W E E K L Y N E W S L E T T E R
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Issue 21 | October 24, 2025
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT...
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If I could offer you one unequivocal, powerful reason to vote in every local election—seared in truth, rooted in urgency—it would be this:
Because you are the deciding factor in your own tomorrow.
In local elections—those quiet races beneath the flash of national headlines—the margin between who governs and how you live is razor-thin. Your ballot isn’t swallowed by millions: it matters, deeply.
When you vote locally:
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You choose who fixes your roads, funds your schools, holds your police accountable, and stands up for your neighborhood’s voice.
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You tilt the balance in a contest where sometimes tens or dozens of votes—not thousands—decide the outcome.
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You shift power from distance to proximity—from someone who might know your community to someone who must serve it.
Think of it this way: when you show up, you help build a stronger Spokane. When you don’t, you give it away—quietly, invisibly—to someone else. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
So vote—not just because it’s a duty, but because it’s your voice saying: “I matter. My life here matters. I will not sit silent.”
When you vote locally, you’re not just casting a ballot—you’re asserting that your community, your future, your story count.
Let tomorrow be shaped by you —own it.
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STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE DIRECTOR
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Building Solutions Together: SBA’s Contractors & Developers Focus Council and the City of Spokane
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The Spokane Business Association’s Contractors & Developers Focus Council continues to strengthen its collaboration with the City of Spokane’s Development and Community Services Department, creating a direct line of communication between those who build our city and those who regulate its growth.
During recent meetings, SBA'S focus council and city officials have worked together to identify practical ways to streamline permitting, increase predictability, and improve coordination across departments. Both sides share a clear commitment to finding common ground and building a system that works — one that encourages investment while upholding Spokane’s standards for safety and livability.
This partnership is progress in motion. Through open dialogue and shared problem-solving, the Contractors & Developers Focus Council is helping ensure that Spokane’s policies reflect the realities faced by those shaping its skyline and neighborhoods.
Together, we’re laying the groundwork for a city that builds smarter, collaborates deeper, and moves forward — with Spokane’s business community and public sector working side by side.
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The Spokane Business Association is committed to solutions around public safety, homelessness, and economic stability—because the future of Spokane depends on it.
- Public safety is not just about policing—it’s about creating an environment where business owners feel confident opening their doors, employees feel safe going to work, and families feel secure walking downtown. Safety is the foundation for investment, tourism, and long-term growth.
- Addiction and homelessness are human issues, and they’re also economic ones. The absence of accessible, accountable treatment options has created a ripple effect that’s hurting our workforce, straining public services, and pushing more people into crisis. We can’t solve one part of the puzzle without addressing the others.
- Economic stability is what allows a city to thrive. Businesses create jobs, support local families, and generate tax revenue that funds schools, roads, and essential services. But when storefronts are empty and public spaces are in crisis, Spokane loses opportunity—and so do the people who call it home.
We believe Spokane can be better. And we know that real, sustainable change will take bold leadership, collaborative solutions, and a commitment to rebuilding the social and economic fabric of our city.
Visit SBA's 75% Leadership Pledge and Blueprint for Legislation below - because 75% of Spokane is ready for change. Are you?
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Read SBA's 75% Leadership Pledge Here
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Read SBA's Legislation Blueprint
Here
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TURNING UP THE VOLUME ON SPOKANE'S BUSINESS VOICE
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GET INFORMED. GET INVOLVED. BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
Sprague Union Terrace Community Room
1420 E Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202
12 PM | 4th Wednesday of Every Month
(No meeting in November)
East Central matters—and so do you. Let’s get to work.
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Taken on Level 3 at The Falls Tower, located at 700 N Lincoln Ave . Pictured from left to right: Wes Southwick, Cyndi Lane, Anthony LaPine, Shannon Bottler, Barbara Woodbridge, Kim Crumpacker, George Demakis, Wendy Fishburne, Brad Barnett, Angela Witter.
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ESBA had a chance to spread our wings this week, moving our member meeting downtown for a tour of The Falls Tower. It was a unique opportunity to engage with one another, witness our cityscape rise, and connect with business leaders and elected officials. All in all, a beautiful day to live and invest in Spokane.
We’ll see you on December 10th, as no meeting will be held in November per tradition. Board elections will take place, so be sure to join us again at the Sprague Union Terrace Community Room. See you there!
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Tuesday, November 18th
We're excited to host our meeting at a new location!
Stay tuned!
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Find us at Ignite Northwest
518 W Riverside Ave
Spokane, WA 99201
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In November, we’ll continue our conversation regarding the staggering vacancy rate in downtown Spokane—a crisis that reaches far beyond empty storefronts. Every vacant space represents lost opportunity, lost energy, and lost revenue.
When businesses close their doors, Spokane loses millions in potential tax dollars—funds that could otherwise support public safety, infrastructure, addiction recovery programs, and essential city services. Each darkened window downtown isn’t just a business that left; it’s a piece of Spokane’s economic engine gone idle.
Reversing this trend requires more than optimism. It demands leadership, accountability, and a shared vision that restores confidence in our city’s core. The Spokane Business Association remains committed to advancing real solutions that bring business back, strengthen community, and ensure that Spokane’s heart beats strong again.
Hear stories from our own community members.
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Did you miss the SBA Annual Dinner?
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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.
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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.
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SBA THANKS OUR VALUABLE SPONSORS
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www.SpokaneBusinessAssociation.com
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