Kevin Blocker

WARN notice activity decreases

Three companies have furloughed fewer than 500 Spokane workers, latest notifications show

May 21, 2020

In the last month, the number of Spokane County employers filing layoff notices with the Washington state Employment Security Department have arrived at a slower pace than the month prior.

Medcurity plans to add staff, move

Seattle firm invests $200K in medical records tech firm

May 21, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Medcurity Inc., the Spokane-based medical records tech company, has secured $200,000 in funding from a West Side investment firm. WRF Capital, the investment arm for Seattle-based nonprofit Washington Research Foundation, made the investment last month,

Making distance on Spokane's manufacturing floors

Inherent open spaces help create separation at facilities

May 21, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Several Spokane-area manufacturers say most of their employees are in environments where being at a distance from each other has been the norm because of already established workplace configurations.

Goodwill lives tale of two states

Organization is back in business in Idaho, mostly shuttered in Washington

May 21, 2020

Kevin Blocker

The reopening of Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest stores in Idaho is a welcome relief to the organization, says CEO Clark Brekke. With most of its operations in Washington state, however, the Spokane-based organization still faces a myriad

'Pause' could hamper WSU's research cause

Stoppage might hinder ability to secure funding at WSU Health Sciences

May 21, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Though money for research has risen steadily in recent years at Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, officials are concerned a prolonged global pandemic could have a compromising effect on future funding.

Stay Alfred closes its doors permanently

Short-term rental company devastated by pandemic, CEO says

May 20, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Stay Alfred Inc., a one-time darling of Spokane's entrepreneurial ecosystem, is closing its doors permanently, says Jordan Allen, founder and CEO of the short-term rental company. Allen says the company couldn't stay afloat after the coronavirus pa

Restaurants & Retail

May 7, 2020

Kevin Blocker

In Their Own Words ...

Spiceology secures $2 million in new funding

Cash infusion to be used to enhance marketing efforts

May 7, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Spokane spices and rub company Spiceology has secured $2 million in a round of funding. Spiceology, located east of downtown at 715 E. Sprague, will dedicate a significant portion of funding to its continued marketing efforts, says company CEO

Stay Alfred eyes August restart

Management studying 'strategic reductions'

May 7, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Short-term rental company Stay Alfred Inc., of Spokane Valley, plans to continue operating but will do so with a reduced staff and smaller national footprint of units, according to a spokeswoman speaking on the company's behalf.

SPVV strives to enhance environments

Design firm uses holistic approach to make use of landscape features

May 7, 2020

Kevin Blocker

As one of the founding partners of SPVV Landscape Architects, Tom Sherry says in some regards, the firm may not be where it is today were it not for his former mentor at another firm.