Latest News

Steady SBA loan demand expected

Recently implemented incentives encourage post-recession growth, Inland Northwest lenders say

February 2, 2012

New loan incentives available through the U.S. Small Business Administration are keeping the total SBA loan volume here above pre-recession levels, despite the depletion of stimulus measures that spurred lending in 2010, some lenders here without a

Equipment acquisitions could rise

Uncertainty over markets abroad, other factors also prevalent, top 10 list says

February 2, 2012

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association's top 10 equipment acquisition trends for 2012 predicts growth in the $628 billion industry in the coming year, along with some uncertainty. Every year, the association says, U.S. businesses, and in

An educational dividend

Teams of students invest $50,000 each during school year, gain insights into market

February 2, 2012

Treva Lind

Investing in education has a little different meaning for a class of nine seniors in Gonzaga University's School of Business Administration.Class members have their hands on real money—typically $100,000 split between two teams—to in &

Restaurant near Hope to fall for highway bridge

Trestle Creek Inn stands in right of way for planned improvements, ITD says

February 2, 2012

Mike McLean

The Idaho Transportation Department is in the final stages of acquiring the Trestle Creek Inn building and plans to demolish the longtime night club near Hope, Idaho, to make way for highway improvements, says Barbara Babic, ITD spokeswoman.The

Condron Homes starts 'Made in America' push

Builder: Most imported materials can be sourced from U.S. manufacturers

February 2, 2012

Mike McLean

Prominent Spokane homebuilder Condron Homes LLC is constructing a home with all American-made materials and plans to expand the concept to all of the homes the company builds in the future, says Corey Condron, the company's owner.Home was to at

HomeStreet takes offices, hires ex-MetLife loan staff

Seattle lender now has three locations here after competitor's departure

February 2, 2012

Chey Scott

Seattle-based HomeStreet Inc., which operates as HomeStreet Bank, earlier this week began doing business at two former MetLife Home Loans offices in the Spokane area.Shawn Sterling, a Spokane-based branch manager for MetLife Home Loans, says has

Hotel facelift gains momentum - Art only

February 2, 2012

Vandervert Construction Inc., of Spokane, is well under way on a $1.5 million exterior upgrade at the Holiday Inn Express located on a basalt outcropping just north of downtown Spokane, at 801 N. Division. Designed by Steven Meek Architects, of the

Small Business Watch

February 2, 2012

Hobby shop to open in Garland districtNitro Killers, a hobby shop that sells remote-controlled cars and trucks, is slated to open in March in the Garland District, on Spokane's North Side.Husband-and-wife team Austin and Shannon Else a at W.

Shoe repairer adds shop on North Side

February 2, 2012

Richard Vogt, owner and operator of the One Stop Shoe Shop, at 503 E. 30th on Spokane's South Hill, says he has opened a second outlet, near the Division Y on the North Side.The new shop occupies a 600-square-foot leased space at 9433 N. in the

North Idaho grocers erect 12th store in Bonners Ferry

Super 1 outlet to hire about 85 employees; June opening planned

February 2, 2012

Mike McLean

Manito Super 1 Foods Inc., a Spokane company owned by Hayden-based, father-and-son grocers Ron and Randy McIntire, is constructing a supermarket in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, it 12th overall.The project cost will total about $10 million, including 1