RevitalizeWA: 'The new economy is the Main Street economy'
People at conference in Vancouver heard that message, then saw how it plays out here
A long-vacant lot near Esther Short Park is a place of pride for downtown Vancouver boosters.
Clark County Skills Center plans to add a new building
It would house aviation, cosmetology programs, if legislators OK $7.15M
The Clark County Skills Center is preparing to add a new building to its campus to house both its cosmetology program and a new program to train students for jobs in the aviation industry, in anticipation of $7.15 million in state construction dollars.
Vancouver-based Nautilus shows 15.5 percent increase in sales
Fitness company reported $5.2 million in income
Strictly Business: Benton lucky to be inside man
Many years ago I ran into an old high school buddy while on a camping trip with my family. We spent an evening over a campfire talking about where our lives had taken us in the years since we'd parted ways.
Riverview posts fiscal year profit
Turnaround capped by strong 4th quarter
Vancouver-based Riverview Bancorp Inc., parent of Riverview Community Bank, ended its quarter and its fiscal year in positive earnings territory, showing continuing reductions in troubled loans and a steady decline in bank-owned real estate.
Student-focused STEM Fest seeks businesses
Youth get exposure to science, technology, engineering, math
Sponsors of STEM Fest, a three-day event scheduled for this fall that aims to expose Southwest Washington students to science, technology, engineering and math fields, are looking for businesses to open their doors to students during the festival.
Engineering event forges ties
Showcase at WSUV draws in companies, teachers, students
On a gorgeous afternoon with snow-capped mountains on full display, Washington State University Vancouver's engineering faculty and students played host to leaders of some of Clark County's most innovative engineering and technical firms, launching a new series of events aimed at building connections between businesses and community resources.
Consortium eyes facility for drones
Research, testing would be done at six Central Washington sites
A consortium of Washington business, research, and job development organizations will submit a proposal for development of a research and testing facility for unmanned aircraft systems that would encompass six central Washington locations, with the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake as its hub.
Area jobs organization hires Vancouver official
Alisa Pyszka, Vancouver's economic development division manager since 2008, will leave the city next month to work for Greater Portland Inc., a public-private partnership that promotes business across seven counties in the Portland-Vancouver area.
Tech firm poised to grow in Vancouver
Immersive Media recently moved its headquarters from Portland
If you've ever clicked on Google's "Street View" feature, you've seen the work of Immersive Media.
Strictly Business: Technology vital, but not everything
At times, we need to let humanity break through the barrage of information, advertising saturation, and superficial interactions that are a product of digital technology that is reshaping our world in ways we can't yet begin to understand.
Recovery sees signs of growth, concern
Home sales rise sharply; wages stagnate, decline
This year's first quarter showed more signs of a quickening economic recovery in Clark County, but also some worries about those being left behind by slow job growth and stagnant or declining wages.
Cable TV franchise deal set for local votes
After months of discussion, delay, it heads to city, county
The City/County Telecommunications Commission, after many months of discussions and delay, has settled on a proposed 10-year franchise agreement with Comcast for cable television services in Vancouver and unincorporated Clark County.
Tax Deadline: Getting ready for next year
Two veteran CPAs share tips about what to do to get, keep taxes in order
Time is just about out for filing this year's federal income tax return without a penalty. Procrastinators should head to the post office or push the "send" button on that computer before tomorrow night's midnight hour.
Portland telecom company to bring hundreds of jobs to Vancouver
Integra will consolidate operations on old HP campus
Portland-based telecommunications company Integra announced Wednesday that it move its headquarters and some 500 employees next year to the former Hewlett-Packard campus in east Vancouver, a move that will provide much-needed jobs and a boost in confidence to Clark County.
Vancouver technology firm chosen for SBA program
Elyon International to receive training
A Vancouver-based technology company is among the 15 Portland-Vancouver area companies that will participate in the U.S. Small Business Association's "Emerging Leaders Initiative," a federal training program that kicked off in Portland on Tuesday.
Strictly Business: Don't blink, or you'll miss it
With signs on I-5, Portland says goodbye, Vancouver barely musters hello
I'm guessing that by the time you've rolled northbound on Interstate 5 past Hayden Island, and by the time you've passed the "Leaving Oregon" sign while crossing the Columbia River, that you already know that you're leaving Portland.
Local SBA loans rise in total value
Agency guaranteed 98 loans in a year in S.W. Washington
Taxpayer-backed loans to Southwest Washington businesses rose in dollar value in the year ending Sept. 30, although the number of loans in the four Southwest Washington counties dropped slightly during that 12-month period, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration's regional office.
Strictly Business: Recovery might be in bloom
Spring arrived on Wednesday, and it felt all week like brighter economic times could finally be arriving in Clark County.
Vancouver video-editing firm Epoch raises $2M for product launch
Epoch Inc. has kept itself hidden from view, even in its home community of Vancouver, as it built the foundation for its goal of revolutionizing the giant video editing industry.
Young Art to close downtown Vancouver stores
Businesses moving to Southern California
Young Art, which operates side-by-side fashion and art instruction stores in downtown Vancouver, is closing both businesses.
Survey: More downtown commuters ditch cars
Program that urges them to find alternatives makes some progress
A program that encourages downtown Vancouver commuters to ride transit, bike, walk, or carpool instead of driving alone is showing positive early results, based on surveys of program participants.
Union says don't fence me out
Surely it's not easy to stand outside your place of work, holding a picket sign and walking back and forth as someone else does your job on the other side of the fence.
HP excels at life in the fast lane
Vancouver branch plays key role in development of new inkjet printer that is world's fastest
With Hewlett-Packard's newest inkjet printer, a product hatched partly in Vancouver, many numbers stagger.
Learn how to be a financial lifesaver
Vancouver family proves pinching pennies can lead to stability even in tough times
Terry and Dusty Barrow project an optimism born of their confidence that, despite their challenging financial circumstances, they're well in control of their personal finances. They're even tantalizingly close to finally owning the home they've rented for years.
Strictly Business: Forecast breakfast in review
We spend a lot of time thinking about — and disagreeing about — the economy. Our fundamental differences about how to energize Clark County's economy are profound. The multibillion-dollar Columbia River Crossing is either our salvation — creating jobs during construction and improving access when it's finished, or our demise — destroying downtown businesses during construction and sucking money out of the economy with tolls. And that's not even mentioning light rail.
Local high-tech sector shows little sign of growth
Jobs in computer and electronic product manufacturing grew 3.4 percent in a year
High-technology companies remain critical players in the local economy, but Clark County’s technology sector is showing little sign of growth in the face of rapid change within the industry and intense competition for new jobs.
PeaceHealth still Clark County’s top employer
Health care provider added nearly 600 jobs from a year earlier
PeaceHealth has increased its employment as other public and private employers were holding their own, solidifying it’s position as Clark County’s top employer.
Strictly Business: Innovation a risk worth taking
The television documentary "Silicon Valley," broadcast Tuesday on PBS, opens against a backdrop of the Santa Clara Valley in the 1950s, when apricot orchards dominated and the technology industry had barely taken root.
Four Vancouver firms semifinalists for investment capital
Four local companies are among 25 "launch stage" startups selected as semi-finalists for the Oregon Entrepreneur Network's Angel Oregon 2013 investment competition.
Riverview sees blue skies of profitability
Only Clark County-based bank is $1 million in the black so far this fiscal year
With two consecutive profitable quarters behind them, Riverview Community Bank officials are starting to breathe easier.
Strictly business: About that 'socialist' light-rail line
Let's assume that Portland State University economist Tom Potiowsky was swinging for the fence when he took a swing at light-rail opponents at Thursday's Economic Forecast Breakfast, sponsored by The Columbian.
Clark County's fourth quarter: Grain tussle fizzles amid slow recovery
Vancouver makes failed bid to lure Nike and Clark Public Utilities acquires new water right
• some ways, the biggest story in the final quarter of 2012 was one that never happened.
Bank of Clark County to settle claims for $1.5 million
FDIC shut it down in 2009; statement says no evidence of liability found
The former president of the Bank of Clark County, which was shut down by regulators four years ago this month, said in a statement Monday that the failed bank's former Board of Directors has settled claims that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had filed against the board in 2011.
Vancouver-based nLight acquires firm
High-performance laser maker still mulling going public
Vancouver-based nLight Corp. has acquired Arbor Photonics, Inc., a small company based in Ann Arbor, Mich., nLight disclosed Monday.
Strictly Business: Waterfront rebirth draws near
A temporary cyclone fence blocked my passage to the Columbia River waterfront west of the Interstate Bridge one rainy morning last week. But beyond the new passageway cut beneath Burlington Northern's main line a couple blocks south of Esther Short Park, I could see the wide Columbia River in the distance.
County adds 2,000 jobs since November 2011
Clark County's labor market continued to improve slightly in November, adding 400 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis from October. Modest growth in most employment sectors increases the county's year-over-year employment growth to 2,000 jobs, according to the Employment Security Department labor report released Wednesday.
Update: ILWU says members will report to work Thursday
Grain terminal operators say they will implement their final contract offer
Longshore dispute reaches climax, with union saying it's disappointed with the result
Strictly Business: Fiscal cliff worries nonprofits
It's the time of year for giving, and every nonprofit knows it. If your mailbox is anything like mine, it's stuffed this month with requests for tax-deductible donations to countless worthy causes. Any donation I've made in response to remembrance requests at a funeral, any contribution I've made to a music or cultural nonprofit, any college my children have attended have placed me on their mailing lists for their year-end "asks."
Grain terminal operators back off from Saturday deadline
Operators say they're awaiting a union response
Grain terminal operators said Friday that they are awaiting a union response to their latest contract offer but have "no present plans" to lock the union workers out at six grain export terminals, including United Grain Corp.'s facility at the Port of Vancouver.
Comcast franchise parleys unfinished
County, Vancouver may grant 6-month extension of deal
With the deadline for a new cable television franchise agreement with Comcast approaching, Clark County's cable commission is getting ready — for still another delay.
Strictly Business: Innovation that's down to earth
The sky is the limit, or so it seems, when it comes to collecting, organizing, and dispensing information. The cloud has become our chosen image for seemingly limitless information storage warehouses, reflecting our confidence that all information soon will be at our fingertips all the time.
Grain terminal operators face negotiations deadline
A midnight deadline could trigger lockout as six export terminals
Grain terminal owners consider union request for extension of negotiations
Strictly business: A blessing to take care of business
November is a month to give thanks, but while counting my blessings I'm also looking at the increasingly blinding light of my own mortality.
Four companies to make pitches at PubTalk
Final event of year will get audience involved
Clark County PubTalk has settled into a high-energy groove as the focal point for local entrepreneurial creativity, and next week's networking event should be no exception.
BPA proposes 9.6 percent wholesale rate hike
Clark Public Utilities among customers that could be paying more
The Bonneville Power Administration on Thursday proposed a 9.6 percent average power rate increase to its wholesale customers, including Clark Public Utilities. The federal power marketing agency said the increase was needed to compensate for reduced sales of surplus power as utilities turn to natural gas, and to continue investments in the Columbia River power system.
Strictly Business: Utility ready for emergency
Thousands of utility workers from across the nation, including 11 from our own Clark Public Utilities, are joining in the massive effort to restore power to the millions of homes and businesses whose power lines were damaged by the epic Hurricane Sandy.
Sharp subsidiaries strong as parent flails
Camas operations healthy; solar branch largely dismantled
Half a world away, the giant Japanese electronics company Sharp Corp. is in a world of trouble.
Riverview Bancorp reports $1.8 million quarterly profit
Parent of Riverview Community Bank rebounds from three consecutive losses
Riverview Bancorp Inc. delivered good news to its investors Wednesday for the first time in a year, reporting a net income of $1.8 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, for the fiscal quarter ending Sept. 30.
Clark County's third quarter: Recovery toils on
Job losses stabilize, but gains too few to put real dent in drab unemployment picture
The word "slow" has been used so often to describe Clark County's economic recovery that it has lost much of its meaning. So, a dictionary offers some useful synonyms to describe our current economic status.
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