Linn Parish

Washington Federal eyes Spokane market entrance

After big branch acquisition, Seattle-based bank likely to pursue further expansion

August 15, 2013

Washington Federal Inc.'s acquisition of 51 Bank of America branches will give the Seattle-based bank a presence in the Inland Northwest for the first time in its 96-year history.After it takes ownership of branches in small markets in Eastern a

INB parent reports rise in earnings, fewer bad loans

Company finishes quarter in black for sixth straight time; net loans increase

August 15, 2013

Linn Parish

Northwest Bancorporation Inc., the Spokane-based parent of Inland Northwest Bank, has reported second-quarter net income available to common shareholders of $1 million, or 33 cents a diluted share, up from about $120,000, or 4 cents a share, in the

Odom plans $20 million warehouse on West Plains

Big beverage distributor to double its space while creating regional hub

August 1, 2013

Linn Parish

Bellevue, Wash.-based wholesale beverage distributor Odom Corp. plans to build a $20 million, 200,000-square-foot regional warehouse facility on the West Plains.Jerry Dexter, Spokane-based senior vice president for supply-chain management at the

Inland Northwest executive pay keeps rising

Compensation increased at double-digit rate again

July 18, 2013

Linn Parish

Total executive compensation at Inland Northwest publicly traded companies increased in 2012 at virtually the same double-digit rate as in 2011, the Journal of Business' annual analysis shows.The 13.2 percent increase in average total last year

Options are limited for Spokane-area business buyers

Experts say trend to change, though, as company owners age

July 3, 2013

Linn Parish

When Jeff Wiberg and his family formed Wiberg Enterprises LLC in 2011 and began looking for a business to buy, they found limited options.Looking for a professional services company—ideally one involved in the health care industry—the

Frontier Institute takes on abnormal movement study

Mental health nonprofit's research arm tests remedy to serious drug side effect

July 3, 2013

Linn Parish

Frontier Institute, the Spokane-based nonprofit research arm of Frontier Behavioral Health, formerly Spokane Mental Health, is participating in an early phase of research on an experimental drug intended to treat a serious side effect of Hampton, a

City takes new look at uses for lot near Spokane River

Talks with Spokane Tribe about big cultural center have quieted since 2010

June 20, 2013

Linn Parish

The city of Spokane is taking another look at potential uses for a 1.1-acre lot it owns on the north bank of the Spokane River after talks have quieted concerning development of a multimillion-dollar Spokane Tribe of Indians cultural center on that

Keiretsu Forum works to build momentum in Spokane

Start-up investment group screens young companies, looks for first funding here

June 20, 2013

Linn Parish

The months-old Spokane branch of San Francisco-based investment concern Keiretsu Forum is trying to build momentum, with young companies here formally introducing their businesses to the organization's investor network in hopes of receiving Taing,

Vivint to expand into Spokane, hire 400 in 18 months

Home-automation company plans to open big Liberty Lake center in mid-July

June 6, 2013

Linn Parish

Vivint Inc., a large, privately-held Provo, Utah-based home-automation system maker, plans to open a sales call center in Liberty Lake this summer that it expects will employ 400 people within 18 months.Eric Patrick, Vivint's senior vice of says

Costco, Total Wine & More are tops in Spokane-area liquor sales

Large chains dominate, but Greenacres store makes list

April 25, 2013

Linn Parish

Since Washington state privatized liquor sales last June 1, large national chains have dominated sales in Spokane County, a Journal of Business analysis of Liquor Control Board sales data shows.Of the top 10 sellers in Spokane County, nine are &