Technology

Students 4 Seniors bridges the tech gap

Startup here pairs computer-savvy students with seniors

July 28, 2016

Spokane Students 4 Seniors is putting the skills of tech-savvy students to use, teaching technology to seniors in the community. After a brief testing period in 2014, founder Angela Quadry decided in May of this year to start the business, which is a sol

Acquisition accelerates rise in revenue at Rentsys Recovery Services

Old IT-Lifeline operations bolster recovery services

July 28, 2016

Linn Parish

Rentsys Recovery Services' revenue-growth pace has accelerated in the past 2 1/2 years, and the company's managing director, Walt Thomasson, attributes that growth largely to its acquisition of Liberty Lake-based IT-Lifeline Inc. Based in College St

Creator of dental referral app expands network

Orthodontist here devised Refer.to to simplify process

July 28, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane creator of Refer.to, a Web application that enables dentists to send referral information digitally to colleagues and patients, has begun expanding the number of dental offices within its network. Orthodontist Josh Johnson came up with the idea

Itron invests in STEM education curriculum

Course details relationship between energy and water

July 14, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Throughout its history, Liberty Lake-based Itron Inc. has encouraged utilities to invest in automated meter-reading equipment and other technologies that improve efficiency and conservation. Now, the company also is encouraging students to invest in STE

Farm microbe producer to move to new building

Tainio Technology to put its operations under one roof

June 30, 2016

Mike McLean

Tainio Technology & Technique Inc., a Cheney-based pioneer of biological agricultural and farm products, has broken ground on a new $1.5 million headquarters building, says Amy Becker, the company's vice president of marketing. The 15,000-square-foot b

E-payment center plans move to larger Valley space

Merchant e-Solutions now employs 90 people here

June 30, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Merchant e-Solutions Inc. plans to move its Spokane Valley operations center to a larger, more open office space this summer. Nearing the end of its lease at 920 N. Argonne Road, the Atlanta-based electronic payment acceptance and management company, pl

Sterling International debuts clip-on repellent

Wearable device releases anti-mosquito fragrance

June 30, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane Valley-based Sterling International Inc. has debuted its latest product, a clip-on mosquito repellent. Called the GoClip, the device is designed to fend off insects while attached to a shirt collar, waistband, shorts pocket, hat, or lanyard. S

Developer Ron Wells expects two-year delay for Ridpath project

Redevelopment awaits bankruptcy resolution

June 30, 2016

Mike McLean

Spokane developer Ron Wells says he has fresh financing and strong local and state support to convert the shuttered Ridpath Hotel into a downtown housing complex, but he's bracing for another two-year delay in getting the project started. 'We have a

Tech innovation booster buys Coeur d'Alene Elks Building

New owner plans to add space, renovate structure

June 16, 2016

Mike McLean

A group led by Innovation Collective LLC owner Nick Smoot has bought the long-vacant Elks Building in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Smoot says the building will be home to Coeur d'Alene-based Innovation Collective activities, including teaching, mentoring,

Inland Northwest aerospace hiring expected to cool

Sector is slowing to 'catch its breath,' economist says

June 16, 2016

Inland Northwest aerospace manufacturers and industry observers expect hiring within the sector to slow in the next few years. Doug Tweedy, Spokane-based regional economist for the Washington state Employment Security Department, says hiring in aerospace