INW manufacturers develop regional supply chains

Inland Northwest manufacturers are positioning the region as a hub for emerging technologies, targeting nuclear power, clean‑energy projects and photonics applications.

Regional Partnerships Drive Emerging‑Tech Supply Chains

Companies in the Spokane area are linking with partners in the Tri‑Cities, Idaho and Montana to create supply networks that no single locale could sustain alone, according to Mark Norton, executive director of the Northwest I‑90 Manufacturing Alliance.

“Automation and robotics are really coming to the forefront,” Norton said, noting that newer equipment will displace some lower‑skill roles while raising demand for technically trained staff.

Mike McBride, a regional labor economist for Washington State, identified growth in chemical production—especially pharmaceuticals—wood products such as cross‑laminated timber, and primary metal work. At the same time, sectors like food processing, computer and electronic goods, and transportation equipment are shrinking, the latter largely due to a slowdown in aerospace orders.

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Spokane County’s production workforce peaked at more than 17,000 jobs in 2023, the highest level in a decade, before slipping to just over 16,000 in 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

The decline reflects retirements among baby boomers, the last generation that broadly entered the trades, Norton added. He said the rise of automation is also reshaping job requirements.

One of the alliance’s closest ties is with the Tri‑Cities‑based Clean Energy Supplier Alliance, which is helping firms tap into the growing nuclear and clean‑energy market.

Before entering the nuclear supply chain, firms must secure industry certifications. Much of the Northwest I‑90 Manufacturing Alliance’s work involves educating manufacturers about those requirements and helping companies determine whether pursuing the market makes sense, Norton explained.

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Spokane Valley’s Wagstaff Inc. has already begun delivering components to the nuclear sector.

Johnston Engineering PLLC and Hydrafab Northwest Inc. are evaluating similar opportunities.

Regional collaboration can offset the limitations of any single market, allowing firms to pool resources and share expertise. By linking production strengths with research hubs, the area aims to attract projects that might otherwise bypass smaller economies.

Photonics, Quantum Prospects and Workforce Development

By weaving together capabilities across Washington, Idaho and Montana, the collective effort hopes to attract larger contracts in nuclear, clean‑energy and photonics fields, offering a broader base of jobs and a more resilient economic outlook.