(Spokane, Wash.) - Greater Spokane Incorporated (the region’s Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council; GSI for short) today presented a list of local construction projects totaling more than $1.7 billion. GSI CEO Rich Hadley said, “Especially in our current economic downturn, this number is significant.  It shows that private citizens and local and state governments are continuing to invest in our region. With all the talk about federal stimulus money, we wanted to show that local and state dollars drive the majority of projects boosting our economy.”

Projects on the list will either start, be in process, or be completed this year. They could have an estimated $3.4 billion economic impact on our region. The list is not an exhaustive account of all projects, but rather a snapshot of some of the largest investments. Most of the money for these projects flows from private, local and state funding. Hadley said, “In essence, this is the Spokane region’s own stimulus program, and our neighbors are running the plan.”

Representatives from Greater Spokane Incorporated, Spokane Public Schools (Superintendent Dr. Nancy Stowell); the Kalispel Tribe (COO Kent Caputo); Community Colleges of Spokane (president Gary Livingston); Garco Construction (V.P. Clancy Welsh); Accurate Electric (co-owner Clint Keely) and Integrus Architecture (president Gerald Winkler) were among those talking about local investment projects at the event, held at the site of one of the Spokane Public Schools bond projects, Garfield Elementary.  Garfield will get about $4 million in upgrades, including an improved heating and cooling system, plus a new roof. 

List Released May 21

About Greater Spokane Incorporated

Greater Spokane Incorporated is committed to accelerating regional economic prosperity throughout the Spokane region.  Your Regional Chamber and EDC, GSI is funded by more than 1500 private-sector member investors; Washington State; Spokane County; and the cities of Spokane; Spokane Valley; Liberty Lake; Cheney; Airway Heights; Medical Lake; Newport and Millwood.  For more information, visit www.greaterspokane.org or contact us at 509-624-1393 or 1-800-SPOKANE.

                                                                           ###