Community-first perspective is what drew Bank of America into a growing partnership with Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI) and the IN Schools initiative, a program that connects business leaders with K–12 educators to strengthen the local workforce pipeline.
Bank of America Invests in Spokane’s Future Read More »
On April 4, Governor Bob Ferguson reached the deadline to take executive action on bills passed by the Washington State Legislature. Among his decisions were cuts to retail crime-prevention grants, along with a range of other vetoes and approvals that could impact businesses and communities across our region. GSI’s Olympia lobbyist, Jim Hedrick, closely tracked each action and provided insight into what these changes mean for employers in the Spokane region and the broader business climate.
Governor Ferguson Veto Update 2026 Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate 2026 Legislative Session The session ended on time, with the legislature adjourning “sine die” around 8:30pm on Thursday, March 12th. Democrats continued to control the agenda in Olympia with majorities of 60 percent in both the House (59-39) and Senate (30-19). These large majorities
Legislative Session Final Report Read More »
HUB Sports Center has become a powerful extension of local schools, creating spaces and programs where kids can learn, play, and build life skills far beyond the classroom. Executive Director Phil Champlin is clear that HUB Sports Center’s role is to complement, not compete with, schools, filling gaps in facilities and programming so more students can thrive.
A Mission Bigger Than Sports: HUB Sports Center’s Role with Schools Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate Tax on Income over One Million Dollars Dominated 2026 After more than 24 consecutive hours of floor debate, majority Democrats in the House approved the Millionaire’s Tax, Senate Bill (SB) 6346 (Pedersen, D-Seattle), on Tuesday evening one of the longest and most contentious floor
Legislative Session Update: Week 9 (March 9-12, 2026) Adjournment Edition Read More »
The Washington Roundtable, Association of Washington Business, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Spokane Inc. issued the following statement at the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session
Joint Statement from Business Leaders on the Conclusion of the 2026 Legislative Session Read More »
The Washington Roundtable, Association of Washington Business, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Spokane Inc. issued the following joint statement in response to an income tax measure introduced in the Legislature.
Joint Statement from Business Leaders on the New Washington State Income Tax Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate As the 2026 legislative session races toward its March 12 adjournment deadline, lawmakers in Olympia tackled major housing, privacy, tax, budget, and policy battles this week. With Friday night marking the opposite-house floor cutoff, several high-profile proposals moved forward while others quietly faded as
Legislative Session Update: Week 8 (March 2-6, 2026) Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate As the 2026 legislative session enters its final weeks, budget negotiations have shifted decisively from policy aspirations to balance-sheet reality. Last Sunday’s release of House and Senate supplemental operating budgets marks the point at which fiscal assumptions, revenue risk, and long-term cost exposure move
Legislative Session Update: Week 7 (February 23-27, 2026) Read More »
STCU’s Marty Dickinson and Lindsey Myhre firmly believe that discussions between schools and businesses must happen before high school graduation, and the business community must actively help schools shape a more responsive and relevant educational system.
The Long Game: Why STCU and Spokane Are Investing in Education for Life Read More »
