The owner of Northwest Steel Fabrication Inc., a maker of structural steel parts for construction projects, is building a $3 million shop and office in Deer Park and will consolidate the companys operations at that location, including an office the company leases in North Spokane and a shop it leases in Cusick, Wash.


The owner, Andy James, says the move was necessitated by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians decision not to renew the companys lease for its Cusick shop space, which is located at the tribes commerce park in Cusick, along state Route 20 about 50 miles north of Spokane.


Northwest Steel, which has been in business since 1994 and makes steel components for structures such as bridges and hydroelectric power projects, had revenues of about $8 million in 2007, James says.


The company also plans to close an office it leases at 8603 N. Division, and will move all of its 30 staff members from both locations to the new Deer Park facility. James says he doesnt have plans to hire additional workers at the new facility.


Vandervert Construction Inc., of Spokane, designed and is building the 37,000-square-foot facility in Deer Park on a 9.5-acre property James bought at 2205 E. Crawford Road. It will be a single-story concrete tilt-up building with ceilings about 25 feet high, James says. He is developing the building through a company he formed named Egg Enterprises LLC, from which Northwest Steel will lease the structure, he says. Vandervert began site work last week, and James expects the building to be ready for occupancy in the fall.


James is seeking $1.76 million in tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds through the Industrial Development Corporation of Spokane County to help finance the new facility. The agency will hold a public hearing May 19 to receive public comments on the issuance of the bonds, which help small manufacturers by providing them with lower interest financing than they could get otherwise. Both the corporations board and the Spokane County commissioners must approve the bond issue for it to be finalized. Debbi Yates, executive officer of the Industrial Development Corporation, says the revenue bonds must be less than $10 million and can be used for buying land, equipment, or facilities, or for building new facilities. Egg Enterprises loan will be financed through Washington Trust Bank, Yates says.


Contact Jeanne Gustafson at (509) 344-1264 or via e-mail at jeanneg@spokanejournal.com.