Despite potential challenges posed by recent upticks in interest rates, Mike Hogan, loan officer and branch manager for Spokane-based Chimney Rock Mortgage LLC, says he believes there are still opportunities for growth in Spokane's home lending markets.

Despite rising interest rates, applications for home equity loans, such as home equity lines of credit, have remained consistent and even increased some throughout the past year, some Spokane-area lending experts say. David Flood, chief lending officer a

Following the launch of commercial lending services here barely two years ago, Seattle-based HomeStreet Bank recently opened its first retail branch in Spokane, where it has consolidated both its commercial and retail services, says Steve Storey, senior v

Spokane-based startup accelerator Ignite Northwest has begun its sixth round of business-growth education and coaching with 11 companies based here. CEOs from the companies began their 13-week session on Feb. 6, says Ignite Northwest CEO Bill Savitz. In

Organizers, supporters, and participants in this year's Northwest Entrepreneur Competition are eager to see who will join the ranks of past winners that have become successful Spokane companies, such as etailz Inc. and Photoboxx. Typically, between 70

In recent years, Spokane has seen a handful of local startup companies grow into successful ventures resulting in benefits for both their founding entrepreneurs as well as early investors. Those who follow news of startup successes may have wondered wh

Recent growth in Washington state's potato industry has helped to fuel an increase in demand for the services provided by the Spokane Valley office of Cascade Earth Sciences, says Steve Venner, the Washington regional manager based here. Last year'

With the bustling economy and plethora of resulting construction projects, Waste Connections Inc.'s two Spokane County transfer stations have seen a steady increase of the amount of municipal solid waste dropped off, says Bill Stansberry, district manag

The popularity of LEED certification programs has diminished in recent years as building and energy codes have strengthened, some Spokane-area engineers and architects say. LEED, short for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a certification p

A college job at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute translated into a passion for intercultural communication for Amber McKenzie, and that passion led her around the world and back again. In September, McKenzie, 42, launched Natural Awakenings Inland North