Government

New vision is in works for downtown Spokane

Parking, housing are focus of plan update

February 13, 2020

Parking structures replace surface parking lots in the city's core. A cultural trail through the center of downtown informs and inspires residents and visitors to a more broadly defined downtown Spokane, expanded to include the North Bank, as well as

Outside the line: Development potential along the planned City Line route

Investment most likely at bookends of downtown, along Mission Corridor

February 13, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Public investment often attracts private development, and real estate professionals here hope the planned $92.2 million City Line bus route is no exception.

State, city to upgrade energy codes this year

Washington Legislature eyeing further changes

January 30, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Builders can expect a new slew of energy-efficiency codes to kick in later this year. As they wait, the next slate of changes is already in the works.

Spring offers boost to environmental consulting

Firm's owner has desire to serve small business

January 30, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Beth Fifield Hodgson says she didn't plan to start an environmental consulting firm in which most of the staff would be made up of women. It just worked out that way. Fifield Hodgson co-owns Spring Environmental Inc., with her sister

$290 million-plus in public projects to start this year

Bridges, water expected to drive projects despite potential I-976 disruption

January 16, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Even though the passage of Initiative 976 and its subsequent court challenge have left some public projects up in the air, 2020 is expected to be another strong year of public work, with more than $290 million in activity expected to begin this year

U.S.-Japan accord bodes well for wheat farmers

Agricultural markets expected to expand

December 19, 2019

Kevin Blocker

The Washington wheat industry's 2020 forecast received a boost when the Japanese government ratified the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement at the beginning of this month. Also, at the beginning of the month, the state's apple industry went on a global

Outlaw Woman to be converted to Spokane COPS shop

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December 19, 2019

Kevin Blocker

Despite its name, the Outlaw Woman retail store at 1720 N. Ash has always been on the right side of the law. Though her formal education and training was in advertising and finance, business owner Tamra Brannon says she's always had compassion for the

Sanctions against Venezuela hit Gold Reserve hard

Sanctions block company from its operations there

December 19, 2019

Mike McLean

A cloud of uncertainty once again hangs over Gold Reserve Inc., a Canadian mining company with executive offices in Spokane. A quarterly earnings report the company released last month claims a recent escalation of international sanctions bars Gold

Spokane groups establish legislative priorities

Issues surrounding housing, health care to be focal points

December 19, 2019

Virginia Thomas

Issues and opportunities involving housing and health care top the list of priorities for Spokane-area municipalities and organizations as they prepare to make their cases at the 2020 Washington state legislative session. To bolster the housing market

Greater Spokane Incorporated launches Point 09 campaign

GSI-led effort could bring in $11M per year for economic development

December 19, 2019

Virginia Thomas

If Greater Spokane Incorporated gets its way in the next legislative session, Spokane County would receive an additional $11 million a year in economic development funding moving forward. GSI, which acts as Spokane's joint chamber of commerce