Because of our work with the U.S. Census Bureau, we’ve been talking at SRTC for several months now about the possibility of making Spokane and Kootenai counties a combined statistical area, and the implications of such a move. This editorial in the Spokesman-Review supports the designation because of the potential economic benefits it could bring.
The combined population mass often looks more attractive to businesses and events looking for new locations and the move could mean more funding for transportation and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
Read the article and let me know what you think.
I agree the number of people in Spokane and Kootenai County is an important item in how a company picks this area to expand to. Take a look at Cabellas they would not be here if they only used the population of Kootenai County to decide to build in this area. I know each area wants their piece of the pie, but overall we need to work together to attract more businesses, not work separately.
Some folks are worried that combining the two areas would change our government funding levels for certain areas in a bad way. In the end though, would the economic benefits outweigh that? Could be something to look at.