What I’ll remember most are the people
The adage about a picture being worth a thousand words has never been more true than at The Columbian, where a cadre of talented, hard-working photographers has brought visual impact to business news stories. Columbian photographers added pop and sizzle to tedious person-sitting-at-computer photo assignments that I’ve been handing out for the past 26 years. Those photographers and their editors are among the many newsroom colleagues who deserve special thanks as I leave my job as business news editor. Special thanks to Linda Lutes, photo assistant, who handles business mugs and downloads photos from my own Canon 780.
Health care sector shows strong pulse
Job growth slowed in 2009 but didn't stop
Job market expected to recover slowly
Job growth is expected to recover slowly beginning in 2010 and continue building into 2011 and 2012.
County is unique and better for it
In terms of world history, 26 years is not very long, but long enough to see plenty of change for Clark County’s economy. In late 1983 when I joined The Columbian, Interstate 205 had only recently opened east Vancouver and Camas to development. Cascade Park was not yet part of the city and Southwest 164th Avenue was just coming off the drawing boards. Old line manufacturing — paper, aluminum, lumber, chemicals — was king along the Columbia River waterfront from Washougal west to the Vancouver Lake Lowlands. Hewlett-Packard’s Vancouver engineering think-tank had not perfected its breakthrough inkjet printer technology. And Japanese semiconductor businesses were just beginning to discover Clark County.
Cost of living stable in metro area
Statistics show some expenses declined from 2008 levels
The cost of living in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem metropolitan area remained tame in the second half of 2009, according to a report Friday from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Inflation stays low in Vancouver metro area
Rate inched up 0.5 percent
Vancouver Clinic Construction begins on B.G. medical building
The Vancouver Clinic has wasted little time getting construction started for its new $12 million medical office building in Battle Ground.
Clark County auto dealers say the worst is over
Companies refocus energies as they work to recover from toughest year in decades
Despite the “cash for clunkers” trade-in incentive program last summer, 2009 turned out to be the worst year for Clark County auto dealers in … well, a long time. “You’d have to go back to the early 1980s to see sales as low as last year,” said Jon Creedon, owner-manager of Vancouver Ford off state Highway 500. “But we think that was the bottom. We’ve already seen some improvement in bank lending, loan delinquencies are down and repos are down. We’re seeing a significant increase in online inquiries, a precursor to buying.”
Finding the cracks in glass ceiling
With half the jobs in the U.S. filled by women, those of us who’ve been working full time for the past 30 years have something to say about opportunities for workplace advancement for women. As business editor of The Columbian for most of the past 26 years, I’ve had the good fortune to interview and write about a lot of people, both men and women, in this business community, charismatic leaders, people who had drive and focus, bright people who knew how to solve problems. There also were dullards. Those reading from out-of-date manager manuals, who could not grasp the big picture and failed at creative problem solving.
Expert sees economy’s way ahead
Market outlook information I’m am sharing with you today comes from Laks Ramachandran, director and senior market strategist with U.S. Trust, the investment strategies group at Bank of America. He spends a good part of his time advising high-net-worth clients on where best to invest their money. Here’s what Ramachandran said last week: n 2009 was a great year for people who believed in the markets, but “sadly, many stayed away,” he said. Investors sought refuge in bonds rather than equities, even though markets improved dramatically throughout the year.
The Columbian is out of bankruptcy
Publishing company emerges from Chapter 11 process
The Columbian Publishing Co. today emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and returns to a positive financial footing.
Tech hasn’t been area’s jobs savior
As old-line industries in papermaking, lumber and aluminum began to fade in Clark County over the past 15 years, manufacturing jobs in technology were seen as the replacement. It hasn’t worked out that way. All manufacturing employment here totaled just 11,100 jobs in the latest report from Washington’s Employment Security Department. Of those, about 3,800 are tied to computer and electronic product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing and other tech-related work. That’s down 1,000 jobs from a year ago.
WaferTech parent 4Q profit rises
Recovering demand for electronics gives jolt to chipmaker, which forecasts growth for 2010
Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which owns and operates the WaferTech semiconductor foundry in Camas, said Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled after a rebound in global demand for computers. According an Associated Press report, TSMC net income for October-December 2009 surged 162 percent from a year earlier to $1 billion on revenue of $2.9 billion. Fourth-quarter sales jumped 43 percent from a year earlier, the company said. It forecast a double-digit expansion in sales this year as the global economy recovers.
Air Canada adds nonstop service from PDX
Air Canada plans new daily nonstop service between Portland and Toronto beginning June 17. Portland is among seven U.S. cities that will see new Air Canada flights into Toronto, where the carrier expects to add four international connecting destinations this summer. The airline has announced it will begin flying to Athens, Barcelona, and Copenhagen, and offer same-plane, direct service to Brussels through Montreal.
Ore. tax measures generate optimism
County likely to see new businesses, residents, experts say
When Bart Phillips looked out his downtown Vancouver office window on Wednesday morning, he did not see a traffic jam of Oregonians trying to escape their state’s newly voter-approved tax measures. But that doesn’t mean the yes votes on Measures 66 and 67 Tuesday won’t have a positive impact on economic development in Clark County and Southwest Washington.
Realvest Corp. files for bankruptcy protection
Realvest Corp., one of Vancouver’s largest real estate development and management companies, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tacoma. Realvest, owned by Realvest board chairman Paul Christensen and Greg Daniels, operates nine apartment rental properties with 1,145 units and six commercial properties including 205 Commerce Center, Main Place office building and the Broadway Building in Vancouver. The company employs 25 at its corporate offices at 111 Main St. and another 70 in the field.
Upbeat signs of economic turnaround
Unemployment still troubling, but other sectors see improvement
What a difference a quarter makes. If Clark County’s third quarter hinted at economic recovery, there was no mistake that a recovery took hold in the last three months of 2009.
Résumé is vital to job-hunters
There are more than 30,000 people off the job and looking for work in Clark County. Of those, only about half are receiving some kind of unemployment insurance support while they try to find new work. Many are facing the reality that the old job is gone forever and only training will give them a chance at something new. But how do you find a job in a new field when you’ve worked 20 years doing something else?
PDX ends year with passenger spike
It’s the first increase in 16 months and a positive sign for 2010, airport officials say
Portland International Airport finished 2009 in better shape than it began, with passenger traffic making a comeback despite higher baggage fees and more crowded flights. The airline industry, roiled last year by global economic weakness, saw red ink by the tank load as business travel fell sharply and consumers curtailed leisure travel. Carriers responded by cutting flight schedules, boosting baggage fees and, in some cases, looking for merger partners — as was the case with Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines.
County jobless rate rises
December marks third month of 2009 that it was highest in the state
Clark County again had the highest unemployment rate in Washington in December, the third time in 2009, as local job creation failed to keep up with layoffs.
December jobs report
Clark County jobless rate climbs in December
Clark County jobless rate hits 14.3 percent in December
Forecast: Important insight
Next Friday morning, The Columbian will host the 2010 Clark County Economic Forecast Breakfast. Those familiar with the event know that we bring in a keynote speaker to kick things off then invite guests to attend break-out sessions featuring our roster of local economic experts. Panelists cover topics ranging from energy to health care, economic development to real estate trends and more. This year, Washington’s Chief Economist Arun Raha will keynote the breakfast, which begins at 7 a.m. at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.
Jobless claims set state record
But unemployment insurance system holds up under stress
A record 475,000 Washington residents, including 23,642 in Clark County, received unemployment benefits during 2009 totaling nearly $4 billion, a 64 percent increase from 2008 as the region’s economy slipped into deep recession.
Women veterans get voice
Vancouver-based program helps them find services, jobs, training
Ashley Hackett saw an opportunity to fulfill her dream to join the military and at the same time lay groundwork for a health care career by signing up for the U.S. Army Reserve out of high school.
Economic sense, by the book
Tim Harford’s “The Undercover Economist” kept me interested enough to get more than halfway through his book over the New Year’s holiday. Harford takes a breezy approach to some of the more complex economic issues of our time: global free trade, retail price targeting, wages and health care reform. While not a murder mystery barn burner, “Undercover” has its moments.
The Vancouver Clinic to build $12M medical office in B.G.
The Vancouver Clinic will build a new $12 million medical office building in Battle Ground in response to current and expected population growth in the area. This is the fourth new capital project for the growing doctor-owned health care business in the past five years.
Retailers score in holiday sales
Low-end, luxury sectors both beat expectations
Nordstrom Inc. was among a host of national retailers that on Thursday reported positive earnings for the holiday season.
RS Medical co-founder steps aside
Rick Terrell has hired new CEO, will remain active in business
After more than 20 years leading the day-to-day operations of RS Medical, company CEO Rick Terrell is stepping aside to devote more of his time to new product development.
2010 Economic Forecast to focus on state’s prospects
What does Washington’s economy look like as we head into 2010 with hopes for business improvement, recovery and growth?
Time for government streamlining
It’s hard to think outside the box when you’re fighting to survive inside the box, but extraordinary times continue to call for extraordinary measures. With that in mind in the new year, maybe it’s time for Clark County and city governments to consider consolidation. Should we be looking at government service overlaps where a metro-style entity might be more efficient? Do we need separate police, sheriff and fire departments scattered around the county? Why not streamline processes and consolidate operations, where appropriate, to bring operating costs in line with expected lower tax revenue?
Marketplace: Chapter 13 could prove to be lucky
For homeowners facing the double-whammy of reduced household income and the real estate crash, there’s a wrinkle in bankruptcy law that might make it worthwhile to hold onto the house.
Metro area’s rate of job loss slowing
Vancouver-Portland area sheds average of 2,900 jobs a month, down from 6,300
The Vancouver-Portland metro area was still losing jobs in November, but the pace of decline had slowed substantially from earlier in the year. The monthly jobless rate was little changed.
Boeing can still help state soar
There’s not a lot to like about 2009, but the fact that Boeing Co. got its 787 Dreamliner in the air before Christmas is a good thing. Flight tests will continue with the aerospace company gearing up to make seven 787s a month by 2011.
Flier numbers get some lift at PDX
November shows gains after year’s rough start
Most major airlines showed positive gains in passenger traffic at Portland International Airport in November after a rough start to the year.
Supply of homes for sale stable locally
After peaking last February, the inventory of houses for sale in Clark County continues to stabilize, according to a RMLS report on Wednesday.
Clark County jobless rate rises slightly
Some industries show strength locally, statewide
Clark County’s employment picture showed little change in November with a jobless rate of 13.2 percent, up from a revised 12.7 percent in October and 8 percent in November 2008.
New state commerce director puts agency’s focus on job creation
Former Microsoft exec Rogers Weed oversees department’s effort to implement 4 priorities to revive employment
In the past year, Washington employers cut nearly 120,000 workers from their payrolls. October was particularly tough with 5,100 people losing their jobs, pushing the state’s unemployment rate to 9.3 percent.
No such thing as bad publicity
For Kim Bennett, any publicity is better than no publicity. At least that’s the spirit with which she handled last week’s New York Times’ coverage of whether Vancouver (that would be our Vancouver) can “make a name for itself?”
Pepsico chips away at success
Sometimes nothing else will do but a salty, crunchy bag of Doritos, if one wants to get out of a bad mood.
Local Realtors hope low rates stir buyers
4.71% interest on 30-year loans is lowest since data started being tracked in ’71 Rates for 30-year mortgage loans hit an all-time record low this week, giving many Clark County Realtors new hope that a fragile recovery under way in the local housing market will continue.
Enron penalty aids local utility
Settlement will help reduce low-income people’s heating bills Clark Public Utilities will receive $370,772 from a $9 million settlement announced Monday by Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna. It’s the latest settlement in the Enron energy crisis fraud case.
Use cash for holiday shopping
The National Retail Federation warns that those who charge $1,000 worth of Christmas gift-buying and pay only a $25 minimum back on the total purchase will not have the amount paid off until 2014. The additional interest for the slow payback at 15 percent adds up to another $370. “Paying with cash is the best way to add a safety brake during holiday shopping,” the federation said. How much will we spend on gifts?
More Americans will travel for turkey
Better confidence reflected in state, where 9 percent will trek at least 50 miles An estimated 38.4 million Americans, including 608,000 Washington residents, will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a 1.4 percent increase compared with last year, AAA said this week.
Vintners in state drink to top honor
Washington’s $350 million wine industry is celebrating the news this week that a wine produced in the state garnered the No. 1 “best wine” award for 2009 in an international competition sponsored by Wine Spectator magazine.
Economic council focuses on jobs
Plan called blueprint for region’s recovery A blueprint for job creation and economic recovery in Southwest Washington and Clark County keyed to technology research, renewable energy, industrial land development and a regional approach to expansion was unveiled in Vancouver on Wednesday. But those in charge of moving the initiatives forward say it may take years.
Clark County Employment Jobless rate is state’s highest
Nearly 30,000 residents off the job, looking for work Clark County’s job market continued to show weakness in October, with the highest unemployment rate in Washington, again.
When is the Right time to retire? Planning, asking tough questions key to setting blueprint for life after work
When Jennifer Rhoads sits with a new client looking for retirement planning assistance, among her first questions: When do you want to retire?
Listen to Mom for money tips
While putting the final touches on today’s “How to Retire” package, a younger colleague of mine observed that it was all fine and good for baby boomers like me to think about retiring, but what about her generation?
New bridge needed ASAP, business owners tell Jacks
“Build a new bridge and build it now.”
Numbers construct a sad story
By most measures, $75 million is a lot of money, but in the home-building industry in Clark County, it’s a number that sums up just how tough things are.
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