The Spokane area can expect a hefty dose of transportation spending this year, with more than $266 million in projects either under way or planned to start, including about $43 million of work on the north-south freeway thanks to more than $30 in a

Tough times can cut two ways for accounting firms that provide services to struggling industries. While many companies tend to pull back on their use of consulting services, economic uncertainty also tends to prompt businesses to make sure they a a

Joel Stehr has built his custom acoustic-guitar making business one piece of wood and steel string at a time.A mostly self-taught guitar crafter, he runs his Spokane-based business, Stehr Guitars, from his South Hill home. His musical pieces of a

Architects and engineers here mostly say a normally steadily flowing pipeline of projects has slowed markedly, as the recession takes its toll on private investment, and public entities hold off on some work while awaiting word on possible federal

Two federally funded organizations that assist manufacturers here say the tough economy is driving more such companies to seek their help because of diminishing sales.The two organizations, Mukilteo, Wash.-based Washington Manufacturing which an

After a number of years of reduced funding, and following a precipitous drop in loan volume last year, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Spokane District is expecting an upturn in activity under the Obama administration.The stimulus bill