Columbia Banking System Inc., the Tacoma, Wash.-based parent of Columbia State Bank, has signed an agreement to merge into its operations Intermountain Community Bancorp, the Sandpoint-based company that operates Intermountain Community Bank and Panhandle

Great Falls, Mont.-based Western lifestyle retailer Big R Stores has started work on a $4 million expansion of its Coeur d'Alene store. The expansion project will add 50,000 square feet of floor space to the store at 170 E. Kathleen, nearly tripling it

A California-based contractor and real estate developer has obtained building permits for 20 duplex structures valued at $124,800 each in north Coeur d'Alene.

The Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board has launched a $14.5 million phase of upgrades at its wastewater treatment plant on the Rathdrum Prairie to help it comply with new pollution standards under its federal discharge permit, says Ken Windram, the board'

An affiliate of Sycamore Partners, a New York-based private-equity firm that owns Aeropostale, Hot Topic, Talbots, and a number of other retail chains, announced that it has acquired the Coldwater Creek brand and related intellectual property. Sycam

International call center and business outsourcing company Qualfon Inc. has acquired Center Partners Inc., the Fort Collins, Colo.-based call center with outlets in Liberty Lake and North Idaho. Brian Kearney, a Denver-based spokesman for Qualfon, dec

BC Engineers Inc., a Hayden, Idaho, structural engineering company, has purchased the assets of Northwest Roof Consultants Inc., of Coeur d'Alene, and has created a roof consulting division, says Jason Erickson, vice president of BC Engineers. BC En

Spokane-based Professional Realty Services Inc., a growing residential real estate brokerage, recently added 17 agents at its Spokane offices, says J.W. Webb, the company's president and designated broker. The company also plans to expand its presence