Special Report

Umpqua's Sterling acquisition is part of larger trend

More banks likely to merge in regulatory environment

January 30, 2014

As Portland, Ore.-based Umpqua Holding Corp. and Spokane-based Sterling Financial Corp. await regulatory approval of the proposed merger of their respective banks, it's a good time to pause and consider how the financial landscape is shifting in both th

Inland Northwest public companies show growth in 2013 index

Bank stocks perform well; Coldwater Creek plummets

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Hart Capital Management Inc., a Spokane-based investment firm, says the stock value of 14 publicly traded Inland Northwest companies rose just over 12 percent last year in an overall index, but still lagged behind the Standard & Poor 500's nearly 30 per

RiverBank is back to 'playing offense'

Institution profitable again, expects FDIC to terminate consent order soon

January 30, 2014

Kim Crompton

RiverBank, an eight-year-old bank here that has sought to differentiate itself in the competitive local financial market by offering concierge services to mostly small-business and commercial clients here, says it returned to profitability last year and i

Inland Northwest lenders undergo repo reduction

'Dramatic improvement' said tied to optimism in economy

January 30, 2014

Mike McLean

Financial institutions have reduced greatly the amount of repossessed real estate on their books following the Great Recession. Scott Southwick, chief credit officer for Spokane-based Inland Northwest Bank, says nonperforming assets, which include reposs

AEastern therapies used as alternative treatments

New Moon Family Wellness Center uses acupuncture, other methods

January 16, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane acupuncturist and East Asian medical practitioner Rebekah Giangreco says she strives to help women find solutions to what ails both mind and body, naturally. The New Moon Family Wellness Center, which is owned by Giangreco and her husband, Antho

Long-planned Millwood church project takes shape

$1.2 million facility addition is slated to be finished in May

January 16, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane architectural firm Blue Room Architecture & Design PS has teamed up with Rockin' DW Construction Inc., of Spokane, and Kennewick-based R.E.A. Commercial LLC to design and build a $1.2 million multipurpose building that will attach to a church in

Mullan Road school remodel set to start this spring on South Hill

Spokane contractors team up to handle $17 million project

January 16, 2014

Treva Lind

Spokane Public Schools has selected WLK Joint Ventures, a Spokane-based partnership of Walker Construction Inc. and Leone & Keeble Inc., as general contractor and construction manager for a Mullan Road Elementary School renovation and addition project. G

Graham-led consortium wins large Denver project

$343 million contract calls for laying light-rail line

January 16, 2014

Treva Lind

A design-build consortium led by the Canadian parent company of Spokane Valley-based Graham Construction & Management Inc. has won a $343 million contract to design and build about 15 miles of a light-rail line in Denver. Tim Loucks, Spokane Valley-based

Deer Park business park clears key funding hurdle

City approves bond to help fund launch of first phase

January 16, 2014

Katie Ross

The first phase of a long-envisioned Deer Park Business & Industrial Center project finally is moving forward after the Deer Park City Council approved a $1.3 million local improvement district bond last month. Bob Lee, owner of Deer Park-based Centennia

Blew's Construction wins Spokane Valley Tech remodel

Second-phase work to include labs, classrooms

January 16, 2014

Treva Lind

Blew's Construction Inc., of Spokane Valley, has won a $1 million contract for a second phase of remodeling work at Spokane Valley Tech, a technical- and career-based learning center for high school students. Blew's started construction on Dec. 16 to