Spokane VA Medical Center Plans to Build Mental Health and Education Building

The Spokane Mann-Grandstaff Veteran Affairs Medical Center plans to erect a mental health and education building on its campus in northwest Spokane to kick off a few projects in the works there with a combined value estimated at nearly $35 million, according to an article in the Journal of Business.

The 20,000-square-foot Intensive Outpatient Mental Health and Education Building will have two stories and a basement. Other planned projects likely to start this year or next include a $16 million boiler plant, a $10 million primary care clinic and a $1 million computed-tomography unit expansion.

To learn more, read the article or visit www.spokane.va.gov.

Brunswick Corporation Acquires Thunder Jet

The Brunswick Corporation recently acquired Thunder Jet. The Brunswick family of companies includes 20 boat manufacturers, including such well-known names as Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Lund and Crestliner. Thunder Jet manufacturing will remain in the Lewis -Clark Valley and is expected in expand operations in the future.

For more information on news from the Lewis-Clark Valley, visit www.lewis-clarkvalley.org.

North Idaho College Breaks Ground on New Recreation Center

North Idaho College broke ground on its new Student Wellness and Recreation Center. The $7.7 million, 30,000-square-foot center will have a rock climbing wall, running track, weight area, multi-activity court, open recreation space, locker rooms, offices and storage, among other amenities. The project is expected to be completed in early summer 2017.

To learn more, visit http://www.nic.edu/reccenter.

Pearson Packaging Systems Experiences Growth

Pearson Packaging Systems, maker of packaging equipment, says it expects double-digit revenue growth this year and for the foreseeable future, according to an article in the Journal of Business.

President and CEO Michael A. Senske says the company has experienced that sustained level of growth every year for the last eight years. Pearson expects to hire up to four new control engineers at its packaging equipment plant in Spokane. Meanwhile, as many as six mechanical engineers could be hired at a facility it operates in Vernon, Ill., near Chicago.

Pearson now has an employee roster of 200 workers, up from 134 at the beginning of 2011. Roughly 150 employees are based at Pearson’s 110,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly operations facility on the West Plains. The company employed approximately 100 workers at its Spokane operation in 2011.

Read the Journal of Business article or visit www.pearsonpkg.com to learn more.

Kootenai Health Begins Construction on Second Phase of Expansion

Kootenai Health has begun construction on phase two of its expansion project. The $45.2 million project will add 7,000 square feet of new space to the emergency department and will increase total capacity to 36 rooms. Three additional operating rooms will be added to the surgical department for a total of 11 operating suites. 

For more information, visit www.kh.org/phase2.

Deer Park Business & Industrial Park Welcomes New Tenants

The new Deer Park Business & Industrial Park will soon have new tenants: Knight Construction & Supply and Avista Utilities. Knight Construction & Supply is building a new 30,000-square-foot building with manufacturing, warehouse and office space all under one roof. The company is moving its operations from smaller quarters in Deer Park. The company is the parent company to Knight EZ Dock and Knight Wall Systems, which will also set up shop in the new building. The Knight building should be complete by this fall.

Avista Utilities is in the planning phase of a 30,000-square-foot service center in the park to serve Deer Park and Northern Spokane County. The 140-acre business park opened in summer 2015 and offers abundant land and a prime location near US 395.

To learn more, read the full Inland NW Business article.

Renaissance Marine Remodels Clarkston Product Facility

Renaissance Marine has just completed the purchase and remodel of a 65,000-square-foot building for their production facility. Operations have recently been moved from the former site that has nine buildings and a total square footage of 34,000 square feet. The new space is expected to increase both the efficiency of their production lines and total output. Customer demand has exceeded production capacity in recent years.

For more information on news from the Lewis-Clark Valley, visit www.lewis-clarkvalley.org.