Spokane Valley-based Numerica Credit Union has unleashed a new logo and a new “brand.”

That new brand – “Life moves. Live well” -- is meant to focus on the credit union's commitment to helping foster “well being in the lives of Numerica's members,” a press release said.

The new logo is described as representing “well-being and notions of wholeness, growth and community.” Photo here shows the new logo on top. The older logo is below.

The downtown business beat continues producing more real estate deals.

In Friday's paper was the announcement two groups bought the side-by-side buildings formerly called the Sherwood Mall. In fact, the buildings were built in different eras, and are probably best managed as two different structures.

The smaller building is the corner building once known as the home of First National Bank. It's at the corner of Riverside and Stevens.

That building was acquired by an investors group that includes Spokane Chiefs and Spokane Indians owner Bobby Brett, and area developer Chris Batten.

Brett is general manager of 1953 Box LLC, the company owning the corner building … and the name refers to the year this building went up, in 1953. The earlier building that sat there was not two stories. We'll go hunting for the historic photo of that bank that later was torn down.

The plan is to rebrand the building as the Numerica Building, and Numerica Credit Union will take most of the main floor. The rendering here, provided by nystrom + olson archiecture, shows  the exterior of the building after remodeling.

The  “real” Sherwood building, at 510 W. Riverside,was purchased by an LLC called Sure Would, whose principal is  Tom Clemson, the president of Inland Group.

Here's a lesson in market timing. Sterling Financial, which bought the two buildings back in the 1970s, sold them in 2007 to a North Idaho doctors' group, for $3.7 million.

This past month, Clemson's group paid $800,000 for the eight-story building, while Box 1953 LLC paid $500,000 for the corner building. Certainly both properties will take some major renovation. But those are decent deals for good downtown real estate.

In 2010 the properties were assessed at $2.7 million together.

There's Kevin Parker the state legislator. There's Keven Parker the business owner.
 
That second guy is the featured speaker at Thursday's Numerica and Whitworth Small Business Support Center (SBSC) discussion, running 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

It's at the Numerica Credit Union at 405 E. Farwell Road.
 
Parker is owner of a number of Spokane area Dutch Bros. coffee shops. He's going to discuss business growth and the use of social media to propel a small business.
 
Thursday's event is sponsored by Numerica Credit Union, Petit Chat Village Bakery and www.cureforcat.com. and Whitworth University.
  

The retirement party last week for Numerica Credit Union President & CEO Dennis Cutter came with an additional bit of flattery.

During the event, a sign on the credit union headquarters building was revealed. It said: Dennis A. Cutter Administration Building.

Cutter is completing 40 years of working for Numerica, nearly all of them as CEO. The party was attended by roughly 150 past and present employees, and guests.

Board President Dave Shriver presented the unveiling by saying, “It’s fitting that this building, with its sturdy foundation, be named after the person who was the foundation of Numerica’s success over the last 40 years.”

“I never would have imagined this. I had no idea. I’m speechless,” Cutter said. 

The building and credit union main office is at 10618 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley.

Photo of Dennis Cutter, courtesy of Numerica Credit Union.