Spokane, Wash. – The developers of River Park Square released job figures to the City of Spokane this week, exceeding requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) loan specifications.

The report stated that 718 full-time equivalent positions (FTE’s) exist at River Park Square, which exceeds the HUD loan requirement of 676 FTE’s.  More than 1,100 full-time and part-time employees are working at the downtown shopping center in sales, support, service and management positions.  In addition, over the course of the center’s development, hundreds of construction jobs were created.     

“River Park Square is a positive economic development tool for Spokane,” said Bob Robideaux, project director for River Park Square.  “The downtown revitalization project has created and retained a variety of jobs for Spokane area  residents, as well as generated significant revenues for the City.”

Additional jobs will be created as River Park Square completes its final phase of construction and leasing.  The Atrium Cafes on 3 is slated to open this spring with several food vendors, and leasing efforts are actively underway to fill the remaining 12 percent of gross leasable retail space in the shopping, dining and entertainment retail center.

Throughout its redevelopment, River Park Square introduced employment opportunities by partnering with community organizations to host neighborhood-based job fairs.  More than 2,500 people attended these events, and many were hired to fill positions at River Park Square.

According to the 2000 Third Quarter edition of the Spokane Barometer, an economic newsletter, Spokane experienced 2.4 percent growth in wage and salaried employment, placing Spokane in the top 25 percent nationally among metropolitan areas.  Local economist Phil Kuharski attributes this increase largely to retail sales positions.

The City of Spokane applied for a Section 108 loan guarantee from HUD on behalf of the River Park Square developer to help fund the downtown redevelopment project.  All Section 108 loan monies are being repaid by the developer.