Fred Brown, a serial entrepreneur and early innovator in the artificial intelligence arena, is taking his newest AI venture to market and expects to ramp up quickly.

The Spokane-Coeur d'Alene aerospace tech hub has received $48 million in federal funding.

The Coeur d’Alene-based nonprofit originally known as Jobs Plus, which was formed in 1987 to help diversify the economy in Kootenai County, has become more selective in business recruitment and more involved in housing and labor issues in recent years.

Funding for emerging companies is in a lull, but overall, the Inland Northwest’s startup ecosystem is growing, and that growth is expected to continue in 2025.

“We are at a growth inflection point.” 

Shane Johnson 

CarbonQuest Inc. 

$36M

Estimated capital raised in Series A funding. 

Following a 22-year career with Key Tronic Corp. and serving in several financial roles, Brett Larsen has taken the reins as the new CEO and president of the Spokane Valley-based contract manufacturer.