The Columbian

Clark County Business

Pacific Lifestyle Homes offers new community in Orchards

December 1, 2020, 6:04am Business

Vancouver-based Pacific Lifestyle Homes announced Monday that it has broken ground on a new north Orchards development called Plateau Manor. Pacific Lifestyle will build 82 of the planned 93 homes in the community. Read story

A 60-foot Vine bus pictured at the C-Tran maintenance center in Vancouver.

C-Tran prepares for second Vine route on Mill Plain in Vancouver

November 29, 2020, 6:05am Business

It’s been nearly four years since the first Vine buses began rolling up and down Fourth Plain Boulevard, marking C-Tran’s first foray into the world of Bus Rapid Transit. Read story

Eric Klopman of Klopman Farms walks through rows of noble firs while gearing up for Christmas tree season in Washougal. Tree farms are mostly outdoor operations, so it's relatively straightforward to add COVID-19 safety measures.

Christmas tree farms stand tall in Clark County

November 28, 2020, 6:06am Business

After a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every business and industry, Clark County’s Christmas tree farm owners are preparing for their turn at navigating the new normal. Read story

Vancouver changed the parameters of its Multifamily Tax Exemption Program this week, tying its "affordability" requirement to the city's median income ($65,000) instead of the broader Portland-metro area ($92,000).

City of Vancouver looks to redefine ‘affordability’ in housing

November 28, 2020, 6:05am Business

The city of Vancouver is planning to revise a tax exemption program designed to incentivize affordable housing, requiring developers to meet a more stringent definition of “affordability” in order to qualify. Read story

Jennifer Lindsay and her daughter Elsa, 11, talk with an Old Navy employee as they wait in a socially distanced line on Friday at Vancouver Mall. Black Friday shoppers were a bit less numerous than usual in the morning, but foot traffic picked up in the afternoon.

Vancouver shoppers enjoy more low-key Black Friday

November 27, 2020, 7:16pm Business

Pam Stout and Sheri Kerr began their Black Friday at 6 a.m., heading to Fred Meyer for its annual sock sale, and the two shoppers found a vastly different experience with no crowds. Read story

The Port of Kalama is the No. 3 port on the West Coast for the export of bulk cargo.

Supporters disappointed, not deterred by ruling tossing Kalama methanol plant’s federal permits

November 25, 2020, 11:38am Business

While local officials and proponents of the proposed Kalama methanol plant said a Monday federal court ruling throwing out the project’s federal permits is not ideal, they’re confident the project will prevail through further environmental review. Read story

The cost of replacing the Interstate 5 Bridge could go as high as $4.81 billion, according to conceptual cost estimates released this week.

Early estimates of I-5 Bridge replacement top out at $4.81 billion

November 24, 2020, 6:18pm Business

The renewed effort to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge has a long way to go before it gets an official price tag, but the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program office put forward a range of conceptual cost estimates this week based on the mothballed Columbia River Crossing project, topping out at… Read story

Scott Bailey, Washington regional economist, speaks during the 2020 Economic Forecast Breakfast at the Hilton Vancouver Washington on Thursday morning, Jan. 16, 2020.

Revised numbers show Clark County’s job losses not as bad as thought

November 24, 2020, 5:41pm Business

Clark County’s job losses incurred during the pandemic haven’t been as bad as previously thought, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department. Read story

A concept illustration shows how the Vancouver Innovation Center at the former HP campus could be configured, although the final layout will be determined through the master planning process, and individual building designs will come later. The light blue represents the existing office and industrial buildings, with purple representing potential new office or light industrial spaces and white representing residential buildings. The red building is a potential middle school.

Vancouver developers field questions about plans for former HP campus

November 24, 2020, 6:04am Business

The developers behind the planned Vancouver Innovation Center project held a second virtual neighborhood meeting last week to field questions about their plans for the former HP campus in east Vancouver. Read story