Local businesses get sales lesson
Become destination, expert tells merchants at Vancouver workshop
At a workshop Thursday aimed at helping businesses become destinations, Vancouver auto shop owner Shari Troyer of Just Right Auto Repair said she has written a company statement about why her business is better than its competitors.
Local grocery workers may vote on possible strike next week
If impasse over health benefits continues, vote will take place Feb. 7
Grocery store workers at Albertsons, Fred Meyer and Safeway stores in Southwest Washington and Oregon will vote next week on whether to strike if an impasse in contract negotiations continues.
Infinity Internet undergoes merger, sale
Vancouver company started out as Pacifier; employees to relocate
Longtime Vancouver entrepreneur Doug Palin is finally ready to walk away from the Internet company he founded as Pacifier Online in 1987.
Project at Burgerville site called gateway to downtown
Work starts on $16 million apartment complex where iconic burger stand once stood
A pivotal development project launched this week could mark the dawn of a new age for downtown Vancouver.
Firm that strengthens metal parts to double size of its Camas facility
Bodycote-IMT, which strengthens metal parts for aerospace and medical device manufacturers, is more than doubling the size of its Camas facility.
Strictly Business: Camas baits; will Fisher bite?
Ken Fisher likes Clark County, that's no secret. His wealth management company also is well-liked by the county.
Grocery Outlet opens in Hazel Dell
Store will hold grand opening festivities Saturday
The doors to Hazel Dell's new Grocery Outlet Bargain Market opened Thursday to its first patrons, in a shopping space that's been dormant for more than six years.
Yummy Mongolian Barbecue coming to former brewpub site
Couple buys Hazel Dell building to house third local location
Husband-and-wife owners of two local restaurants will open their third venue in the former Hazel Dell Brewpub, a popular spot that was shuttered last year.
Clark County foreclosures up in December, down for 2012
The number of Clark County homes in delinquency and foreclosure spiked in the month of December, but for the whole year, the volume of troubled households retreated a bit from the previous year.
Kaiser to enter hospital deal with Legacy Salmon Creek
Longtime relationship with PeaceHealth to end this fall
About 100,000 Clark County residents who receive health insurance through Kaiser Permanente will go to Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center for hospital services under a sweeping new agreement between the two medical giants.
Clark County home sales finish 2012 strong despite December dip
Clark County home sales retreated 8.9 percent in December, but the local housing industry still finished strong in the last three months of the year, with a 14 percent increase in sales over the same period a year ago.
Communities vie to woo Clark College campus
Sites in Ridgefield, B.G. among those considered for planned north county location
As north Clark County grapples with growth, Clark College is emerging as a key player in how that region will look and feel for decades to come.
Vancouver's Amfit expands its footprint
Maker of orthotics products for diabetics expands
A little-known Vancouver company, Amfit Inc., continues to grow based on its ability to relieve the foot problems of diabetes sufferers, a fast-expanding global population.
VHA gets new option to fund major repairs
Federal agency's change a boost for local public housing
A change in the way the federal government manages its public housing could pay for some major building repairs on 122 public housing units owned by the Vancouver Housing Authority.
Clark County retail sales increase in third quarter
New auto purchases help drive surge
Clark County's taxable retail sales increased 6.8 percent to nearly $1.2 billion during the three months ending in September 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, the Washington State Department of Revenue reported today.
Newcomer count steady in December, down for the year
Newcomers to Clark County in December increased by about one dozen more new drivers than arrived the same month in 2011, the Washington state Department of Licensing reported on Thursday.
Local Tully's Coffee sites were shuttered before auction
Actor Patrick Dempsey appears to have made winning bid for chain
Company-owned stores part of bankruptcy sale
Local homebuilding jumps in 2012
577 permits from county most in 4 years
Clark County's homebuilding industry picked up speed in 2012, with the most permits for new homes issued for the year since the sector flat-lined in 2008.
New year brings increase in state's minimum wage
Washington already has highest in U.S.; local business owners say it will lead to higher prices
The state's lowest-paid workers will receive a mandatory pay hike starting today, an increase some local business owners predict will raise prices.
Papa Murphy's cooks up financing for franchises
Vancouver-based pizza chain teams with banks
Getting a loan to start up a franchise business can be difficult, even during the best of times.
Mystery big-box store planned for burned hotel site
An unidentified big-box retailer could soon become part of the waterfront view staring back at Vancouver from the south shores of the Columbia River near Interstate five.
Strictly Business: Want to save? Join the club
If you're like me, you love shopping for holiday gifts and hate using charge cards.
Privatized liquor losing proposition for small-store owners
Pitfalls for a former state store surprise even alcohol-sales veteran
Don Sidhu got into the liquor business to follow his dream of owning a successful business.
Carbon monoxide detector sales rise locally
New law will require them to be installed in rental homes, apartments
Sales of carbon monoxide detectors are speeding up these days in the final countdown to a new Washington state law that requires the alarms to be installed in rental homes and apartments.
State's small businesses urge to end tax breaks for wealthy
Owners from cities across Washington, including Vancouver, participated in survey
Small business owners across the state called for an end to tax breaks for the rich in a survey released Wednesday by the Main Street Alliance of Washington.
Port executive calls for regional cooperation
Portland official says collaboration would boost area's economy
Port of Portland Executive Director Bill Wyatt called for greater regional cooperation to strengthen international trade in his keynote address at a Thursday luncheon at the Hilton Vancouver Washington sponsored by the Columbia River Economic Development Council.
Clark Public Utilities board gives manager $10K raise
Commissioners set 2013 budget, anticipating that expenses will rise over 2012
Clark Public Utilities' elected three-member board of commissioners expressed pleasure with staff as it unanimously approved a largely status quo budget Tuesday, including a 4.4 percent pay increase for General Manager Wayne Nelson.
Academy focus of fundraising efforts
Trust has raised about $3M of the $16M needed to purchase, renovate historic building
In 1859 Mother Joseph incorporated the Sisters of Providence organization and set about establishing its Vancouver headquarters, the historic Academy.
Hot gifts stay local
From ukeles, unique toys, affordable wines to items for bird lovers, county retailers have something for everyone
Unwrap this year's hottest local gifts and musicians will make beachy sounds, youngsters will weave colorful bracelets and wine lovers will ring in the holiday season with bargain-priced vino.
Gaggle of grocery options headed to Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek
Stores being built, another remodeled, a third expanding
Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek shoppers are about to enjoy a bounty of new grocery choices, no matter whether they prefer a bargain outlet, suburban big-box or green-tinted specialty store.
State liquor sales have surged since privatization
Clark County booze sales unclear
Washington’s hard liquor sales increased from a year earlier during the first four months of privatization, the state reported today, despite higher booze prices and a rush of buying before the June 1 start of private sales.
15-year loans can save homeowners thousands, build equity faster
A growing number of Clark County home mortgage borrowers apply for 15-year loans to shorten the length of their payment plans and take advantage of historically low fixed rates, according to local mortgage finance experts.
Thai Orchid putting down new roots
Downtown eatery will move to former Koplan's annex site
Owners of the Thai Orchid restaurant in downtown Vancouver have purchased a nearby building for the business, which they plan to move to the new location in early 2013.
Old Vancouver City Hall building up for sale
After studying options, Vancouver schools puts it on market for $1.85M
For sale: Vancouver's former city hall, built in 1964, vacated by city staff in September 2011, and now owned by Vancouver Public Schools.
Local shoppers descend on stores
Black Friday starts on Thursday at some chains
Black Friday shoppers descended in swarms on Clark County stores from Thursday evening through Friday at daybreak, landing just long enough to swallow up doorbuster specials and move on.
Online grocer focuses on bringing local foods to west Vancouver
Owners of a west Vancouver grocery startup want their customers to be more than just thankful for food.
Holland Inc. will take back cafe site
Dulin’s Cafe did not exercise the option to extend its lease
Owners of the Vancouver-based Burgerville chain might redevelop the iconic Holland Restaurant site downtown when it returns to the company’s hands in August.
Strictly Business: Bringing shopping home for holidays
Oh, goody. More retailers are planning to break from tradition and jump-start this year's Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving.
Vancouver firm AHA! tapped to promote area business growth
Campaign for Greater Portland focuses on local success stories
Business promoter Greater Portland, working with a Vancouver-based marketing firm, is on the hunt for regional success stories, including those of companies on the north shore of the Columbia River.
Going green pays off for business park
Vancouver's Park Plaza receives $136,000 rebate on HVAC system upgrades thanks to Clark Public Utilities program
Going green has earned Vancouver's Park Plaza Business Park more green, in the form of a $135,760 rebate.
Still cloudy on legal marijuana
Local businesses not yet sure what form cannabis retail will take
Washington voters on Tuesday opened a whole new market to legitimize marijuana growing, packaging and selling and also created a potentially lucrative new source of state tax revenue.
Clark County housing starts up in October
Dwindling supply of homes, low mortgage rates credited for 84% spike
Home construction, traditionally one of the largest sectors of Clark County's economy, continued to pick up speed in October, according to figures released Thursday.
Kleier to lead NAI's Vancouver office
Charlie Kleier, a longtime investment broker and partner with NAI Norris Beggs & Simpson, has taken over leadership of its Vancouver office, effective Monday.
Downtown Camas craves a comeback
Hit hard by recession, area sees empty storefronts start to fill up
Having weathered recent hard times, downtown Camas merchants are trying to position their Norman Rockwell-like business district for a comeback.
Columbia Credit Union plans new building
Project would expand main operation center site in east Vancouver
Vancouver-based Columbia Credit Union has submitted a request to construct a second office building at its main operation center off Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard.
State offices possible on 136th Ave.
Vancouver developer mulls building that could house DSHS
A veteran developer of state government offices is floating the possibility of building a three-story structure at Northeast 136th Avenue and Ninth Street in Vancouver.
Businesses urged to ponder area's future
County growth plan adopted in 1994 due to be updated
Most businesses are busy just trying to figure out growth from one quarter to the next, with the big picture somewhere out in the hinterland.
Office vacancies dip in Vancouver as demand rises
Office vacancy rates continued to tick down in Vancouver, reflecting demand throughout the Portland-metropolitan area, according to a report issued Wednesday.
County home sales decline in September
Most experts say 12.6% drop was just a cyclical shift
Local homesellers found out in September that Clark County's warming residential real estate market was hit by seasonal cooling.
Battle Ground to get Walmart at Scotton Way and 503
Store would be part of Mill Creek Town Center
