Manufacturing in Eastern Washington is on the upswing. Manufacturers in the greater Spokane region added more than 10,000 manufacturing jobs in the last few years. The more than 500 manufacturing businesses are powered by a workforce that exceeds 18,000.
As regional manufacturing continues to increase across the greater Spokane market, the West Plains area between Spokane and Cheney has seen considerable growth.
Caterpillar Inc. is one of the latest to recognize the advantages of the area with construction of a $37 million, 500,000 square foot parts distribution center. This major investment is one of several signs of increased development in the immediate vicinity of Cheney.
Cheney's Role
As an integral part of the greater Spokane region, businesses locating in Cheney can take advantage of the key benefits present in the smaller city while tapping into the identified industry clusters present in the region. The greater-Spokane region features well developed supply and service chains in manufacturing, aerospace, health sciences, information technology, clean technology, and digital media.
Cheney's location and resources make it uniquely qualified to create a synergy between the regional advantages of the aerospace and high tech industries. The benefits of close proximity to the Spokane International Airport and Fairchild Air Force Base are enhanced by the wealth of technological knowledge and infrastructure in Cheney.
Eastern Washington University's well-recognized Computer Science and Engineering programs create a highly educated labor pool that's qualified to meet the demands of these industries.