Latest News

Say hello to Clearwater

Newest publicly traded company here has expansive operations

April 23, 2009

On Dec. 16, Spokane quietly became home to a new billion-dollar company, as Spokane-based Potlatch Corp. completed a spin-off of its expansive pulp and paperboard operations.Although the new enterprise, Clearwater Paper Corp., employs just 25 at

RVers largely undeterred by recession, survey finds

Majority said they plan to use their rigs more this year than they did in '08

April 9, 2009

Consumer confidence may be down, but RVer confidence remains high, according to the biannual Campfire Canvass survey of RV owners, conducted by the Reston, Va.-based Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). Fifty-five percent of survey said

Restaurant equipment supplier optimistic about future

Owner says resurgence of smaller 'bistro-type' establishments is positive

April 9, 2009

David Cole

A resurgence of restaurant activity in downtown Spokane in recent years and greater demand now for used restaurant equipment amid the slower economy have helped Spokane Restaurant Equipment Inc. continue to grow, says owner Mike sales are down 25

Downturn could be worse

Sense among hotels and restaurants here is that 2009 will be stable overall

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Business from travelers is off for restaurants and hotels here, with numbers down or flat across the board. Most property owners and managers, however, say that although times are tough, they're grateful that business isn't worse, and they a fairly

Travelers spent $15.7 billion in state in 2008

Inflation-adjusted outlays were flat from 2007 level; jobs in industry were, too

April 9, 2009

Richard Ripley

Direct travel spending in Washington state totaled $15.7 billion in 2008, up 5.7 percent from 2007, although after adjusting for inflation, travel spending decreased by 0.1 percent, says a report to the Washington Legislature.The report, by Dean

Expanded convention center beating sales projections

Arena, performing arts center also show consistent profitability

April 9, 2009

Mike McLean

The Spokane Convention Center is exceeding revenue projections that the Spokane Public Facilities District (PFD) developed years ago in anticipation of the center's $89 million in expansion and renovation projects completed in 2006 and 2007, says a

Interstate Concrete tabbed for Post Falls road project

City also plans to add two traffic roundabouts at intersections on Poleline

April 9, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Interstate Concrete & Asphalt Co., of Coeur d'Alene, has begun work on a city of Post Falls project to improve 15th Street near Post Falls Middle School.The $750,000 project includes widening 15th in places so that the entire stretch of road is

Coeur d'Alene U-Haul plans $5 million storage building

New structure to have 681 rental spaces; some to be climate controlled

April 9, 2009

David Cole

U-Haul International Inc., the large Phoenix-based "do-it-yourself" moving and storage company, says it plans to construct a more than $5 million self-storage building in Coeur d'Alene at the location of its U-Haul Moving Center there, at 750 W. in

Garco Construction lands upgrade jobs at two schools

Garfield and Longfellow projects will improve buildings' energy efficiency

April 9, 2009

David Cole

Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, has been awarded a $4.95 million contract for new roofs and heating, venting, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems at Garfield and Longfellow elementary schools here, the first construction-related improvements &

Avista to replace part of gas main

April 9, 2009

Avista Corp. plans to upgrade a 3.5-mile section of its natural-gas distribution line just northwest of Spokane.The Spokane-based energy company doesn't have a cost estimate for the project yet, but will put it out to bid this month, spokeswoman