Grand Opening Will Herald New Visitors Center Downtown

Persuading 24,000 people to sprint through Spokane before eating a big lunch is what local tourism officials call a successful day.

That’s how many out-of-town guests were estimated to have participated Sunday in the Lilac Bloomsday Run, according to the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. (The other 36,000 runners spend their money in Spokane year-around).

The bureau already is planning for Bloomsday next year, when runners can get directions to the nearest Gatorade stand at the CVB’s new downtown Spokane Area Visitor Information Center.

Celebrating National Tourism Week, the CVB at 11 a.m. Wednesday will officially open the center, 201 W. Main. The grand opening will be followed by a luncheon speech from Robin Pollard, director of the Washington State Tourism Division, at the Ridpath Hotel.

Lunch is $12, slightly more than a Bloomsday T-shirt, but a lot easier on the body. Call 624-1341.

In other events this week:

Today

The International Council of Shopping Centers Spring Convention opens in Las Vegas, running through Thursday.

Jack Silzel, agricultural aide to Rep. George Nethercutt, answers questions about new farm bill at 9 a.m. at St. John Hardware in Fairfield.

Northwest Cherry Growers four-state board of directors holds annual meeting in Yakima.

Washington Farm Bureau delegation flies to Washington, D.C. to lobby legislators for a balanced budget, increased property rights and reform of the Delaney Clause.

Tuesday

SIRTI board of directors meets.

Consumer Credit Counseling of Spokane offers free “Give Yourself Some Credit” workshop at 7 p.m. in the Hillyard Public Library, 4005 N. Cook. Call 626-5381.

Federal Reserve releases March consumer credit report.

Wednesday

Colville Confederated Tribes holds annual public meetings to set economic development goals at 5:30 p.m. at Community Center in Omak. Repeats at 5 p.m. Thursday at Catholic Long House in Nespelem. Call Mary Beth Clark or Pete Palmer at 509-634-8869.

Federal Reserve releases Beige Book survey of regional economic activity.

Thursday

Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce and Seafirst Bank present the 1996 Agora Awards for small business excellence at 7:30 a.m. in the Crescent Court downtown. Cost: $15. Call 624-1393.

The nation’s largest retailers release their sales figures for April.

Friday

Spokane Ag Bureau meets at noon at the Stockyards Inn restaurant.

Agricultural Statistics Service issues crop production report.

Sunday

Mother’s Day.

Key Technology Inc., a Walla Walla manufacturer of food processing equipment, demonstrates new Tegra sorting systems; repeats May 15.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Sales tax receipts

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Business Week: May 6: Fidelity, the nation’s largest and most influential mutual fund company, finds itself mired in problems. Business Week looks at why.

The price of defense Largest U.S. defense contractors, based on value of contracts awarded in 1995: 1. Lockheed Martin, $10.5 billion. 2. McDonnell Douglas, $8 billion. 3. Tenneco Inc., $3.7 billion. 4. General Motors Corp., $3 billion. 5. Northrop Grumman, $2.91 billion. 6. Raytheon Corp., $2.89 billion. 7. General Electric Co., $2.1 billion. 8. Loral Corp., $2 billion. 9. Boeing Co., $1.78 billion. 10. United Technologies Corp., $1.77 billion.