A new study commissioned by the State of Alaska and Canada's Yukon Territory says a rail link between Alaska and the existing Canadian and U.S. rail network is financially feasible.

While such a new rail line would in large measure serve mining interests in the Yukon, Alaska and British Columbia, it would also potentially siphon off container traffic now moving through Puget Sound ports.

Don't count on that competition soon, though. The preliminary price of the new line is $10.5 billion, and construction could take years even if the money were quickly available.

Making the rail line happen will require a public-private partnership of huge proportions. No one is yet stepping forward, but more studies are probably in the works soon.

Four companies were recognized today for their business leadership in Pierce County at the annual Spotlight on Business Awards presented by Heritage Bank and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.

They were:

Large business. Rainier Connect: A Tacoma telecommunications company offering local, long distance, cable television and high-speed Internet service.

Medium business. Forza Coffee Co.: A Gig Harbor coffee company expanding in the South Sound.

Small business. Three Chicks Catering: A catering company based in Tacoma that provides boxed lunches, party platters and banquet food.

Non profit. Fair Housing Center of Washington: A Tacoma civil rights agency that addresses discriminatory practices in housing and encourages diversity.

If your nest egg includes, let's say, 100 share of Boeing stock worth about $9,500 at today's selling prices, you'll be getting a check from Boeing sometime in September for a grand total of $35.

That check is your share of Boeing's new prosperity, a quarterly dividend of 35 cents a share.

The dividend is payable Sept. 7 to shareholders of record at the close of business Aug. 10.

Apple gave consumers a surprise today: the company announced that iPhone customers will pay less for service than other phone users.

AT&T Inc.’s calling plans for the phone will cost $59.99 to $219.99 a month, spokesman Michael Coe said.

Similar plans for other phones cost $65 to about $225, according to AT&T’s Web site.

Apple may be charging less to avoid scaring off potential customers with the price of the phone itself, which at as much as $600 is eight times the cost of Samsung Electronics Co.’s BlackJack.

Apple expects the iPhone to become one of the company’s main businesses along with the iPod media player and Macintosh computers, which each ring up more than $10 billion in sales a year.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one of six airports nationwide testing a security bin advertising program at its passenger checkpoints.

Under the program, a Florida company, SecurityPoint Media, will furnish new plastic security trays complete with advertising messages affixed to the inside for use at the airport.

The company will also furnish the Transportation Security Administration check points with plastic rolling carts on which the empty trays can be returned to the start of the security line for reuse.

In addition, SecurityPoint is furnishing new stainless steel tables where travelers can load the trays with their purses, laptops, shoes and the contents of their pockets before passing through the metal detectors.

The new equipment, which SecurityPoint will furnish free in exchange for the advertising exposure, will be in place before the Independence Day holiday.

Among the companies negotiating to buy ad space in the bins is Zappos.com, an Internet shoe company.

Last week business columnist Dan Voelpel wrote about an eco-friendly playhouse designed and built by the staff of BCRA, Tacoma's largest architectural firm.

The playhouse was auctioned off Saturday evening as part of Dinner and Playhouses Under the Stars, a fundraiser for the Children’s Museum of Tacoma.

The pirate ship brought in quite a treasure – $6,100. It was the highest ticket item sold at the auction, which raised $117,000 in total.