Since January, the Inland Northwest has seen several business acquisitions, suggesting that merger and acquisition activity may be on the rise.

Construction of a 20-unit multifamily building is expected to begin on Spokane’s lower South Hill in July

Eight years ago, when the Journal last caught up with Denielle Waltermire-Stuhlmiller, owner of Simply Northwest gift shop, sloths, unicorns, mermaids, and llamas reigned in popularity. While current tastes have shifted to cherries, chickens, book-lover merchandise, and bees, the Spokane Valley-based retailer maintains a proactive approach to stay ahead of the curve.

Avista Utilities, the operating division of Spokane-based Avista Corp., has launched the region’s first community-based microgrid at the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center, in Spokane's East Central neighborhood.

Spokane International Airport is in the process of relocating key utilities, setting the stage for the second phase of its Terminal Renovation and Expansion, or TREX program, which aims to build a 255,000-square-foot Central Hall.

Jacklin Northwest is in the planning stages of developing a new shopping center at Jacklin Ranch Commercial Park, an 88-acre site just east of Highway 41 and north of Prairie Avenue in Post Falls. 

When Becky Rempe arrived at the Barton English School at First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, the decades-old program consisted largely of one-on-one tutoring sessions. Today, the school is abuzz with conversations in multiple languages as immigrants, refugees, volunteers, and residents gather to learn and engage with each other and the community.

Phyllis Campbell, 2026 Spokane Journal of Business Icon, led an accumulative 50-year career in banking, philanthropy, and board service across the Inland Northwest and western Washington.

Olympia, Washington-based Heritage Bank has moved to a new permanent location following recent approval to operate as a full-service branch, says James Krejci, senior vice president and commercial team leader.

Spokane-based intellectual property law firm Lee & Hayes PC has won a major court ruling in its effort to recover unpaid legal fees from its former client, 3D printing company Continuous Composites Inc.