Software service sets up office

A Honolulu-based software company has set up a Spokane sales office and hopes to develop a customer base in the Northwest.

Phase 2 International, which is privately held, has one sales representative in Spokane who will work with customers in Washington and nearby states, said Adam Smith, a spokesman. Smith said the office would grow to three employees if the company gets more sales in the region.

Phase 2 offers software as a service, which means customers buy subscriptions rather than paying for the full box version upfront. Subscription costs are typically paid every month.

Smith said the key products include Phase 2’s own ShareCAD Pro, a tool for designers and architects, along with an assortment of Microsoft business services.

Tom Sowa

COEUR D’ALENE

Grant to aid economic planners

The Idaho Department of Labor has received a $250,000 federal grant to develop a plan for diversifying the regional economy of the five Panhandle counties beyond forest products.

“This comes at an important time for the region, where mills have been curtailing hours or closing altogether,” said the department’s Vicki Isakson. “It’s critical to broaden the region’s economic base, and that will require new skills in its work force.”

The grant will be used to map out opportunities and risks related to creating jobs in manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical and biotechnology sectors. The Department of Labor will work with local experts to finalize the plan over the next 18 months.

Becky Kramer

NEW YORK

Commodities boom could be near end

The commodities boom that just weeks ago looked unstoppable may have finally burned itself out.

Sudden plunges in the price of goods including crude, copper and cotton suggest commodities soared too high, too fast – and analysts expect even steeper declines in the months ahead as the U.S. economic slowdown spreads overseas and saps demand for energy, construction supplies and consumer goods.

Though commodities could swing higher again if the U.S. economy bounces back or world oil supplies suddenly become scarce, experts say neither scenario appears likely for several months or longer.

“The downward pace still has a way to go,” said Edward Meir, senior commodities analyst at MF Global in New York. “People are now coming around to the fact that growth is slowing, both in the U.S. and overseas, so demand for commodities will decline.”

Associated Press