Latest News

Meteoric rise in unemployment tax hits businesses

If state legislation doesn't provide relief, some worry hikes will doom employers

January 14, 2021

Barring relief, some employers fear recently-implemented unemployment tax increases could be the final straw that puts them out of business permanently.

The Journal's 10 Most Read Articles of 2020

Stay Alfred's closure tops list

December 30, 2020

Linn Parish

One of Spokane's swiftest and most visible business casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic also made for the Journal's most-read story of 2020. And it wasn't really close, according to page-view data generated by Google Analytics, for SpokaneJournal.com.

Jubilant HollisterStier plans $70 million expansion

Pharmaceutical maker expects to add 400 jobs while doubling space, capacity

December 22, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Spokane-based Jubilant HollisterStier LLC is planning to double its existing space and manufacturing capacity and add 400 employees during the next three years, says Amit Arora, president of the pharmaceutical manufacturing company.

Strong development key to Kootenai County recovery

In-migration cushions real estate, financial services in pandemic

December 17, 2020

Mike McLean

North Idaho wasn't exempted from the pandemic-induced economic crisis of 2020, but the entire state may be recovering slightly faster than most of the country, contends Sam Wolkenhauer, Post Falls-based labor economist for the Idaho Department of Labor.

Tech industry jumps ahead a decade, observers say

Cybersecurity, access to be focus in 2021

December 17, 2020

Natasha Nellis

2020 marked a rapid acceleration in the technology industry, in some cases truncating what would have been a decade of adaptation into a year, and cybersecurity is one of the sectors of the industry most poised for growth in 2021, some tech industry

US-China deal spells growth for wheat growers

Demand for apples also on the upswing

December 17, 2020

Kevin Blocker

While COVID-19 may continue to wreak havoc on certain sectors of the economy next year, observers involved in two of the state's five largest agricultural commodities predict they won't be among them. Officials with the Washington Grain Commission an

Economic models show bump in retail activity next year

Restaurant industry still highly vulnerable

December 17, 2020

Kevin Blocker

While many of 2020's economic challenges due to COVID-19 will carry into next year, the most recent forecast for the state's retail industry shows more promise than first expected. At press time, the Washington state Department of Revenue's most

Guest Commentary: New purpose for old blades bodes well for wind power

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December 17, 2020

Don Brunell

Would you believe in the future when a cement truck shows up to pour your foundation or patio, the mixture could contain ground up wind turbine blades? As a part of new agreement between GE Renewable Energy and Veolia North America, old blades

The Journal's View: There's a lot of hope for the coming year

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December 17, 2020

Journal of Business Staff

Our annual wish list for the new year for our business community is quite heavy, with urgent needs this time around. With a decade of economic growth suddenly coming to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced restrictions, we first wish for