Distribution & Logistics

Spokane Valley's Unique Distribution & Logistics Advantages

Home to a robust infrastructure, offering low operating costs and equipped with specialized incentives, Spokane Valley makes an ideal location for warehousing, distribution and logistics businesses.

The leading third-party logistics provider in the Inland Pacific Northwest, Inland Empire Distribution Systems Inc., is headquartered in Spokane Valley, and is ideally suited for supply chain control of freight distribution to and from Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

Distributors such as Core-Mark offer warehousing and distribution facilities in the area that can move general merchandise, as well as health and beauty care products and frozen products.

Multiple Options for Moving Freight

The Spokane region is equipped with the transportation infrastructure to move products across the U.S. Conveniently located along Interstate 90, Spokane Valley manufacturers can make easy use of this freight corridor to carry both international and domestic interstate and intrastate trade. Additionally, north-south routes provide access to Canada - only 110 miles to the north - as well as Mexico.

Two Class 1 railroads, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF), both ship nationally out of the local switching yard. On the direct Seattle to Chicago line for both railroads, Spokane Valley is the gateway to and from the interior U.S. and the Pacific Rim, with efficient east-west access and reciprocal switching capabilities matched by only a few regions nationwide.

Low Costs

Spokane Valley's advantage begins with its low taxes. The city does not impose a local Business and Occupation tax and has not increased the city property taxes for six years. It is also home to friendly worker's compensation rates that keep costs low by basing the rates on hours worked rather than the wages paid.

For warehousing and distribution, the State of Washington offers the Remittance of State Sales Tax for Warehouses to wholesalers or third-party warehousers who own or operate warehouses, grain elevators or retailers who own or operate distribution centers. The incentive applies to sales tax paid on the construction or expansion of warehouse or distribution centers by at least 200,000 square feet or the construction or expansion of a grain elevator by at least one-million-bushel storage capacity.

There are also a variety of general employer incentive programs for everything ranging from the hiring of veterans to providing international services. Through the Washington Customized Training Program eligible businesses can also receive customized employee training. The level of customization ranges from existing training curriculum delivered at the job site to fully customized training curriculum developed exclusively for the business.

Accessible Workforce

Spokane County is home to the largest labor market in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Eighteen universities and colleges have a presence in the area, and nearly 90,000 students study within an 80-mile radius. When combined with local job skills and apprenticeship programs, these resources make building a highly skilled employee team fast and simple.

In addition to local graduates, Fairchild Air Force Base provides a working pool of retired military and military spouses. The largest jobholder group is 25 to 34 years old.

Learn more about the region's workforce.

View or print our helpful distribution and logistics brochure (PDF).

Local Companies

BNSF Railroad

BNSF is a critical link that connects consumers with the global marketplace. For 170 years, BNSF has played a vital role in building and sustaining this nation's economy.

Core Mark

Core Mark is a large distributor and marketer of consumer foods, providing a state-of-the-art supply chain that features refrigerated docks and a fleet of tri-temperature trailers built specifically for delivery to convenience stores.