WELCOME TO SPOKANE, WASHINGTON The second largest city in the beautiful state of Washington (102nd in the United States), Spokane truly lives up to it s motto, near nature, near perfect. Postured upon the Spokane River (a prominent tributary of the Columbia River) and verdantly populated with trees, to the point of being a certified by the Arbor Day Foundation, as a Tree City, Spokane is a lush, living city. Between the trees and along the river there is also great community. Spokane has been recognized multiple times (as recently as 2015) as 1 of 100 AllAmerica Cities, by the National Civic League, for it s trail-blazing efforts to bring all aspects of the community together to tackle the most pressing local issues. Contents Climate and Geography 02 Cost of Living and Transportation 03 Sports and Outdoor Activities 04 Shopping and Dining 05 Schools and Education 06 GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l l 01
CLIMATE Spokane rests upon a high plateau (1,843 ft) to the west of the Rocky Mountains, which guard the lush prairies and conifers of the region from the coldest fronts moving in from Canada and permit dry, hot summers and cool Mediterranean winters. Although Spokane is often overcast (46% of yearly possible sunshine) it s precipitation (16.5 inches) averages less than half that of the notoriously moist Seattle. What s more, Spokane s positioning permits distinguishable seasons to bloom in full colorful Falls, hot Summers, cozy Winters, and lush Springs. Average High/Low Temperatures Low / High December 23 o F / 32 o F July 56 o F / 83 o F Average Precipitation Rain Snow 17 in. 45 in. GEOGRAPHY The state of Washington is a natural wonderland wilderness: crisscrossed by mountain ranges (the Rockies and the Cascades) and numerous rivers, bordered to the West by the Pacific Ocean, and boasting the only rainforests in the contiguous United States. Spokane itself sits in Western Washington, nestled Southwest of the Rocky Mountains and East of the Cascade Mountains. The greatest water feature of the area, the wide Spokane River, flows through the rolling hills-across wide plains and prairies- through dense coniferous forests-and down numerous natural falls in making it s way through Spokane, Washington, before emptying into the great Columbia River (the largest river in the Pacific Northwest). GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l l 02
COST OF LIVING The cost of living in Spokane, WA, is 9% less than that of the national average, which is one of the reasons that Spokane is ranked as the 19th best city to retire, by CNN Money. However, Spokane is still a young city, with a median age of 35 and recognition as one of the best cities to raise a family (Parenting Magazine). Furthermore, housing in Spokane is 23% lower, than the national average, and utilities are 16% lower. With affordable housing, low unemployment, and higher than average health and well-being scores (Gallup), it s easy to see why Spokane continues to steadily draw new residents. Key Metrics Avg. Cost of Living -9% Cost of Housing -23% Health Costs -16% % below national average TRANSPORTATION Highways State Highways 27, 206, 290, 291 Interstates I-90 US Highways 2, 195, 395 Airport Spokane International Airport (GEG) Department of Motor Vehicles 6519 N. Lidgerwood Street Spokane, WA 99208 http://www.dol.wa.gov GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l l 03
LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT As a historical gateway to the West, nestled in the natural northern beauty of Washington State, Spokane has a deep cultural feel, yet maintains a refreshing connection to the surrounding environment. The shifting mosaic of architectural styles in Spokane, which range all the way from Victorian neighborhoods, to Romanesque public buildings (built following the Great Fire of 1889), and modern commercial centers, are home to Broadway performances, live music concerts, including local jazz, the Spokane Symphony, and touring musicians, as-well-as city-wide events, such as the Annual Spokane Lilac Festival. Beside the buildings, Spokane s 87 parks offer refreshing treats, such as, views of the Spokane Falls, fragrant strolls through the classical European Renaissance-styled flower garden, Duncan Garden at Manito Park, and the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden. Additionally, the surrounding area hosts many trails for hiking, biking, and horseback-riding, nearby lakes and beaches, and five local ski resorts, which offer cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, skiing, and snowboarding. SPORTS Teams IFL: Spokane Shock NLB: Spokane Indians WHL: Spokane Chiefs WPSL: Spokane Black Widows Major Venues Avista Stadium Joe Albi Stadium Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena OUTDOORS & ADVENTURE Parks & Trails Bodies of Water Discover More Centennial Trail Lake Coeur D Alene my.spokanecity.org Mount Spokane State Park Lake Pend Oreille spokanecares.org Riverfront Park Priest Lake visitspokane.com GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l l 04
SHOPPING & DINING Tasters and Sommeliers With craft breweries popping up all over the city, take the time to stop by No-Li Brewhouse, located on the banks of the Spokane River, which kicked off the Spokane beer renaissance in 1993. Otherwise, test or train your vino palate in the Cliff House Tasting Room, sampling awarding winning Washington wines from Arbor Crest Wine Cellars (one of the state s oldest wineries). Coffee Connoisseurs The U.S. Pacific Northwest is the birthplace of two of the nations greatest coffee chains, Starbucks (Seattle, WA) and DutchBros (Grants Pass, OR) and you better believe that the coffee culture has spilled over into Spokane. Local coffee shops across Spokane serve as comfortable workspaces, creative hubs, and friendly meeting places. ART & CULTURE Spokane s three major art districts (the Davenport Arts District, the Garland Business District, and East Sprague) keep the city alive with artistic performances and events. From the First Friday Artwalk, hosting local vendors and performers, Downtown, the first Friday of every month, to large performance venues, like the Knitting Factory, which hosts many mainstream touring artists. The Modern Theater company, services the city with professional productions; however, there are several other amateur groups and theatre who continually keep the stage alive in Spokane. Downtown Spokane also hosts the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, where a large collection of Native American artifacts are displayed beside traveling national exhibits. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l l 05
EDUCATION IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON Notable Colleges & Universities Elementary & High School Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Western Washington University Bellingham, WA University of Washington Seattle, WA Washington State University Pullman, WA Spokane School District Schools Elementary Schools Middle Schools High Schools Average SAT Scores Spokane United States Spokane Educational Attainment Bachelor s Degree Graduate s or Professional Degree 34 6 6 1493 1497 29% 33% CONNECT WITH GMS Founded in 1987, Global Mobility Solution is a global corporate relocation services company that specializes in workforce mobility. The company s corporate relocation services include global assignment management, domestic relocation management, and a range of pre-decision solutions. Global Mobility Solutions is a back-to-back-to-back winner of the HRO Today 2014, 2015, and 2016 Baker s Dozen customer satisfaction surveys. Online Resources Phone & Email www.gmsmobility.com 1-800-617-1904 LinkedIn: Global Mobility Solutions info@gmsmobility.com Baker s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings RELOCATION 2016 Winner GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l l 06