By Gary Ballew, CEcD, VP, Economic Development If you have driven west on I-90 you may have noticed a number of massive buildings under construction with the Amazon distribution facility one of the most prominent. What you might not know is that Spokane and the United States have been in an industrial real estate boom […]
What’s Next for Industrial Real Estate? Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate On Tuesday the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard the latest version of an ergonomics proposal, SB 5217 (Dhingra, D-45). In 2000, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) adopted specific workplace ergonomics regulations. Initiative 841, passed by the voters in 2003, repealed the
Legislative Session Update: January 23-27 Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate We’re into the second week and Legislative Democrats have rolled out several of their high-profile priorities including policies on nurse staffing, recycling, middle housing, a margins tax to replace the existing B&O tax, and a new wealth tax. Tuesday, Senate Law & Justice Committee
Legislative Session Update: January 16-20 Read More »
Show Takes Place Feb 7-9 at the Spokane Convention Center Did you know the playing surface of a football field is about an acre? Just under 2.3 million football fields of wheat alone were harvested in Eastern Washington in 2022. This is just one of Washington States valuable 300 agriculture commodities. Agriculture is big in
Spokane AgShow Spotlights Local Agriculture Industry Read More »
Spokane Regional Delegation to Advocate on Behalf of the Spokane Region Greater Spokane Inc. will lead a delegation of area business, community, and education leaders for the annual Olympia fly-in January 25 – 27 to advocate on behalf of the Spokane region. The Olympia Fly-in is in partnership with Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce
GSI Olympia Fly-in Event January 25-27 Read More »
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
Legislative Session Update: January 9-13 Read More »
By Gary Ballew, CEcd, VP, Economic Development First off, let me apologize to two excellent TV shows on FXX and IFC respectively, though it’s a pretty spot-on title for our next economic development introspective on our recent sales mission to Portland – our last sales mission in 2022. Anyone who has been to Portland knows
It’s Always Sunny in Portlandia? Read More »
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
Spokane Community Leaders Object to Proposed North Spokane Corridor Delay Read More »
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
South Korea Recruitment Trip Grows Partnerships and Business Opportunities Read More »
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
New Laws Take Effect for Employers Read More »
