Innovation

Thanks to clean tech, high tech and life science innovators in the Inland Northwest, some businesses in Spokane have developed a more deliberate and more experimental approach to business in recent years. The Innovation Center at McKinstry Station is an urban laboratory in Spokane’s University District with a world-class infrastructure ripe to produce world-class products and services.

The 38,000 square-foot facility is designed to foster innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship with space for prototype development, demonstrations, and conferences and meetings that seat anywhere from six to 40 people. For those moments when a creative mind needs to kick back, rev up or just chill, the center has a complete gym, grassy lawn, outdoor deck and kayak access to the Spokane River.

Collaboration is key at the Innovation Center, where tenants also have a pipeline to McKinstry’s business expertise and the opportunity to learn from the company’s mentoring team and skilled tradespeople.

The networking, collaboration and sharing of ideas found in the Innovation Center at McKinstry Station are beneficial to all companies, regardless of sector or scale.

Share Space Spokane also offers a unique co-working environment. Located in the historic Steam Plant Square, it provides space for entrepreneurs, startup companies and freelancers to meet, work, share and learn together.

Greater Spokane Incorporated, the region’s Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organization, is working with partners to create a new entrepreneurial program to help streamline the connection of startup companies to community resources that will help them start, build and expand their businesses.

Agriculture

Agriculture is big in the Spokane regionand we are surrounded by large-scale operations, medium-sized growers and small organic farms, many that supply fruit, vegetables and meats to farmer’s markets and directly to the chefs in area restaurants. Generations of farmers have worked this land and we’re proud of that. Not only does agriculture contribute mightily to our economy, it gives us a great deal of heart and soul.

Area farmers rank high on the innovation scale as well. An alliance of growers called Shepherd’s Grain uses a planting method called Direct Seeding that differs drastically from conventional planting. Instead of turning the soil with a plow, seeds are sowed directly into the residue of the crop that came before it. The advantages include less soil erosion and runoff, reduced fuel and exhaust fumes and increased carbon in the soil. Crop rotation is a vital part of Direct Seeding, resulting in soil with fewer pests that need to be treated with chemicals.