We won $150,000 for economic development

Precision Cutting Technologies relocates to Liberty Lake

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington Department of Commerce provided a $150,000 grant from the state’s economic development strategic reserve fund to Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI) to support the relocation of Precision Cutting Technologies (PCT) and 45 skilled jobs in Liberty Lake, Wash.

The company was considering locations including northern Idaho to meet its need to double square footage. The company invested $4 million in a new 80,000-square-foot facility that became fully operational in November 2018. State funds enabled GSI, the local non-profit economic development organization, to reimburse the company for $100,000 in allowable relocation costs and provide a $50,000 Work Start grant to assist advanced training for 20 current employees and 25 new workers.

“Washington is committed to keeping machine shops and supplier networks for medical, electronic, aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries strong and globally competitive,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “Supporting good jobs and training opportunities for our skilled trades workforce strengthens communities throughout the state.”

The median annual salary for employees of Precision Cutting Technologies is $90,000 plus benefits.

“PCT has grown exponentially in the past 20 years, and the strength of our company is the employees,” said owner Clint Grassel. “With the recent acquisition of L&M Precision Fabrication and our new facility in Liberty Lake, our vision is to continue growing as a precision fabricator of metals as well as non-metals, such as rubber, fiberglass and plastic. We want to thank GSI for its ongoing support of our growth in this community from 2005 to today.  They have connected us to cost-saving programs that have allowed us to expand more quickly than we may have otherwise.”

“We are proud to have Precision Cutting Technologies in the Spokane region,” said Todd Mielke, CEO, Greater Spokane Inc..“Precision offers a host of manufacturing solutions that support other companies in the area and continues to create employment opportunities in the region.  We greatly appreciate the continued support of the Washington Department of Commerce and Governor Inslee for providing tools such as the economic development strategic reserve fund that helps us retain and grow jobs within our community and across the state.”

“We are very excited to welcome Precision Cutting Technologies’ rapidly growing manufacturing operation into Liberty Lake’s thriving business community, and we look forward to working with the company as they continue to grow and expand,” said Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson.

The Spokane area is the fifth-largest aerospace cluster in the United States, with over 120 companies, including Precision Cutting Technologies, supporting aerospace and other key industry sector employers throughout the world.

 

Congratulations PayTrace!

Congratulations PayTrace!

PayTrace has been ranked No. 8 in the “Best Fintechs to Work For” by  American Banking. A wide variety of companies including small-business lenders, wealth management, direct mortgage lenders, money management software, payment platforms and digital banks are on this list. Companies on this list go out of their way to ensure employees are having fun.

PayTrace is located in Spokane Valley and is a payment gateway company focused on smarter, more efficient ways of processing B2B credit card transactions. PayTrace creates a positive and intentional workplace culture for it’s employees. PayTrace has also been included as a 2018 Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest.

To read more click here.

These Are the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America

These Are the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America

By Winona Dimeo-Ediger | Livibility.com

#41 Spokane, WA

If you’re looking for a city that combines urban living with easy access to nature, Spokane is where it’s at. This Eastern Washington city earned high marks in the amenities category thanks to an abundance of parks, lakes (there are 76 lakes within 50 miles of Spokane!), museums, and fantastic music and food scenes. Local chefs here are always pushing the boundaries of creativity while highlighting local ingredients, and residents get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

The Spokane area is home to five universities and two medical schools, boosting the city’s education score and providing residents with educational activities and job opportunities.

And when we say this city combines the best of nature and urban living, we mean it literally: there’s a real, actual waterfall right in the middle of downtown Spokane.

Local Obsession: Gonzaga University Men’s Basketball (GO ZAGS!)

Climate Described in 6 Words or Less: The best of all four seasons.

Top Industries and Employers: Top industries include healthcare, life sciences, agribusiness, aerospace, manufacturing and craft beer, wine and cider production. Spokane’s largest employer is Fairchild Air Force Base with more than 6,000 active-duty personnel, Air National Guard, Army National Guard and civilian members.

Local Dream Job: Craft brewer or winemaker

Quintessential Meal: Spokane is serious about eating local, and luckily the region has so much to offer, from salmon caught in Eastern Washington rivers to fresh vegetables grown on local farms. For dessert? Huckleberry anything!

Favorite Weekend Activity: Spokane is a perfect mix of urban and natural, which means the options are endless. You can have brunch at a fun restaurant in the morning and go hiking, skiing or rafting in the afternoons, depending on the season.

After-Work Meetup Spot: The Safari Room at The Davenport Tower

Best Brewery: Honestly, the beer scene here is so good it’s impossible to choose just one, but a few of our favorites include No-Li Brewhouse, Iron Goat Brewing, Whistle Punk Brewery and Black Label.

Beloved Bookstore: Auntie’s Bookstore. Since 1978, this independently owned bookstore has thrived in the heart of downtown Spokane. It has survived the big box bookstores and is a Spokane literary landmark.

Free Way to Have Fun: See the Spokane Falls! Roaring right through downtown Spokane, the Falls will take your breath away when you first see them.

Hidden Gem: Kendall Yards Night Market. This farmers’ market is set up every Wednesday from May through September in the Kendall Yards neighborhood just north of downtown Spokane.

For Livibility.com's complete list, vist https://livability.com/topics/where-to-live-now/these-are-the-top-100-best-places-to-live-in-america.