Gavin Cooley, whose tenure as the city's first chief financial officer will come to a close when he retires in coming months, deserves accolades for his role in helping five mayoral administrations and an evolving City Council lead the city

Mead School District currently has facilities under construction valued at $22 million, says Ned Wendle, the district's director of facilities and planning. The largest project, a new 4,500 seat, 15,800-square-foot stadium and performing arts facility

A new building for Coeur d'Alene Vision Source is going up at 3879 N. Schreiber Way, in Coeur d'Alene. Construction has begun on the 4,700-square-foot, single-story building, valued at $600,000.

A new Head Start early education facility will open soon near the Logan neighborhood in northeast Spokane. Patty Allen, director of Head Start for Community Colleges of Spokane, says Logan-Lidgerwood Head Start will open Sept. 3 at 3704 N. Nevada

Drive509, a Spokane-based commercial driver's license truck driving school that's been operating here for nearly three years, plans to expand its rapidly growing operations starting next year.

The city of Spokane has launched a grant program aimed at providing training to prepare more women, minorities, and veterans for careers in the construction industry. Jason Sandobal, contract compliance and business standards officer

The Barnes Industrial Complex LLC, located at 11509 W. 21st, in Airway Heights, hopes to provide space for smaller industrial tenants with the addition of two new buildings, says owner Kraig Barnes.