Just two years after a period of hemorrhaging red ink, job losses, and rumors of its possible demise or sale, Empire Health Services, Spokanes second largest hospital network, is now posting modest profit margins and healthy gains in patient says

Mark Freeman started Kuma Stoves Inc. in the back of his pickup. A quarter-century later, Freeman says he expects the Hayden, Idaho-based wood- and oil-stove manufacturing company to continue to grow at a slow, but comfortable pace, with a

Banner Retail Marketing Group, a Liberty Lake company that helps small retailers stay afloat in a competitive sea of advertising, is starting to make some waves of its own, says Bill Sauther, its president and co-owner.The company, which has 75

Colmac Coil Manufacturing Inc., a Colville, Wash.-based maker of components for heating and cooling systems, has landed a big contract to provide equipment for an airport in the Middle East, and that large order is requiring it to boost its work by

Spokane County officials have accepted a site plan, and have required traffic improvements, for an 18-lot commercial development proposed for the northeast corner of U.S. 395 and Hatch Road, north of Spokane.The development, to be called Midway

Precision Countertops Inc., of Portland, Ore., says it plans to open a manufacturing facility in the Spokane Valley, where it will employ up to 25 people. The new plant here will be the counter-top makers third.The company has leased a space

Growing numbers of real estate investors and developers from outside the Inland Northwest are finding valueand putting their chipsin the Spokane-North Idaho market. Spokane developer Walt Worthy, who owns the Davenport Hotel and has made is

Economic growth in Kootenai County next year likely wont be up to the tempo set there in the past three years, but still will make the county the envy of many communities, says Kathryn Tacke, regional economist in Coeur dAlene with the Idaho of

Residential and commercial real estate sales are expected to remain strong here in 2007, although below their record-setting paces in 2005 and 2006.Spokane-area home sales during the first 11 months of this year were running about 5.4 percent A

Construction industry observers here are anticipating another busy year in 2007, although theyre again approaching the new year with some trepidation.The city of Spokane saw continued building growth in 2006, with permitted construction at in