Manufacturing

Journal selects Rising Stars

2020 class to be honored at Sept. 10 virtual event

July 30, 2020

The Journal of Business has selected 10 Spokane-area young professionals as its 2020 class of Rising Stars. Those future leaders will be honored at a virtual event on Sept. 10. This year's honorees include five women and five men, all of whom are

Refugee Connection Spokane pivots services

Nonprofit receives $800K in grants to be disbursed during next five years

July 30, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Refugee Connections Spokane's flexible setup left it well-positioned to pivot its services when the COVID-19 outbreak spread here, says Marijke Fakasiieiki, the nonprofit's executive director. Over the past year, the organization, which was created

Tesla opens first Spokane service center

High-profile carmaker also adds its fourth Seattle service location

July 30, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Palo Alto, California-based electric car and clean energy manufacturer Tesla Inc. has established a service center in East Spokane. Tesla applied for a change-of-use permit at its facility at 3304 E. Springfield, near Playfair Commerce Park, early this

Working the unemployment system

Many people are making more on unemployment than in jobs, some say

July 30, 2020

Virginia Thomas

While the number of people unemployed in Washington state is falling slowly, a combination of fear of contracting COVID-19 and an additional $600 in weekly federal pandemic unemployment benefits have led some people to refuse to return to work, some

Inland Northwest executive pay inches upward

Modest increase follows fluctuations in previous two years

July 30, 2020

Linn Parish

Pre-pandemic executive pay increased by just 1% for executives at Inland Northwest-based publicly traded companies in 2019, according to a Journal of Business analysis.

Electric car maker's West Plains plant appears to be moving forward

Complex could employ up to 4,000 people in coming years, Mullen CEO says

July 16, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Work on Mullen Technologies Inc.'s planned 1.3 million-square-foot West Plains manufacturing facility could start as early as September, says Mullen CEO and founder David Michery. While that timeline might prove to be optimistic, S3R3 Solutions is revi

Triumph Composite Systems lays off 22 at Spokane facility

Parent company plans reductions in FY 2021

July 16, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Triumph Composite Systems Inc. will lay off 10 employees permanently at its Spokane facilities, effective July 20. Following an earlier layoff last month, this brings the total to 22 permanent layoffs at the facility since the coronavirus pandemic spread

California manufacturer plans to move to Liberty Lake

$3.8 million facility slated to be completed in 2022

July 16, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Ventura, California-based Swiss Productions Inc. is planning a new 25,700-square-foot manufacturing facility in Liberty Lake, where it will move its operations when the project is completed in 2022, says Richard Petrash, senior vice president and chief

Selkirk Pharma expands vision for West Plains plant

Plans on file with city show startup intends to employ 320 people

July 16, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Selkirk Pharma Inc.'s envisioned manufacturing plant on the West Plains will be more than double the size originally indicated, emerging details show. The Spokane-based injectable-drug manufacturing and packaging startup could break ground on the

Colorado group acquires two Rathdrum companies

Mandere, Northwest Building to retain employees, names

July 2, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Denver, Colorado-based Kodiak Building Partners has added two Rathdrum-based construction companies to its growing portfolio. Mandere Construction Inc. and Northwest Building Components Inc. have been acquired by the building materials supply and