A dew-covered sprig of wheat reaches for the sun on Wheatland Banks recently released annual report, which proclaims the seeds are planted.The message is on the money, for Wheatland has put up a number of promising new seedlings, more than

Some of the shock waves that have rolled out in virtually every direction from Enron Corp. since it filed for protection from creditors Dec. 2 are being felt here at Avista Corp.Enrons bankruptcy filing constituted a default under contracts of

AmericanWest Bank, of Spokane, plans to open four new facilities in the Spokane area and North Idaho this year and hopes to move its downtown-Spokane branch next year into a sizable new building that it says developers are planning to construct in

For the last several years, Sterling Savings Bank has reminded investors repeatedly that its transforming itself into a community bank and moving away from its roots as a savings and loan association.Now, the big Spokane institution is its the

After years of battling dwindling precious-metals prices, dimming U.S. exploration prospects, and a decline in its own share price, Coeur dAlene Mines Corp. might have unearthed richer diggings.The company says that two mineral deposits in the

The group thats investigating building a biodiesel-processing plant here says it expects to have completed a draft business plan for the project in 90 days and hopes construction will start on the facility in early 2003.While the group has no

Most businesspeople here would welcome a new insurance operation that employed 1,000 people, a communications company that hired 500, or an accounting and back-office operation that provided 450 jobs.Such active prospects are looking at the

Sterling Savings Bank, of Spokane, has opened a corporate banking center in downtown Portland to seek business from small to mid-sized companies there.Sterling says the center offers a wide array of corporate banking services, as well as an

With the regional energy supply improving, Avista Utilities says it should have adequate power to serve its customers this winter.Dick Storro, the Spokane utilitys manager of wholesale marketing, says hes comfortable with the companys on a

A newly formed Spokane company has opened a marketing and distribution operation here and plans to open three more such operations here, in the Tri-Cities, and in the Seattle area. The company, Aris Marketing Inc., expects to employ a total of 80 a