- Washington has NO corporate and NO personal income tax and is ranked #6 by the Tax Foundation in 2014 for Business Tax Climate.
- Forbes ranks Washington state as the 9th Best for Business. The cost of doing business in Spokane is 18% below the national average!
- Many businesses may qualify for several tax incentives offered by Washington state. These incentives include deferrals, reduced B&O rates, exemptions and credits.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Spokane’s cost of living is 3.8% below the national average!
Spokane Public Schools District all received blue ribbon awards and ranked in the top 33% of 2,800 districts nationwide in Expansion Management’s Education Quotient.
The average Spokane commute is just 21 minutes, with none of the traffic problems found in larger cities.
Summers are warm and dry. Annual precipitation averages 16.5”, including 26” of snowfall. Average temperatures range from 69 in August to 27 in January. Spokane enjoys over 260 clear days each year.
And all this comes at an affordable cost of living. The median home price is $174,200. There is no state income tax. Water is sourced from the Spokane aquifer and utility costs are low.
LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Spokane has the transportation and technology to move products and people to their destinations quickly and efficiently. Historically a hub, Spokane is well connected by highway, rail, air, utilities and fiber.
Highways
I-90 is the northernmost, east-west, coast-to-coast interstate, a Strategic Freight Corridor carrying international and domestic interstate and intrastate trade. Seattle is 279 miles west of Spokane, just over a four hour drive.
North-south routes include US Highways 195, 395, and 2 to I-95. These connect Spokane to the Canadian border, 110 miles to the north and Mexico to the south.
Air
Spokane International Airport (GEG) is the second largest airport in the State of Washington and services over three million people annually. It is served by six different airlines offering non-stop national service to eleven locations and one-stop service to a number of cities around the globe.
Rail
Both the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads ship nationally out of the Spokane Valley switching yard. On the direct Seattle to Chicago line for both railroads, Spokane is the gateway to and from the interior U.S. and the Pacific rim, with efficient east-west access and reciprocal switching capabilities matched by few regions nationwide.
Telecommunications
Spokane is a regional telecommunications hub and home to major Tier 1 providers, as well as regional Tier 2, Tier 3 and local service providers. Redundancy and diversity in local and regional telecommunications, data networks, energy and power sources is common, affordable and reliable. The region ranked nationally as the 6th safest from natural disasters.
WORK FORCE
Spokane County is the largest labor market in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. The diversified economy includes logistics and distribution, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, health services, finance/insurance, government including education, and agriculture.
Spokane has historically been a center for services in government and higher education, medical services, retail trade and finance. Manufacturing has a solid base due to the hydropower generation, rail and Interstate highways. Fairchild Air Force Base is the county’s largest employer. The health sciences continue to grow with the hospital systems and the University District campuses which train a health care workforce, attract research, and provide jobs in the health care sector.
The regional economy is thriving on the emergence of new technologies in advanced manufacturing, professional, scientific and technical services and health care research and commercialization. New jobs in these industries offer excellent long-term prospects for employment and higher earnings, and are supported by the region’s focus on driving K-12 and higher education initiatives to grow these new economic opportunities.
Spokane County has a higher percentage of adults 25 years and older who were high school graduates than Washington state or the nation at 85.7%.
Spokane is home to a full spectrum of opportunities in both public and private higher education, from two-year certificates to doctoral degrees. Nearly 90,000 students are enrolled at area colleges and universities within an 80-mile radius, building the talent pool for the region.
ARTS/CULTURE
Spokane is the artistic and cultural hub of the region, with a long history dedicated to the arts. Here you will find a treasure trove of art galleries, museums, theaters, and historic buildigns to make your visit truly memorable.
Art Galleries
We have several Art galleries, including the Corbin Art Center, the New Moon Art Gallery, or the Chase Gallery in our own city hall, many of which feature local and regional artists.
Historic Buildings
Preservation of our historic buildings is a top priority for Spokane. Don't miss these architectural landmarks such as the Bing Theater, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Liberty Building, and the Historic Davenport Hotel. Spokane prides itself in maintaining an ideal balance between the old and the new.
Museums
Come see our Smithsonian-endorsed Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture or spend the afternoon browsing the Jundt Art Museum's collection of glass by world-famous artisan Dale Chihuly. There is also the Honor Point Military and Aerospace Museum and the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum for all of your history needs.
Performing Arts
We offer everything from a professional orchestra, the Spokane Symphony, to an established improv troupe, at the Blue Door Theatre. But our love of live entertainment does not end there: in Spokane, you can witness the Best of Broadway at the INB Performing
Arts Center. Here you'll see your favorite musicals as well as new classics presented by WestCoast Entertainment.
RECREATION
Spokane is a recreational paradise with 35 public and private golf courses, 5 ski resorts, miles of trails, 76 lakes and numerous streams and rivers for exceptional canoeing, kayaking and rafting. Spokane has endless recreational options.
Ski Resorts
Spokane isn’t just a ski town. It’s a hub for adventure seekers looking to challenge their skills and have some fun at not one, but five ski resorts all within two hours of the downtown, urban core. For more information visit Mt. Spokane, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Silver Mountain Resort or Lookout Pass.
Golf Courses
The Spokane region is home to 35 of the nation’s finest public and private golf coursesur courses—ranked in the top 100 by Golf Digest—feature fairways surrounded by the region’s stunning natural beauty. Check out some of our favorite courses including: The Circling Raven Golf Club, Downriver, Esmeralda, Indian Canyon, The Creek at Qualchan, Hangman Valley and Kalispel Golf and Country Club, just to name a few.
Lakes & Rivers
Spokane is overflowing with roaring rivers, pristine streams and crystal-clear lakes. The city is a gateway to fun on the water for boaters of all types and skill levels. There's plenty of open space for power boats, water skiing, or houseboats. There are plenty of places to enjoy rafting, kayaking or canoeing. You can bring your own equipment or rent what you need at one of the several locations in the area.
LOCALEVENTS
Sports fans, art lovers, foodies, wine enthusiasts, hikers and more flock to the Spokane region for phenomenal experiences and events. It’s never a question of if there is something happening in Spokane, it’s a question of whether you have time to fit it all in.
Hoopfest
The largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world! Hundreds of thousands of people religiously flock to Downtown Spokane every June for this unforgettable basketball tournament. Approximately 6,200 teams play 14,000 games across 42 blocks in downtown Spokane. Hoopsfest also attracts some of the greatest basketball players in the country, including former college stars who participate in the event’s Elite Divisions.
Bloomsday
An annual 12 kilometer (7.46 mile) run that starts and ends in downtown Spokane. Since the inaugural run in 1977, thousands of competitive runners, casual joggers, kids, stroller pushers, walkers and wheelchair racers have flocked to Spokane for a weekend chock-full of excitement.
Pig Out in the Park
This food and music festival is a six-day party of tunes and gastro fun. The event features 85 concerts from national, regional, and local music artists, along with more than 40 food booths and 225 different menu items. It's the perfect way to spend your Labor Day weekend . . . it's even free to join in the fun.
Elkfest
Music lovers can get their music at the historic Browne’s Addition and Volume Inlander Music Festival, three days of local and regional bands spread throughout the city.
