Xpedx moves to larger space
The Spokane Valley office of xpedx, a division of International Paper Co., has moved to a larger facility, an upgrade that manager Mike Toth said should allow the company to expand its work force in coming months.
The new location is 2501 N. Farr Rd.; xpedx previously was located in the North Valley Business Park on East Montgomery Avenue.
With about triple its previous space, xpedx expects to add three to four employees in the first quarter next year, Toth said. The company’s Spokane division currently employs six, he said.
Xpedx’s Spokane division distributes printing papers and packaging supplies and equipment to customers throughout the Inland Northwest.
Portland
BPA announces rate decrease
The Bonneville Power Administration said Monday it has cut wholesale power rates by about 3 percent, the fourth straight year the federal power marketing agency has reduced its rates.
Bonneville chief Steve Wright cited customer support across the region as a key factor.
He said 33 utilities have signed up since July for a new flexible rate program to reduce the amount of available cash reserves the BPA needs to manage potential or unexpected financial problems.
The program enables Bonneville, on short notice, to increase the amount paid by participating customers for a month’s power service and decrease the amount paid for service in subsequent months.
Washington
Stanford gears up for contest
The winners of last year’s Pentagon-sponsored robot race are back to take on another challenge – this time to develop a vehicle that can drive through congested city traffic all by itself.
Stanford University, whose unmanned Volkswagen dubbed Stanley won last year’s desert race, was among 11 teams selected Monday to receive government money to participate in a contest requiring robots to carry out a simulated military supply mission.
Stanford, which teamed up with the German automaker again, will enter a Passat sedan outfitted with the latest sensors, lasers and other high-tech gear. Engineers have tested the car on a closed course and will begin actual tests after scientists finish writing the program that will serve as the car’s brain.
nEW York
Google opens New York office
It’s so big, you won’t even need Google Maps to find it.
Internet search engine Google Inc. has a new home in New York: a 300,000-square foot, three-floor office that covers a Manhattan city block.
The company welcomed its 500-plus local employees to the office Monday, its first official day of business. While Mountain View, Calif.-based Google has had employees in New York in advertising sales since 2000 and in engineering since 2003, it said the new office is a step up.
“We outgrew our old space,” said Craig Nevill-Manning, the company’s engineering director.