Don't be surprised if you see Spokane Valley boasting about the abundance of free parking in future advertisements and other marketing materials.

City leaders, pleased with the response they've received from the "Friendliest Permitting in Washington" marketing campaign, are looking to broaden community promotion efforts.The next step likely will be to expand the economic development push to a regional audience in hopes of improving business recruitment.

But council members also discussed the possibility of introducing new themes that some might construe as a way of differentiating the suburban Spokane Valley from nearby Spokane, the state's second-largest city.

"Can we add something about good roads and free parking," Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard asked.

Other council members quickly endorsed the idea, though no budget for the effort was mentioned. The current promotion is part of a $200,000 marketing effort.

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