections whiz by. Occasionally, he catches someone pointing at one of the dozens of birdhouses lined up on a row of tables in front a