In a country that includes varying landscape, numerous historical monuments, and picturesque scenery, it's tough to pinpoint the best places in America to spend your time.
Yet, teams participating in a "Best of the Road" contest may have found them. The contest, sponsored by Rand McNally and USA Today, evoked surprising findings recently chronicled in a USA Today article headlined, "The five best small towns in America." The task required each team to "start in New York City and wind up in Los Angeles, exploring the best of small-town America along the way," USA Today wrote.
And amongst the winners, dubbed the "Most Beautiful" by its surveyors, is Sandpoint, Idaho. Located northeast of Spokane, Wash. in the Idaho Panhandle, Sandpoint provides the scenery of Lake Pend Oreille, vast mountain expanse and outdoor activities galore.
"Sandpoint isn't just a 'drive through and let's stop here' place," the team that visited told the USA Today. "Its quaint downtown shops and restaurants welcomed us in, and its landscape kept us in awe."
Also included on the list were Walla Walla, Wash., Lafayette, La., Rapid City, S.D., and Glenwood Springs, Colo. The five winning towns "were chosen based on friendly people, great scenery, terrific food, patriotic fervor and just plain fun," USA Today wrote.
Showing posts with label Local News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Local News. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Spokane, Wash. lands on 'Top 100 Places to Live' list
Spokane, Wash. has landed a spot on "Relocate America's 2011 Top 100 Overall Places to Live," continuing its legacy of notably high quality of life.
Known for its continual economic expansion, family-oriented community, and progressive ideas, the area provides its residents with nearly every aspect a comfortable life can offer - and offers breathtaking scenery to enhance the experience.
"Spokane is the perfect base for all sorts of activities with an amazing number of outdoor recreational opportunities just a short drive away," Relocate America wrote. "You'll find mountains for skiing, hiking and biking, lakes and rivers for swimming, boating and fishing, and golf courses with challenging holes and unmatched scenery."
This year, Relocate America chose each candidate based on a few high-priority factors: "communities positioned for economic recovery, already experiencing economic recovery or have proven overall economic stability," according to Relocate America.
Spokane provides beautiful scenery and approximately 260 days of sunshine to utilize it and an optimistic economic outlook. Relocate America notes the strong health care, higher education, and research community that stabilizes and promotes the community's business opportunities.
Holding its own on a list with Austin, Texas, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Denver, Spokane seems to offer its every-growing population of residenta more than enough momentum and possibilities to keep them satisfied. Claiming the phrase, "Near Nature-Near Perfect," the community continues to remain a sought-after destination point for individuals looking for a comfortable, affordable and convenient lifestyle.
Known for its continual economic expansion, family-oriented community, and progressive ideas, the area provides its residents with nearly every aspect a comfortable life can offer - and offers breathtaking scenery to enhance the experience.
"Spokane is the perfect base for all sorts of activities with an amazing number of outdoor recreational opportunities just a short drive away," Relocate America wrote. "You'll find mountains for skiing, hiking and biking, lakes and rivers for swimming, boating and fishing, and golf courses with challenging holes and unmatched scenery."
This year, Relocate America chose each candidate based on a few high-priority factors: "communities positioned for economic recovery, already experiencing economic recovery or have proven overall economic stability," according to Relocate America.
Spokane provides beautiful scenery and approximately 260 days of sunshine to utilize it and an optimistic economic outlook. Relocate America notes the strong health care, higher education, and research community that stabilizes and promotes the community's business opportunities.
Holding its own on a list with Austin, Texas, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Denver, Spokane seems to offer its every-growing population of residenta more than enough momentum and possibilities to keep them satisfied. Claiming the phrase, "Near Nature-Near Perfect," the community continues to remain a sought-after destination point for individuals looking for a comfortable, affordable and convenient lifestyle.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Site selection can be a lengthy process
Selecting a location for relocation or expansion is an investment of significant time and an exercise in patience. Evaluating options requires culling large amounts of information and evaluating that data to arrive at a decision.
Most businesses consider real estate options, workforce quality and availability, training, and business climate among other factors. They weigh those factors against other communities that meet their geographic, transportation and other needs to select the best option. That process can take years of careful evaluation from start to finish.
Payoff comes when companies find the site selection sweet spot. Global Future Energy Holdings, Inc. recently announced that Spokane Valley, Wash. will become the site of its first U.S. manufacturing and distribution facility. The company began looking for a site in 2005.
Spokane Valley “stood out as an ideal location due to available sites, a strong workforce” and a partnership opportunity with another local company, Marius de Mos, the company’s president and CEO, said in a news release. GFEH, which will do business as Prestyl in Spokane Valley, met its expansion needs on multiple fronts. Those kind of synergies are what seal site selection deals.
Prestyl has developed a proprietary infrared, thin-film heating technology. The technology, common in aerospace and mass transportation applications, will be used to produce infrared heating panels that can be mounted to ceilings and walls. Ecolite Manufacturing, a Spokane Valley company that engaged Prestyl during its site search, and will be a partner in manufacturing the panels.
“This project has been exciting and unique in that it provides a multi-faceted win for our organization and the greater community – incorporating elements of business recruitment, business expansion and foreign direct investment,” said Gary Mallon, technology industry manager for Greater Spokane Incorporated, which recruited Prestyl.
Most businesses consider real estate options, workforce quality and availability, training, and business climate among other factors. They weigh those factors against other communities that meet their geographic, transportation and other needs to select the best option. That process can take years of careful evaluation from start to finish.
Payoff comes when companies find the site selection sweet spot. Global Future Energy Holdings, Inc. recently announced that Spokane Valley, Wash. will become the site of its first U.S. manufacturing and distribution facility. The company began looking for a site in 2005.
Spokane Valley “stood out as an ideal location due to available sites, a strong workforce” and a partnership opportunity with another local company, Marius de Mos, the company’s president and CEO, said in a news release. GFEH, which will do business as Prestyl in Spokane Valley, met its expansion needs on multiple fronts. Those kind of synergies are what seal site selection deals.
Prestyl has developed a proprietary infrared, thin-film heating technology. The technology, common in aerospace and mass transportation applications, will be used to produce infrared heating panels that can be mounted to ceilings and walls. Ecolite Manufacturing, a Spokane Valley company that engaged Prestyl during its site search, and will be a partner in manufacturing the panels.
“This project has been exciting and unique in that it provides a multi-faceted win for our organization and the greater community – incorporating elements of business recruitment, business expansion and foreign direct investment,” said Gary Mallon, technology industry manager for Greater Spokane Incorporated, which recruited Prestyl.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
New aerospace facility to open in fall
Construction has begun on a new Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance and Painting Hanger facility at Spokane International Airport. Associated Painters, Inc. of Everett has signed a 20-year lease for the 41,000-square-foot facility. The hangar bay is designed to accommodate a minimum of two Boeing 737-900 aircraft, with adjoining shops, office and storage space.
The $6.5 million hangar will be the latest addition to Spokane’s healthy and growing aerospace industry. Funding for the facility includes $4 million from CERB, $300,000 from the state’s Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account and $2 million in airport money.
Spokane and the Inland Northwest are home to more than 60 manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and organizations – 8,100 workers and a $324.8 million payroll – that serve and support the aerospace industry. Aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment manufacturers represent the greatest industry presence in the Inland Northwest, which is also home to companies involved in aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul.
The $6.5 million hangar will be the latest addition to Spokane’s healthy and growing aerospace industry. Funding for the facility includes $4 million from CERB, $300,000 from the state’s Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account and $2 million in airport money.
Spokane and the Inland Northwest are home to more than 60 manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and organizations – 8,100 workers and a $324.8 million payroll – that serve and support the aerospace industry. Aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment manufacturers represent the greatest industry presence in the Inland Northwest, which is also home to companies involved in aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Leading the national ‘smart grid’ initiative
When the federal government released $45 million to begin work on the country’s largest “smart grid” demonstration project it also underscored the importance of the Inland Northwest clean energy companies. These home-grown innovators are generating solutions in energy efficiency for smart grid applications that will become key components of the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project.
The $178 million federally designated smart grid demonstration project gets underway in the rolling fields of eastern Washington with a distinctly home-grown feel. The study will involve more than 60,000 metered customers in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming and make Pullman, Wash. the region’s first “Smart City.”
Much of the technology was developed within a 100-mile area that has quietly stepped to the forefront of energy efficiency expertise for smart grid application. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, which grew into a worldwide business in Pullman, and Itron, a globally known company headquartered an hour away in Liberty Lake, Wash., are key partners in the demonstration project. Their solutions will be a big part of the devices, software and advanced analytical tools tested by the project.
Other partners include Avista Utilities the city of Pullman, Washington State University, Hewlett Packard and Spirae.
The $178 million federally designated smart grid demonstration project gets underway in the rolling fields of eastern Washington with a distinctly home-grown feel. The study will involve more than 60,000 metered customers in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming and make Pullman, Wash. the region’s first “Smart City.”
Much of the technology was developed within a 100-mile area that has quietly stepped to the forefront of energy efficiency expertise for smart grid application. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, which grew into a worldwide business in Pullman, and Itron, a globally known company headquartered an hour away in Liberty Lake, Wash., are key partners in the demonstration project. Their solutions will be a big part of the devices, software and advanced analytical tools tested by the project.
Other partners include Avista Utilities the city of Pullman, Washington State University, Hewlett Packard and Spirae.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Lure of Greener Pastures
Last fall, an article ran in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, "The Lure of Greener Pastures," highlighting the reasons why I believe that companies are leaving California and heading to places like the Inland Northwest to do business. Similar articles ran in the Inland Empire Business Journal, the Pasadena Star New, and the San Fernando Valley Business Journal - all illustrating why the low business costs and high quality of life in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho are enticing companies to move to our region.
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