Mike McLean

Idaho Independent reports loss for 2011, strong capital

Bank's results also show improvement last year in nonperforming assets

March 29, 2012

Coeur d'Alene-based Idaho Independent Bank reported a net loss of $6.4 million, or 94 cents a diluted share, for 2011, compared with a loss of $5.7 million, or 89 cents a share, in 2010.The latest annual loss includes a $1.5 million noncash to a

Rate of all-cash homes sales in Spokane surge

Investors often request discounts in exchange for accelerated closings, industry experts say

March 29, 2012

Mike McLean

The percentage of Spokane-area homebuyers paying all cash has more than doubled since 2009, paralleling a national trend that's mostly attributed to investors taking advantage of low-priced and distressed properties.Some observers of the market

Gonzaga professors develop stress relief for women

Three-step plan averts burnout, aims to turn adversaries into allies

March 29, 2012

Mike McLean

Gonzaga University School of Business Administration faculty members Molly Pepper and Peggy Sue Loroz have developed a program that shares experiences and techniques they've developed to help women reduce unhealthy stress in the assistant professor

Nonprofit seeks volunteers, donations for rebuilding

Group plans April 28 event to repair, rehab six residences, school

March 29, 2012

Mike McLean

Rebuilding Together Spokane, a nonprofit that helps low-income residents with needed home improvements through donations of labor, services, and materials, is planning to participate in a national rebuilding blitz on April 28.The group has six a

Liberty Lake RV dealership renames West Plains outlet

R'nR now employs 130 at its two outlets here, says sales on upswing

March 29, 2012

Mike McLean

Liberty Lake-based R'nR RV Center, a prominent Eastern Washington new and used recreational-vehicle and truck-camper sales and service concern, has put its name on the Airway Heights dealership it bought a few years ago—and claims sales are a

Tacoma Screw Products to build first Spokane-area outlet

Distributor plans to erect $2 million shop building

March 29, 2012

Mike McLean

Tacoma Screw Products Inc., a Tacoma-based distributor of fasteners, tools, and maintenance, shop, and industrial supplies, says it will invest about $2 million to construct a building that will house the company's first Spokane-area outlet.The

Waste Management's plans for regional recycling center expand

Crews break ground on $18 million sorting plant on West Plains

March 29, 2012

Mike McLean

Waste Management of Spokane, a subsidiary of Houston-based Waste Management Inc., has started work on its $18 million recycling facility on the West Plains that will be more than a third larger than originally planned.The company is completing a

Idaho aerospace alliance takes off

Alliance aims to secure share of hot industry

March 29, 2012

Mike McLean

North Idaho aerospace manufacturers have launched an effort to form a statewide coalition and develop strategies to attract and keep aerospace-related business in Idaho.The idea for the recently created Idaho Aerospace Alliance, which has a and

Kootenai County laying groundwork for growth

Infrastructure, public works projects hoped to spark construction

March 15, 2012

Mike McLean

Following another slow construction year in Kootenai County, some with ties to the industry are hopeful that public works and infrastructure projects will generate growth in construction activity in 2012 and further into the future.Construction

Contractors hope to build on small bounce

Sizable commercial jobs help generate optimism for continued recovery

March 15, 2012

Mike McLean

Sizable health and retail construction projects are helping to generate hope among construction insiders that last year's slight bounce in Spokane County construction values is the beginning of an industrywide recovery.A total of some $385 in is