Government

Up to $100 million sewer project takes step forward

City solicits engineers to submit qualifications

February 13, 2014

The city of Spokane is seeking proposals from engineering firms for design and construction management of an estimated $80 million to $100 million upgrade at the city's Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility sewage-treatment plant. Marlene Feist, th

Marijuana businesses pose risk to banksâ€”for now

Financial institutions follow federal laws, await clarity

January 30, 2014

Katie Ross

Financial institutions in Washington state are anticipating federal guidance on how best to navigate the precarious issue of state law versus federal law in regard to allowing marijuana businesses access to traditional banking services. That question h

Low-impact development said to be in higher demand

Landscape architect reports more inquiries about environmentally friendly architecture

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Landscape architect Len Zickler, a principal in the Spokane office of Tacoma-based AHBL Inc., says the company is seeing more requests to design environmentally friendly infrastructure to manage stormwater drainage. He expects this approach, called low-

Integrus Architecture designs embassy compound to be built in northern Africa

Other firms here to work on $131 million project

January 30, 2014

Mike McLean

The U.S. State Department has awarded a $131 million contract to a design-and-construction team that includes Integrus Architecture PS, of Spokane, as the architect of record for a new U.S. embassy compound to be constructed in the northwestern African co

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

Foreclosures climbed in Spokane County last year

County tallies record defaults despite gains in home sales

January 16, 2014

Mike McLean

Foreclosure actions completed in Spokane County swelled to a record level in 2013 following a four-year low in 2012, despite other indicators of improving real estate market trends. Last year, the Spokane County Auditor's Office recorded 1,211 foreclos

Bankruptcies in Eastern Washington, North Idaho fall for third straight year

Spokane, Cd'A attorneys expect trend to continue

January 16, 2014

Katie Ross

Bankruptcy filings fell again in Eastern Washington and North Idaho last year, marking the third year in a row that they've declined. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court's Eastern District of Washington reported 5,057 cases filed in 2013, down 7 percent from

Spokane Transit Authority eyes big West Plains project

$12 million transit center aimed at boosting capacity, efficiency

January 16, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane Transit Authority is in the early stages of planning for a $12 million West Plains transit center aimed at increasing passenger capacity and better connecting small cities west of Spokane. STA is seeking outside engineering and design consultants

Jobs to continue to grow here, though possibly at slower rate

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December 19, 2013

Linn Parish

The rate of growth, however, might not keep pace with this year, says Grant Forsyth, regional labor economist for Spokane-based Avista Corp. He's projecting a 1.5 percent increase in employment next year in Spokane and Kootenai counties, which would be

Inland Northwest economy continues to make positive strides

While some industries face challenges, others report return to prerecession levels

December 19, 2013

Linn Parish

In some sectors of the Inland Northwest economy, activity levels are returning to prerecession levels, welcome news that comes none too soon for economic observers. In overall employment, Spokane-area economists are expecting job growth next year, though