High-Tech Research Hits Home

A Milken Institute scholar whose research was used to rank Spokane at the bottom of a list of best places to do business will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the Greater Spokane Area Symposium.

Ross DeVol, director of regional and demographic studies at the Santa Monica, Calif.-based Milken Institute, will be joined by Tom Matthews, chairman and CEO of Avista Corp., and Packet Engines founder Bernard Daines.

The symposium is 4 p.m. Tuesday at Gonzaga University’s Jepson Business Center Auditorium. For information, call 458-8753.

DeVol’s study on how clusters of high-tech industries nationwide affect economic growth was the basis for a Forbes magazine story on “Best Places to do Business: The Technology Hot Spots.” In the Forbes article, Spokane finished 161 out of 162 cities. Seattle ranked No. 1.

“Ross DeVol is a national expert on regional development issues and the sort of voice that Spokane needs to hear as we search for ways to jump-start our economy,” said Glen Griffin, one of the founders of the Greater Spokane Area Symposium.

In other events this week:

Monday

Martin A. Regalia, chief economist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Shaun O’L. Higgins, director of marketing and sales for The Spokesman-Review, will be the featured speakers for the 1999 Midyear Economic Report & Forecast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Ridpath Hotel. Cost: $35, including lunch; for information, call 459-4111.

* Dr. Victor DeNoble, a former Philip Morris Tobacco Co. researcher, will be the guest speaker at a free program sponsored by Community Health Education Resources from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Providence Auditorium. For information and to register, call 835-8960.

* Commerce Department reports on personal income.

Tuesday

Thirty business and civic leaders from the Tacoma-Pierce County area will spend the day in Spokane to study how the Spokane Regional Business Center serves as a catalyst for regional economic development. Call 459-4109.

* Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee begins a two-day session to discuss monetary policy and interest rates.

* Commerce Department reports on new home sales.

Wednesday

Conference Board releases Leading Economic Indicators.

Thursday

The National Association of Purchasing Managers issues its report on the manufacturing sector for June.

Friday

Labor Department reports unemployment for June.

* Bond market closes at 11 a.m. PDT, and commodity trading day is shortened in advance of Independence Day.