David Cole

Cabinet maker cuts staff as sales weaken

Huntwood Industries opens 'showcase' to pump up sales

November 20, 2008

Huntwood Industries Inc., the Liberty Lake-based cabinet manufacturer, says it has reduced the size of its full-time work force by about 9 percent over the last few months due in part to weaker sales this year.Separately, Huntwood says it has to

City takes steps to update its aging regulations on signs

Draft code that includes some added restrictions to go to Plan Commission

November 20, 2008

David Cole

The city of Spokane says its sign code, which hasn't undergone a thorough review since the 1950s, needs to be updated to reflect new sign technology.The city's planning services department is working to update the sign code, and the Spokane Plan

Plasma center slated to open on North Side

Facility on East Francis is expected to employ about 20 people initially

November 20, 2008

David Cole

Talecris Plasma Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Talecris Biotherapeutics Inc., says it planned to open a plasma donation center in north Spokane this week.Steven Goldsmith, a Talecris spokesman, says the will

Guilds' School mulls erecting larger facility, eyes locations

Structure could cost $10 million; funding is uncertain

November 20, 2008

David Cole

The Spokane Guilds' School & Neuromuscular Center is exploring building a much larger facility that would enable it to serve more children and families, says executive director Dick Boysen. The school is badly crowded now, he says."It's pretty

Demand said rising here for nontraditional financing

Factoring sector picks up as credit market tightens; microloan inquiries swell

November 6, 2008

David Cole

An increasing number of businesses here and nationally are turning to nontraditional sources of financing, such as factoring, to meet critical cash-flow needs as banks constrict credit in the current economic crisis, say industry factoring, such as

Developmentally disabled workers show their stuff

More business representatives participate in event focused on hiring disabled workers

November 6, 2008

David Cole

More businesses learned about the benefits of employing people with mental and physical developmental disabilities at a recent annual Hire Ability Day event here, conducted the last five years to boost such hiring, the event's primary organizer who

Uphus wins contract for work at stadium

November 6, 2008

David Cole

M.E. Uphus Construction Inc., of Spokane, has won a $300,000 contract to do bathroom repairs, some office remodeling, and construction of a 1,300-square-foot maintenance building and a Dumpster enclosure at Avista Stadium.The county-owned at 222

Businesses, property owners divided on Felts Field zoning

Land, home owners favor allowing higher-density development in that area

November 6, 2008

David Cole

Property and home owners who want to develop their land around Felts Field beyond what's possible under current regulations are running into opposition from airport-related businesses concerned that their operations could be jeopardized by such 30

Couple converts stores to Mattress Outlets

13 of 23 stores Mullinaxs own in three states now operate under that brand

November 6, 2008

David Cole

Ken and Helen Mullinax, who own Mattress Outlet Inc., of Spokane, have converted two Simmons Comfort World stores they owned, in Spokane Valley and Kennewick, Wash., to Mattress Outlet stores.The Valley store, located in leased space at 15607 E.

Bracing for rise in utility bills

Convergence of rate-boosting forces to impact businesses here

November 6, 2008

David Cole

Babyland Diaper Service here operates two 250-pound dryers and four 115-pound machines—compared with the 15-pound dryers typical in most homes.So when rates for natural gas, which heats the dryers, go up, it hurts, says Dan Anderson, owner a