We are back from Olympia, and back from the winter storm.
Despite Olympia getting a record snowfall (more than 14 inches!), more than 60 members of our delegation traveled to Olympia to meet with our regional representatives from the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 9th legislative districts, plus Governor Christine Gregoire. All of our regional representatives met with us or with members in our delegation.
It’s that time again.
We’re partnering with the Spokane Valley and West Plains chambers of commerce to lead a large delegation (as in more than 70 people) to Olympia to advocate on behalf of Eastern Washington.
Time to get our show on the road.
With 2011 in the rearview mirror, it’s time to focus on 2012. What lies ahead for Spokane? What will happen, what might happen, and how will it affect the business community?
Let’s look into the crystal ball, shall we?
Prioritizing keeps you focused. It also keeps businesses, organizations and communities focused. That’s precisely why the business community here in the Spokane region has prioritized its key projects (in no particular order):
We’re helping lead the charge on all of the projects. Let’s take a look at some of the particulars on each. (more…)
A big part of our job here is to advocate on behalf of the businesses of all sizes and industries. To do that, we form relationships with local, state and federal governments and meet with representatives year-round.
Each January, we take a delegation of business leaders to Olympia in conjunction with the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and the West Plains Chamber of Commerce for three days to meet with our state legislators, discuss issues, advocate for business-friendly laws, policies and projects, and much more.
We also bring our State Agenda, which outlines our region’s priorities. Let’s take a look at how it’s developed.
Now that the special session in Olympia is finished and budgets have been passed, it’s time to see how our capital priorities fared (spoiler alert: very well!).
Granted, the operating budget isn’t something anybody we know is celebrating. Cuts to K-12 and higher education, as well as social services and various other programs will hurt a lot of people. We’re all hoping our economy improves so everyone can prosper in all sectors.
As for funding for regional capital projects, let’s see the good news for the greater Spokane region.
Everybody’s unpacked, reorganized and reenergized. It’s time to share what we learned during our annual advocacy trip to Washington D.C.
More than 40 regional business leaders from Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho left for our nation’s capital on April 5 for a week of meetings with elected officials and meetings at the Pentagon. Here’s what we learned: (more…)
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. is in full swing. What better time than now to take a trip to our nation’s capital?
That’s what we’re doing here at Greater Spokane Incorporated. But we’re not going for the festival (although it’s a nice perk). We’re headed over to D.C. to advocate on behalf of Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Our region has more than 40 business leaders and the Greater Spokane Valley, West Plains, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene Chambers of Commerce on our side.
The above photo shows the north end of the North Spokane Corridor looking south, where it meets Farwell road. A thought born decades ago is now coming to fruition.
That’s right, the North Spokane Corridor (or North-South Freeway) is progressing well. The state has invested $559 million over the last decade to the project. Now, thanks to a recent $35 million Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant at the federal level, southbound lanes from Farwell Road to Francis Avenue will be completed by 2012, making the corridor a full, drivable freeway from the Wandermere Bridge to Francis Ave. That’s progress.
“In future years, we hope to secure another $300 million in funding to advance the project to the Spokane River, and, ultimately, Interstate 90,” says Rich Hadley, President and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated.
So what benefit does an additional freeway have in Spokane? Well, the answers are plenty. Here are a few:
