The Columbian

Burgerville Chief Executive Officer Ed Casey led the company through a year with record sales and profitability and is now expanding the restaurant chain into new Northwest markets.

Burgerville expands, adding first new location in 8 years

January 31, 2024, 6:08am Business Subscriber Exclusive

After a record sales year, Burgerville is entering an era of growth. Read story

The old Lieser Elementary School site in Vancouver Heights is set to become home to nearly 100 affordable housing units, an agency serving children and a new city fire station over the next few years. A park will remain on the site, too. The redevelopment project was pitched as a partnership between the Vancouver Housing Authority, the city of Vancouver, and Educational Opportunities for Children and Families.

New subdivision planned at site of former Lieser Elementary School in Vancouver Heights

January 30, 2024, 6:07am Business Subscriber Exclusive

After purchasing the former Lieser Elementary School site, the Vancouver Housing Authority plans to bring nearly 100 affordable housing units and opportunities for homeownership to the property. Read story

Matt Newcombe, left, co-owner of International Graphics and Nameplate, grabs a coffee as his dog, Gracie, 7, enjoys a Puppuccino from Natalie Fairchild of Pacific Perks Jan. 11. Born out of a family crisis, Pacific Perks has been serving coffee at Southwest Washington’s businesses and events for 16 years. Now, the company has awarded its first franchise in Arizona.

Mobile café business Pacific Perks brews up franchising deal

January 29, 2024, 6:02am Business

Elaine Evans, an Arizonan, spent a cold January day serving up lattes at a manufacturing company in Salmon Creek. Before that week, she’d never made fancy coffee drinks. But within days, she’d be going back to Arizona to make her Pacific Perks franchise territory her own. Read story

Bridge City Contracting co-founder Roger Gomez, right, talks to certified renovator Kevin Rodriguez while installing a door handle Jan. 19 at a duplex in Vancouver. Construction is an industry that increasingly draws non-English speaking workers.

‘These are the best employees you will find’: Clark County businesses working to bridge language barrier

January 27, 2024, 6:14am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Violence and poverty are pushing waves of people to flee their homelands. A growing number of them arrive in Clark County seeking the American dream but speaking little to no English. Construction, trucking, hospitality and other industries have welcomed the influx of workers, especially given recent labor shortages, but employers… Read story

Dean Kirkland, chairman of Kirkland Developments, left, oversees work on the foundation of Hotel Indigo along the Vancouver Waterfront in 2018. The developer has faced legal headwinds in recent months.

Dean Kirkland keeps building despite legal disputes

January 27, 2024, 6:06am Business

Prominent Vancouver developer Dean Kirkland said Friday that his Clark County projects are continuing despite facing legal headwinds in recent months. Read story

Stories by Sarah Wolf

Columbian staff writer

Burgerville expands, adding first new location in 8 years

New subdivision planned at site of former Lieser Elementary School in Vancouver Heights

Mobile café business Pacific Perks brews up franchising deal

‘These are the best employees you will find’: Clark County businesses working to bridge language barrier

Dean Kirkland keeps building despite legal disputes

Final pilings removed from Vancouver port’s Terminal 1 dock — making way for public market, eventually

Clark Public Utilities rates will jump 14.5 percent as of March 1

Dave’s Hot Chicken plans to open in Hazel Dell

Clark Asks: If a tree falls into your home … what then?

Clark Public Utilities board will likely vote on overall rate increase of 9.9 to 13 percent