Abby Brown

Legislative Update with Jim Hedrick

Legislative Session Update: January 9-13

By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate The 68th Washington State Legislature convened its 15-week (105-day) regular session this week under almost normal circumstances, after having operated in a mostly remote fashion for the past two years. This year, masks are still encouraged and required in most legislator offices and access

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Spokane Community Leaders Object to Proposed North Spokane Corridor Delay

Governor Inslee’s Seven-Year Delay Puts Growth and Jobs at Risk (SPOKANE, Wash.) – Leaders in Spokane’s business community joined elected and transportation officials in expressing their concern about the governor’s proposed delays for the North Spokane Corridor (NSC). Governor Inslee’s biennial transportation budget, released on December 14, 2022, would push back the planned completion date

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South Korea

South Korea Recruitment Trip Grows Partnerships and Business Opportunities

By Gary Ballew, CEcdVP, Economic Development, Greater Spokane Inc. I recently had the opportunity to attend a trade show in South Korea with a local company, Eotron. A trip like this serves many economic development purposes. We had the chance to meet with Korean medical device companies interested in expanding to the United States, learn

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A near-monochromatic image of the WA courthouse in GSI blue.

New Laws Take Effect for Employers

New laws in Washington went into effect January 1 including: Minimum wage: Washington’s minimum wage is now $15.76 per hour for employees 16 or older. That’s $1.25 more than last year, an 8.6% increase. Pay range in job postings: As required in a 2022 law, employers with 15 or more workers must now include a

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Economic Forecast thumbnail image

2023 Economic Forecast Event a Success

More than 500 people attended Tuesday’s 2023 Economic Forecast at the Spokane Convention Center which featured three local economists Dr. John Mitchell, Principal, M&H Economic Consultants; Dr. Grant Forsyth, Chief Economist, Avista Corp.; and Dr. Vange Ocasio Hochheimer, Associate Professor of Economics, Whitworth University. In partnership with the Spokane Journal of Business, this was GSI’s

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ribbon cutting

Business Recruitment Important Part of Economic Development Strategy

By Gary Ballew, CEcD, VP of Economic Development Picture a group of business and local officials cutting the ribbon on a new manufacturing facility or office. It’s probably pretty easy because you have seen the picture in the papers or on the evening news. In economic development, this is what we call Recruiting, and it

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