Treva Lind

Legislative bills propose new port district options

Spokane, Kittitas counties could benefit from change

February 13, 2014

Two bills introduced recently in the Washington state Legislature and sponsored partly by Spokane-area legislators would give Spokane County more options for creating a port district to help promote economic development here. One or the other of them, h

Up to $100 million sewer project takes step forward

City solicits engineers to submit qualifications

February 13, 2014

Treva Lind

The city of Spokane is seeking proposals from engineering firms for design and construction management of an estimated $80 million to $100 million upgrade at the city's Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility sewage-treatment plant. Marlene Feist, th

Companies enter ACA-rules era despite some delays

Most employers sponsor benefits, absorb impacts

February 13, 2014

Treva Lind

Most Spokane-area employers who offer health benefits are continuing to do so, while adhering to new rules this year under the federal Affordable Care Act, industry observers here say. Meanwhile, some employer requirements are being delayed under the l

Niche lender in Spokane Valley reports that commercial lending activity is picking up

Company expects its SBA loan volume to rise in '14

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Millwood-based Commercial Lending Northwest Inc., a tiny 15-year-old company that provides commercial financing services to businesses, including for bridge and conventional loans, says it expects to see lending growth this year, especially in the packagi

Inland Northwest public companies show growth in 2013 index

Bank stocks perform well; Coldwater Creek plummets

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Hart Capital Management Inc., a Spokane-based investment firm, says the stock value of 14 publicly traded Inland Northwest companies rose just over 12 percent last year in an overall index, but still lagged behind the Standard & Poor 500's nearly 30 per

Low-impact development said to be in higher demand

Landscape architect reports more inquiries about environmentally friendly architecture

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Landscape architect Len Zickler, a principal in the Spokane office of Tacoma-based AHBL Inc., says the company is seeing more requests to design environmentally friendly infrastructure to manage stormwater drainage. He expects this approach, called low-

AAA renovates South Hill building, readies for move

Organization plans to sell property on Fourth Ave.

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Spokane-based J.W. Elmer Construction Co. recently began renovating a 5,600-square-foot commercial space on the South Hill, where AAA of Spokane plans to relocate its downtown office. The travel membership organization will be leasing the building at 131

Inland Northwest commodity markets expected to be mostly profitable

However, wheat growers are said likely to struggle

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Spokane-based agricultural lending cooperative, says commodity markets appear generally strong this year for most agricultural producers, but wheat producers will face challenges turning a profit due to lower grain pric

Most small companies in Spokane area see health plan costs increase

Groups of under 50 workers affected by age-based rates

January 30, 2014

Treva Lind

Spokane-area businesses with fewer than 50 employees are seeing some of the larger hikes in employer-sponsored health plan premiums this year, though it depends on factors such as the insurance carrier and employees' ages, brokers say. As individuals a

Overall vascular health should be factored into varicose vein options, physician says

Spokane surgeon suggests women query providers

January 16, 2014

Treva Lind

Women should talk to health providers about overall vascular health when looking for relief from symptoms caused by varicose veins, says Dr. Stephen Murray, a surgeon at the Providence Vascular Institute, in Spokane. Females seeking medical procedures t