W E E K L Y N E W S L E T T E R

Issue 28 | December 12, 2025

’Tis the season to be jolly—and all around Spokane, you can feel it. Lights glow a little brighter in shop windows. The streets hum with familiar songs and bundled-up shoppers moving with intention. This is the season of gathering, of giving, and of choosing—again and again—who and what we support.

Joy doesn’t arrive by accident. It’s built in small, deliberate moments: a coffee from the neighborhood café, a gift chosen from a local storefront, a meal shared at a place that knows your name. Every dollar spent locally becomes an investment in people, payrolls, and possibility. What seems like a simple purchase carries weight—it stays here, multiplies here, and strengthens the heartbeat of our city.

As December unfolds, we continue to see steady progress downtown. The work isn’t flashy, and it isn’t perfect—but it’s real. It’s happening because people showed up, stayed engaged, and chose to be part of the solution instead of spectators to the struggle.

And as the year winds toward its close, we aren’t reaching an ending—we’re turning a page. New conversations are taking shape. New partnerships are coming to the table. The future of Spokane’s business community is still being written, and every voice, every storefront, and every act of participation matters.

So yes—’tis the season to be jolly. But it’s also the season to be rooted, to be bold, to be local, and to be invested.

From all of us at the Spokane Business Association, thank you for standing with us, for believing in this city, and for continuing to build something strong together.

CALL TO ACTION...

125 S Wall Street, Spokane WA 99201

Get Informed. Get Involved.

Be Part of the Solution.

Member Meetings

Sprague Union Terrace Community Room

1420 E Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202

12 PM | 4th Wednesday of Every Month

Next Meeting January 28, 2026

Come enjoy lunch and let's talk East Central!

THANK YOU SENATOR RICCELLI

A great big thank you to Senator Marcus Riccelli for taking time to speak at the ESBA member meeting this week—answering tough questions and leaning into the honest, necessary conversations that shape the future of East Central and our city as a whole.

Welcome Your 2026-2027 East Spokane Business Association Board Members

President

Barbara Woodbridge

WA Trust Bank

Vice President

Wendy Fishburne

Wendy Fishburne LMFT

Treasurer

George Demakis

Stone Group of Co.

Secretary

Jake Swartz

Jones Double Reeds

Board Member

Cyndi Lane

BECU

Board Member

Jim Hanley

The Tin Roof

Board Member

Krista Featherstone

Royal Upholstery

Board Member

Drew Ulrick

TOK Commercial Real Estate

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year as the Spokane Symphony performs your favorite holiday classics.

Ring in the New Year with the grandeur of Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony! Celebrating its 200th Anniversary, this work dedicated to freedom, joy and unity is an uplifting masterpiece, with its crowning jewel — “Ode to Joy” chorus performed by the Spokane Symphony Chorale. It’s a beautiful way to look boldly to the new year ahead.

Spokane Police Department unveils new public data dashboard that offers near real-time information with searchable parameters

The Spokane Police Department is pleased to announce a new online platform that will allow community members to view and in certain cases, search for data reference crime statistics. This new program replaces the previous reporting method by creating user friendly dashboards that will update daily.

CLICK HERE TO
CHECK IT OUT

“The launch of our public-facing crime dashboard signifies an important step in SPD’s ongoing commitment to transparency. We aim to provide our community with clear, timely, and accessible information about the public safety issues that concern them. This dashboard continues our efforts to share various data points, build trust, and collaborate with residents to keep our city safe.”

-Chief Kevin Hall

Officer Daniel Strassenberg

Public Information Office

Spokane Police Department

509 835-4568

dstrassenberg@spokanepolice.org

SPOKANE 311 empowers residents to take part in keeping the city running smoothly—turning everyday citizens into the eyes and ears of Spokane. With just a mobile phone, anyone can quickly report potholes, graffiti, or other concerns from anywhere in the city.

Download on the App Store or Google Play today!

Spokane Business Association gives businesses a united voice, direct access to decision-makers, and a seat at the table where real change happens. Together, we advocate, connect, and grow Spokane’s business community.