AutoPatch, a division of Cheney-based XN Technologies Inc. that makes audio, video, and digital signal switching and routing equipment, has opened a sales and customer support office in Osaka, Japan.The two-person office opened last month,

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., the venerable Columbus, Ohio-based retailer of mens and womens casual clothing, says it is considering opening a store in the Spokane area.Lonnie Fogel, a Columbus-based spokesman for the company, says & Fitch

A young Portland company called Zess Technologies Inc. that is marketing a new type of heat exchanger with purportedly wide-ranging commercial and industrial applications plans to open a small testing and assembly facility here.Company Jim

Thirty years ago Blackie, Lucky, Shadow, and Spot were common names for the family dog. Nowadays, mans best friend is more likely to be dubbed Lucy, Jimmy, or Samnames usually reserved for human members of the family. The names reflect

A Spokane venture-capital fund that has its roots in the Momentum economic-development movement has received a federal license that gives it access to $22 million in additional investment fundsincreasing the pool of capital that it and a to

A consortium of banks that do business in Spokane and North Idaho is being formed to finance construction of speculative commercial buildings to boost economic development here and in North Idaho.Nine banks in Spokane, three in North and a

Advanced Hardware Architectures Inc., a Pullman, Wash., company that designs and markets specialized computer chips, has laid off half of its 80 employees. The late-July cutbacks affected all of the companys departments.Asian flu came

Sherman Enterprises, of Hayden, Idaho, says it hopes to build a nine-acre shopping center as part of a 32-acre development it plans at the southeast corner of U.S. 95 and state Route 54, at Athol, Idaho, as early as next year.Developer of

Financially struggling Alloy Trailers Inc., of Spokane, is seeking U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval here to sell its assets to California-based Alliance LLC for between about $2.2 million and $2.8 million.A hearing on the matter is scheduled

Itronix Corp., of Spokane, has named a new chief executive officer to succeed Steve Gevurtz, who stepped down earlier this year.The new CEO, David C. Dayton, a 28-year veteran of the electronics industry, joined 6-year-old Itronix late one