When the manufacturing sector is strong, communities become stronger, and families are lifted into the middle class. Employees in the manufacturing sector earn an average annual wage of more than $72,000, or roughly 30 percent more than the average wage

Increases to wage requirements for salaried employees stand to affect businesses and nonprofits profoundly-arguably more so than minimum wage hikes.

Cole's Bakery & Café plans to expand its store at 521 E. Holland into the newly vacated neighboring space previously occupied by Italian restaurant, Lasagna's-On-Ya. Cole's is a full-service restaurant that offers a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu

Coeur d'Alene Cider Co. plans to open a cider house and bottle shop east of downtown Coeur d'Alene early next year. Owner Jill Morrison says she started the company last year and currently operates a production cidery at 3909 Schreiber Way

Professional heavyweight boxer Chauncy Welliver has moved his fitness boxing gym, Hillyard Hammers Boxfit, to a new space at 126 E. Wellesley, across from the NorthTown Mall. Welliver co-owns the business with Jacob Ruffin, another former boxer

A new brewery, to be named Brick West Beer, is on tap on the west end of downtown Spokane at 1312 W. First. The project is being developed by two sets of brothers-Jordan and Joel Tampien, co-owners of 4 Degrees Real Estate, and Matt and Ryan Goodwin.

Spokane-based Mind to Market LLC, an idea-stage accelerator and investment fund created to support startup companies, says it has provided its first $200,000 in funding to help grow five Inland Northwest startups.