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Another business leaves Washington state: Idaho business climate
praised 10/24/02
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho_ Spokane businessman C. Paul Sandifur Jr. lauded Idaho's business climate Wednesday while announcing plans to move jobs across the state line. "Idaho has a can-do, will-do attitude that we really like," said Sandifur, president and CEO of Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Co. "...Our feeling is that Washington has an adversarial feeling toward business." The move involves about 50 jobs at three life insurance subsidiaries owned by Metropolitan Mortgage -- Western United Life Insurance, Old Standard Life Insurance and Old West Annuity & Life Insurance. The companies will be expanding their sales from 21 to 41 states. To compete at that national level, Sandifur said he needed a better corporate environment. "It's an attitude, not a specific law or regulation," he said of the differences that made the company choose Idaho for expansion. Idaho dignitaries attending Sandifur's announcement basked in the compliments. "When Paul Sandifur makes this type of decision, many businesses take note," said Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. The announcement creates positive momentum for the area, said Ray Murphy, executive director of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce. "People are coming because Idaho is perceived to be a positive place to do business," Murphy said. "Washington does not have a business-friendly environment. I know they would like to change that, but it starts in Olympia, not Spokane." Idaho companies pay a lower proportion of state and local taxes -- about 30 percent, compared to 45 percent in Washington, said Dick Davis, president of the Washington Research Council, a business think tank. "There's a feeling that Idaho competes more aggressively for business investment," Davis said in a phone interview. "They offer more incentives, and Idaho is considered a lower-cost business environment." "I think it's great that Metropolitan Mortgage is keeping those jobs in the Spokane region," said Rich Hadley, president of the Spokane Regional chamber. "Job growth in Kootenai County is good for Spokane County. ... That's the meaning of region. The stateline is an invisible border to the economy." Sandifur said his decision isn't intended to reflect poorly on Spokane, where he's known for his civic and philanthropic activities. "We're very dedicated to Spokane, and we'll continue our actions there," Sandifur said. Metropolitan Mortgage employs about 420 in Spokane. The move involves 35 jobs from the Spokane office, and another 15 people working in Boise. The number of workers in North Idaho could double as insurance sales grow, Sandifur said. So far, there's no timeline for the move, or a location chosen for the new office, said Erik Skaggs, Metropolitan Mortgage's spokesman. "John Stone has already suggested that we stop by and take a look" at his Riverstone development on Northwest Boulevard in Coeur d'Alene, Skaggs said. "We've also been contacted by other developers." |