In brief: Washington, Idaho get high marks

Washington and Idaho are top places to do business, according to a national survey by Forbes Magazine.

Washington was ranked as the fifth best state for business, and, for a second year, Idaho held the sixth ranking. Washington climbed from a previous ranking of 12th in 2006.

The Forbes story announcing the results of the study heavily featured Washington, which was the only state to finish in the top five of the 50 states in three main categories: labor, regulatory environment and growth. Washington also had the highest number of businesses open per capita than any other state, the story said.

Although Idaho wasn’t spotlighted in the story, a graphic showed that the state ranked third for economic climate and 10th for labor.

The study looks at 32 criteria, including projections of jobs, income and gross state product growth, the article said. Further, it examines the amount of venture capital going into an area and the number of new businesses that have started in the past three years.

Other factors in the survey include: the role government plays in business, environmental and labor laws, and taxes and incentives, the story said.

SPOKANE VALLEY

Chamber seeking shopping tourists

The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce is starting a campaign to attract out-of-town shopping dollars to the area.

The chamber recently received $50,000 from the Spokane Valley City Council to promote a “shopping vacation.”

The campaign seeks to bring in tourists to shop, stay in hotels and enjoy local attractions by advertising on the Internet and television. The chamber is asking businesses to come up with enticing offers that would go into effect between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31.

Participation is free. Interested companies are asked to call (509) 924-4994.

SPOKANE

Warning issued on asphalt crews

The Better Business Bureau serving the Inland Northwest is warning residents to be careful if approached by traveling sales crews offering to sell “leftover asphalt.”

The Washington state attorney general’s office and the Boise BBB both issued warnings about a scam that regularly happens this time of year.

The pattern is for a paving company to say it’s working in the area and that it has extra asphalt or concrete and will repair a resident’s driveway for minimum cost. The companies will sometimes quote a low price and upon completion overcharge the customer, according to a news release from the Spokane-area BBB.

The Spokane-area BBB says consumers should be cautious whenever approached by solicitors working door to door. Residents should also be suspicious of a company that does not list a business phone number in the local directory, the release said.

Residents should also be wary of companies that pressure them for an immediate decision, ask them to pay for an entire job up front or request cash-only payments, the release said.

From staff reports