“Vessels bringing in autos, even the largest, draw only 33 feet to 38 feet in the river channel,” Paulson said. “Logistics-wise it’s a good fit.”

Smith and Paulson spent time in Shanghai, Bejing, Seoul and Tokyo. An auto logistics conference in Bejing was a highlight. For several years, the port has been hoping to land some of the first U.S. import contracts for Chinese-made vehicles. The former Evergreen Aluminum-Alcoa industrial site with its dock — all of which the port is negotiating to buy — is the proposed location. Vehicle importing is good for the port for another reason: It generates three times the revenue of other import business in bulk cargo and non-container operations, Paulson said.

Taxable retail sales

Store-only taxable retail sales in Washington increased 4.2 percent in 2007 to $54.5 billion, according to the state Department of Revenue.

Statewide store-only taxable sales of construction materials increased 12.4 percent, motor vehicles sales were up 2.3 percent and general merchandise, up 4.6 percent. King County saw an 8.6 percent increase in store-only sales, with Pierce County up 3.1 percent. Clark County turned in a weaker performance of $4.8 billion, down 0.4 percent. 

Arts appreciation

You might think most Portlanders (including those of us here in Clark County) don’t really care about the arts. But you’d be wrong. A recent poll by Fairbank, Maslin, Markin & Associates shows that 58 percent of Portlanders attend an arts event every few months; an overwhelming majority of Portlanders view the arts as both entertaining and educational; 77 percent believe the arts and culture community fuel creativity that helps the local economy; and fully 70 percent believe that an increased, dedicated funding stream for the arts is a priority for the city. Chris Coleman, artistic director of Portland Center Stage, recently shared the information from a survey.

Getting the most

Women interested in a comfortable retirement and in sharing ideas for how to get there are invited to join the discussion at The Columbian’s new blog 60 & Single at www.columbian.com/business/60andsingleblog/. Hosted by Julia Anderson, Columbian business editor, the blog is intended to help baby boomer women manage their money, save for retirement and get the most from retirement.

Current blog topics: Shopping with coupons, Social Security Web sites, managing credit card debt and volunteer work opportunities.

JULIA ANDERSON is The Columbian’s business editor. Reach her at 360-759-8071, or
julia.anderson@columbian.com.