Symposium Session Will Focus On Growth

The final installment of the much-talked about Greater Spokane Area Symposium series, aimed at bringing growth and business to the region, will be today.

The symposium will be from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Jepson Business Center at Gonzaga University. It will focus on developing a community vision, and discuss why Spokane sometimes seems to discourage “new blood,” and what can be done to encourage new companies to locate here, said John Stone, who is coordinating the series.

The nine panelists will include mayors from Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, the president of Washington State University, business owners and economic development specialists.

The series began in response to Spokane’s slow growth and an article in Forbes magazine that gave Spokane low marks as a desirable place to do business.

The first symposium focused on gathering information about the local economy and potential for growth.

The second symposium discussed ways of enticing companies to Spokane and encouraging college graduates to stay in the area.

Most of the symposium talk has centered on economic development in the region, especially luring high-technology and bio-technology businesses to Spokane.

Stone said the goal of the first gathering was to get people to show up. The second was aimed at recognizing the problem, the third will focus on finding solutions.

“I think we have accomplished what we set out to do,” Stone said. “We feel good about what we have done. It is a difficult and exciting effort. People are talking about our growth and future.”

The round table discussion will be moderated by David Van Nuys, professor at Sonoma State University in Northern California.

Stone said more than 100 volunteers have formed work groups that Stone calls “packets” to find solutions to issues raised during the symposium.