Latest News

Sports facility, office space planned in Hillyard

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Two projects — a community sports facility and an office building — are planned in Spokane's Hillyard neighborhood.

Power moves: Commercial energy-saving strategies

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Complying with Washington state's Clean Buildings Act can prove costly for building owners, but there are some low-cost solutions that can help them save money and avoid fees, according to some energy efficiency experts here.

INW employers are turning to skills-based hiring

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane staffing agencies are hopeful that hiring activity will strengthen in the months ahead, but the types of positions filled may look different than a few years ago, as employers place greater emphasis on skills, adaptability, and experience over traditional credentials such as college degrees.

Shriners Event Center improves outdoor venue

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Improvements of a 3.5-acre outdoor venue at the Shriners Event Center are positioning the West Plains facility to host more large-scale events, including concerts, weddings, festivals, and community gatherings.

Pair of Spokane churches prepare for expansion

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Two Spokane-area churches are investing a combined $6 million that will expand their campuses and accommodate more attendees.

Valley awarded $21M for interchange project

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

The city of Spokane Valley has been awarded a $20.8 million federal grant to reconstruct the traffic-jammed interchange at Sullivan Road and Trent Avenue.

Convention business boosts Spokane economy

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Meetings and conventions continue to serve as a major economic engine for the Spokane region, generating tens of millions of dollars in visitor spending and supporting hotels, restaurants, retailers, entertainment venues, and other industries throughout the community.

Ruby Hospitality adds Cd'A hotel to portfolio

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane-based Ruby Hospitality has added Days Inn by Wyndham Coeur d’Alene to its real estate portfolio, marking the lodging, dining, and entertainment company’s entry into the community.

Western Farms hits 30,000 weekly deliveries

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Western Farms of Idaho is increasing production in the Inland Northwest, now delivering 30,000 eggs per week to two dozen Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-area restaurants and 14 retail stores.

Groundworks to open Liberty Lake office

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Groundworks LLC, a national foundation repair company, is expanding to Liberty Lake in October, where the company will increase its coverage area to service roughly 360,000 single-family homes across Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Rehabilitation hospital planned in Post Falls

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Encompass Health Corp., a Birmingham, Alabama-based healthcare provider, is planning to build a new 50-bed rehabilitation hospital in Post Falls.

City of Medical Lake secures Waterfront Park

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

The city of Medical Lake is planning to expand recreation, tourism, and economic development opportunities after assuming ownership of 60 acres of land, including Waterfront Park and portions of the Medical Lake trail system.

Hug Construction acquires contracting company

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane Valley-based general contractor Hug Services Inc., which does business as Hug Construction, has acquired Construction Associates of Spokane Inc., a Spokane-based commercial general contracting company.

High stakes of sustainability at Browning Beef

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

As Browning Beef LLC contends with higher cattle prices nationally, the Spangle-based beef supplier is working to keep prices low for consumers.

Together Spokane creates new pipeline of work

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Construction is underway on new synthetic turf athletic fields at a pair of Spokane high schools, part of the Together Spokane initiative that is expected to bring stability for architects, engineers, and contractors in the region.

Stable INW demand meets disappearing supply

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

As the books closed on the second quarter of 2026, Spokane's commercial real estate market wasn't booming, and it wasn't breaking. It was holding.

Agriculture helps veterans find renewed purpose

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Agriculture has long depended on people willing to learn by doing. But for many would-be producers, especially those who have served their country and are now looking for a second career, getting started in farming can be difficult. In Spokane, Vets on the Farm is one example of how local resources, relationships, and real-world training can help make that path more accessible.

OneAEC to join national marketing group SMPS

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

OneAEC, a Spokane-based nonprofit serving architecture, engineering, and construction professionals, is preparing to transition into a new regional chapter of Alexandria, Virginia-based Society for Marketing Professional Services in 2027.

Catching up with: Spokane's Petunia & Loomis LLC

virginiat@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Since opening in downtown Spokane in early 2022, Petunia & Loomis LLC has grown a loyal base of customers who appreciate the bizarre and unusual.

Spokane Hoopfest draws $47M in economic impact

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Attendance at this year’s Spokane Hoopfest remained steady from last year, and visitors and players enjoyed cooler weather and a reprieve from potential rain.

Data center pause clouds Spokane's future

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane's decision to immediately halt new developments of computer data centers for one year could affect the city's ability to compete for future billion-dollar investments.

North Spokane shopping center sells for $32M

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

A Spokane Valley-based real estate development company has purchased 5 Mile Shopping Center, at 1812 W. Francis, and several neighboring commercial buildings for $32 million.

Challenges downtown push office vacancy rate up

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Downtown Spokane’s office vacancy rate has increased to about 30% due to postpandemic business trends, aging buildings, rising rent costs, and safety concerns.

Crave NW sets the table in downtown Spokane

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Crave NW is moving to downtown Spokane this summer with a larger footprint, new programming, and an expanded focus on helping independent restaurants, wineries, breweries, and artisan food producers grow.

EWU alumni launch lifestyle apparel company

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

In a crowded apparel industry where countless brands compete for attention, the four founding partners behind Spokane-based Cooked as a Goat LLC believe their biggest advantage isn't flashy advertising or viral social media campaigns.

Operating room renovations eyed at Sacred Heart

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Providence is investing $9 million to modernize four operating rooms at Sacred Heart Medical Center, located at 101 W. Eighth in Spokane, as part of a multiyear project to revamp all 28 surgical rooms at the hospital.

Providence reorganizes behavioral health staffing

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

As behavioral health patients at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center age and their medical needs grow more complex, the hospital is redesigning its staffing strategy for inpatient psychiatric services.

Whitworth launches new four-year nursing program

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Whitworth University will launch its new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in fall 2027 to address the growing need for trained nurses across the Pacific Northwest.

West Side architecture firm builds INW presence

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Bremerton, Washington-based architectural firm Rice Fergus Miller Inc. is seeing an increase in work in the Spokane area, and Gunnar Gladics, principal and partner at the firm, anticipates continued growth in both projects and personnel.

Aging adults exceed capacity for care

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Washington state is on the leading edge of a demographic shift that is placing pressure on senior housing providers, long-term care operators, healthcare systems, and developers as the state's aging population grows substantially faster than the workforce and housing inventory needed to support it.