Spokane Journal of Business

Special Report

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Inland Northwest timber industry expects steady recovery in coming year

The wood products sector is expecting continued, steady improvement next year, largely due to anticipated ongoing recovery in the U.S. housing market, industry observers say. Shawn Church, editor of Eugene, Ore.-based Random Lengths, a publication that t...

As prices fall, mining industry waits for demand to rebound

With a significant decline in metal prices during 2013, mining companies are cutting costs and focusing on their most promising properties for next year. Laura Skaer, executive director of Spokane-based American Exploration & Mining Association, formerly...

Despite uncertainties, health care sector executives are optimistic

Health care executives appear mostly upbeat about the vitality of that sector here in the coming year, despite continuing national uncertainty related to the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act. “We’re going to continue to be really in ...

Spokane-area financial institutions foresee stronger demand for loans

Financial institutions are projecting solid loan growth and continued low interest rates for 2014, bank executives here say. Peter F. Stanton, chairman and CEO of Washington Trust Bank, says he expects that Spokane-based institution to see 7 percent to...

Agricultural market remains strong despite dip in wheat prices

Northwest wheat producers face a changing marketplace heading into 2014, with grain prices being pressured slightly lower because of weaker corn prices and a bountiful world wheat crop. Industry observers say the Inland Northwest’s predominant soft whi...

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Health care, manufacturing lead North Idaho rebound

Health care, manufacturing, tourism, and real estate are among current growth industries in Kootenai County that are expected to continue to improve in the new year, sources in North Idaho say. Alivia Metts, Post Falls-based regional labor economist for ...

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Regional tourism industry expects strong business next year

Spokane tourism officials are optimistic that visitor numbers and expenditures will increase in 2014, including among those here for conventions, sports events, and leisure travel. Cheryl Kilday, president and CEO of Visit Spokane, says that organizatio...

Technology sector climbs back slowly in the Inland Northwest

Going into the new year, technology industry observers here say, positive trends in the sector statewide bode well for companies in the Inland Northwest, which they describe on the whole as coming back slowly. Tom Simpson, president of the Spokane Angel ...

Spokane-area retailers here feeling good about sales growth in 2014

Spokane-area retailers say they are planning for strong sales next year. Bryn West, general manager for River Park Square, says the downtown shopping center expects to see an overall 3 percent increase in sales in 2014, which is on par with the predicti...

 Cancer Care Northwest gets tech boost

Cancer Care Northwest gets tech boost

Cancer Care Northwest's new Valley clinic is off to a running start, due largely to new technology on hand for radiation treatments that target cancer tumors more precisely with less exposure to healthy organs, says Dr. Christopher Lee, a radiology oncolo...

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