LeAnn Bjerken

Best Places To Work INW finalists announced

Coffman, NWFCS make largest employers list

September 14, 2017

Alliance Data Systems Corp., Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., and Moss Adams LLP are the three finalists in the 1,000-plus employee category of the 2017 Best Places To Work Inland Northwest recognition program, conducted by the Journal of Business. Promi

Stay Alfred to provide stock options to employees

CEO says move will serve as an incentive for workers

September 14, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Stay Alfred, the nationwide urban vacation rental company based here, says its full-time employees will receive stock options in the 6-year-old company. In an August 31 press release, the company said the offerings are expected to create 'future owners

Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area's decline in public-company headquarters proves steep

Metro area has lost more than similar sized MSAs

September 14, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

The Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area has lost publicly-traded company headquarters at a greater rate than similar sized metropolitan areas, according to an analysis completed earlier this month by Spokane-based Hart Capital Management Inc. Nine publicly trad

Windermere Services owners plan first development

Move part of expansion, diversification for Wetzels

August 31, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Scott Wetzel, owner of Windermere Services Mountain West, of Spokane, says he and his wife Tracie are expanding into the residential development market this year, with plans to launch a new Spokane Valley subdivision. Wetzel says the couple, along with o

Research pilot explores industrial hemp

Questions on production, processing still linger

August 31, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Last year, the passage of state Senate Bill 6206 made it possible for licensees to plant the first industrial hemp crop Washington state has seen in 90 years, through a research pilot program managed by the state's Department of Agriculture called the I

Retail sales increase by 4 percent in Spokane County

Some stores here report small gains

August 31, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Taxable retail sales throughout Spokane County increased 4 percent during the first quarter of 2017, compared with the year-earlier period, Washington state Department of Revenue statistics released earlier this month show. Total countywide sales hit $2

Baker Construction begins $3.8 million in projects for Diamond Parking Service

Storage facility expansion, downtown lot underway

August 31, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane-based Baker Construction & Development Inc. has begun construction of two projects here for Seattle-based Diamond Parking Service, one of them a storage complex expansion on the West Plains and the other a parking lot downtown, worth a total of $3

Cascade Team to expand to North Idaho, Tri-Cities

Issaquah-based brokerage opened office here last year

August 31, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

The Cascade Team Real Estate Inc., which opened its first Spokane office in August of 2016, says it plans to open additional Inland Northwest offices by the end of next year. Designated broker James Faucett says he and his business partner, Dave Reynolds

Spokane Overstock adds two stores, plans for more

Company now has total of four outlets in region

August 31, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane Overstock LLC, which operates Overstocked Mattress & Furniture stores in Spokane and Spokane Valley, has opened two additional stores this summer, in Hayden and Missoula, giving it four in all, and says it plans to keep expanding. Owner Nathan

'Security-minded' cleaning service launches here

Co-owner says business will accept cryptocurrency

August 31, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane-based Armitage Cleaning LLC has launched a commercial 'security-minded cleaning serviceâ€ that's designed to benefit clients who have work environments where protecting sensitive information is important. Christopher Armitage, who co-owns th