Infrastructure, Cost of Living Attractive in the Inland Empire

SPOKANE, WA-This city’s three-year-old investment in communications infrastructure is paying off. In 1997, the central business district here was wired with high-speed Internet access and high-capacity fiber optic cable to nurture the regions expanding industries of software, digital, and information technologies. Now known as the “Terabyte Triangle,” the area has attracted more than 20 technology-based businesses to downtown Spokane.

As a result, says Mark Turner, president of the Spokane Area Economic Council, the bulk of manufacturing in the area is now electronic or high-tech oriented. “Of the top 12 manufacturers (here), eight are technology based,” says Turner, dropping names like Cisco Systems and Key Tronic Corp. Turner says the recent growth among local manufacturers is creating a ripple effect and fostering economic activity throughout the high-tech sector. “Clusters of suppliers and vendors are growing in Spokane, which will help (the EDC) better meet the needs in technology-based business and spur future growth,” says Turner.

Another spokesperson at the EDC tells GlobeSt that two of Spokane’s attractions are its relative proximity to Seattle combined with its significantly lower costs of doing business, including cheaper land and lease rates. Here’s a look at some companies that already have taken advantage of the lower costs: