Education & Talent

Bridging the NIL gap

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 03:00:00 -0500

When college athletes gained the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness in 2021, Gonzaga University student Jesse Riodil saw an opportunity that never materialized for him during his four years playing on the men’s soccer team.

Dutch energy professionals share insights here

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Energy leaders from 20 Dutch companies and institutions met in Spokane in October to tackle grid management challenges and digital energy solutions alongside regional leaders from Avista, Itron, WSU, and the city of Spokane.

Ethos Civil targets expansion in Spokane market

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Tacoma, Washington-based engineering firm Ethos Civil LLC is expanding its presence in Spokane as demand for civil engineering, site development, project management, and entitlement services continues to drive growth across the Pacific Northwest.

Spokane care providers work to protect services

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Despite recent staffing and service reductions across Spokane's healthcare sector, some providers here expect to maintain their workforces and offerings, even as they face rising expenses, growing patient demand, and difficulties with Medicaid compensation.

New Spokane alliance drives life science growth

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane-based organizations Greater Spokane Incorporated, LaunchPad Inland Northwest Foundation, and Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County are partnering with Seattle-based Life Science Washington to expand access to resources and support for life science entrepreneurs in the greater Spokane region.

SFCC program adapts to meet workforce demand

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane Falls Community College’s Orthotic and Prosthetic Technology program — one of only four certified training courses in the nation — has doubled its cohort size in three years to help address a nationwide technician shortage.

Terrain gains ground downtown

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Terrain Programs is pursuing an ambitious plan to acquire downtown Spokane's historic Jensen-Byrd Hardware buildings and redevelop them into a year-round cultural hub.

McKinstry Co. launches 'Building What Matters'

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Contractor and energy-efficiency systems manufacturer McKinstry Co. has launched a new podcast, “Building What Matters,” featuring conversations with leaders who decide how schools, hospitals, and major infrastructure projects are built in communities across the Pacific Northwest.

Raising the Bar offers spirited history lessons

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Once a month, at Hogwash Whiskey Den in downtown Spokane, historian Renée Cebula takes a roomful of students through centuries of American and global history that trace the wars, immigration, tariffs, and changing tastes that have helped determine what ingredients end up in her students’ glasses.

North Idaho bakery builds up skills from scratch

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

The Village Bakery owners, Dana and Todd Bellefeuile, have built their Hayden establishment around a workforce model that helps people with disabilities develop skills for future employment and independent living.

New gym is underway at Christian Center School

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Construction is underway on a $9 million multicourt gymnasium at Christian Center School in Hayden.

Many INW businesses report AI integration issues

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Some Inland Northwest companies are facing security concerns and public perception issues as they integrate artificial intelligence tools into their operations. A new program at Gonzaga University, however, could help businesses address some of those challenges.

Catching up with: Ginger Ewing, executive director of Terrain

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Terrain, the nonprofit arts organization that began as a one-off event nearly two decades ago, is entering a new era of growth as it expands its staff, programs, and economic impact on Spokane’s creative community.

Agriculture labor crunch drives H-2A growth

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Caught between shifting federal administrative rulemaking and ongoing litigation, some Washington state agricultural employers are struggling to navigate changing wage requirements and H-2A guest-worker regulations.

Stevens Clay expands to keep schools compliant

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane-based law firm Stevens Clay PS is expanding its team to help clients in the education sector navigate increasingly complex regulations.

LaunchNW pushes for proper use of Meta funds

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

LaunchNW wants to ensure that funds from the landmark $17.1 billion settlement with Meta Platforms are dedicated to mitigating the harms that initiated the lawsuit rather than plugging the state budget.

Federal funding triples in Spokane to $23M

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Spokane-area companies are capturing substantially more federal research funding than they were 15 years ago.

MultiCare plans to shut down multiple health clinics

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

MultiCare Health System plans to close several Rockwood clinics by the end of 2026 due to financial challenges in the health care industry.

Catching up with: Eric Frickle, Kitchen Engine co-owner

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

When first walking into The Kitchen Engine store inside the historic Flour Mill building in Spokane’s North Bank neighborhood, it's not immediately noticeable that the cookware and appliance shop offers patrons much more than culinary products and equipment.

Post Falls hospital transitions to rehab use

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital, at 600 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls, will cease operations as a long-term acute care hospital in October and begin operating as an extension of Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest.

2026 Rising Stars: Rose Honey

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Rose Honey is an educator, linguaphile, visual artist, and designer who teaches studio art and graphic design at West Valley High School.

2026 Rising Stars: Andrew Hite

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

As CEO of CDL PowerSuite LLC, Andrew Hite sets the pace for the Spokane Valley-based company by defining business goals, establishing initiatives, and creating a supportive team environment.

2026 Rising Stars: Corinna O’Brien Kelsey

virginiat@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Corinna O’Brien Kelsey is a born and raised Spokanite with ties to Gonzaga Preparatory School and Gonzaga University. A graduate of both institutions, the 38-year-old is now vice president of advancement at Gonzaga Preparatory School, which has a 2026 fall enrollment total of 825 students.

MultiCare plans to shut down eye clinics

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:52:55 -0400

Vision care services in the Spokane area will be impacted in the new year, as three MultiCare Rockwood eye clinics will close in Spokane County effective Dec. 31.

EWU moves to next phase of Roos Field renovations

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:43:09 -0400

Eastern Washington University is moving forward with an $8 million renovation at Roos Field as part of the university's long-term plan to invest nearly $250 million in campus facilities over the next decade.

Spokane-area higher ed sees slow, steady admissions

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Student enrollment at several colleges and universities in Spokane County has been flat or slowly increasing in the last two years after pandemic-era declines, but leaders at some institutions contend that the higher education environment in Spokane is generally healthy.

Meet & Greet with Kevin Williams

dylanh@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Kevin Williams stepped into his new role as CEO of the Spokane Workforce Council in May. Williams joined the Spokane Workforce Council in 2022 and has been in the workforce development field for a decade.

Staffing agency provides disaster relief workers

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

An Inland Northwest staffing agency has deployed dozens of workers to help with wildfire recovery efforts, as the recent Spokane Complex Fires have driven up demand for demolition and cleanup laborers.

EWU pushes forward with green energy plans

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Eastern Washington University is accelerating its sustainability efforts with a roadmap of projects including the implementation of a solar array, geothermal heating and cooling, carbon capturing, and a microturbine that uses existing steam production to create electricity.

Young entrepreneurs mean business at youth market

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Young entrepreneurs are preparing to turn their ideas into real-world business experience at the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Business Market, scheduled Aug. 22.