Mike McLean

Freeborn Tool plans move to east-central Spokane

Woodworking industry supplier says building provides growing room

January 17, 2013

Freeborn Tool Co., of Spokane, a longtime maker of cutting tools for woodworking applications, will move to a larger facility next month, says Michael Foster, co-owner of the company.Foster recently formed Mikafo Properties LLC, which bought for

Elephant Boys marine store grows with move in Spokane Valley

Dealership takes over old Liquidation World site, plans boat show debut

January 17, 2013

Mike McLean

The Elephant Boys, a Spokane Valley discount boat dealer, has moved a few hundred feet west and into the former Liquidation World building, where the dealership has more than tripled its space, says owner Ed Conley.The Elephant Boys now occupies

Business software maker Imprezzio looks to hire after landing contract

Software company looking to fill 18 positions now

January 17, 2013

Mike McLean

Spokane-based business software company Imprezzio Inc. recently has landed a big contract with a major insurance company. The company is looking to fill 18 positions now—and perhaps that many more later this year, says Lisa Bick, Imprezzio's a

Schweitzer Engineering expands in Pullman, Lewiston

New engineering facility, manufacturing addition values exceed $19 million

January 17, 2013

Mike McLean

Pullman, Wash.-based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc. is acting as its own contractor on two major construction projects under way with a combined value exceeding $19 million.One project is a $9 million, 98,000-square-foot Zocholl on in

Foreclosures in Spokane County fall to four-year low

Job growth, stable prices help drive downturn in defaults

January 17, 2013

Mike McLean

After several years of steeply rising mortgage defaults in Spokane County, foreclosures on deeds of trust plummeted to a four-year low in 2012, while foreclosure numbers in Kootenai County were tracking downward as well in the latest available the

Former ski resort manager heads real estate office at Schweitzer

December 20, 2012

Mike McLean

Longtime winter resort manager and real estate agent Ron Nova is the new manager at the Evergreen Realty office on Schweitzer Mountain, says Charlie Parrish, the broker at the Sandpoint-based real estate agency.The Schweitzer office is located in

McKinstry updates Hunters school mechanical systems

Grant-funded upgrades will reduce operational costs for rural district

December 20, 2012

Mike McLean

The Spokane office of Seattle-based energy-efficiency contractor McKinstry Co. recently completed a $568,000 project that the company says is expected to help the Columbia School District save $30,000 annually in electricity and heating fuel costs

Avista constructing center to maintain natural gas fleet

Value of maintenance building, fueling station put at about $2.4 million

December 20, 2012

Mike McLean

Avista Corp., the Spokane-based energy company, is constructing a fleet maintenance building and adjacent compressed natural gas fueling station in Spokane Valley that's expected to cost about $2.4 million.The 15,100-square-foot, five-bay fleet

WinCo grocery chain revises plan for Coeur d' Alene store

Discount grocery chain brings smaller store idea to city for design review

December 20, 2012

Mike McLean

Boise-based discount grocery chain WinCo Foods LLC is putting its long planned Coeur d'Alene store back on the front burner, says Mike Read, a spokesman for the company.The company is scheduled to meet today, Dec. 20, with the city's design for

Big Spokane Convention Center addition draws flurry of inquiries

Convention center addition expected to attract at least six design-build candidates

December 20, 2012

Mike McLean

The Spokane Public Facilities District has seen a flurry of early interest in its planned $60 million-plus convention center expansion and expects to whittle down a short list of design-build candidates early next month, says Kevin Twohig, director