The Columbian

Clark County Business

Construction continues on the Skyview Station shopping center in Salmon Creek. Rumored anchor store Trader Joe’s has filed for a liquor license for the location but the company hasn’t confirmed the new location.

No more maybes: Trader Joe’s is a go in Salmon Creek

January 31, 2024, 2:21pm Business

Trader Joe’s has finally, officially confirmed that a new grocery store will be opening in Salmon Creek — at some point. Read story

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

A rendering of Lincoln Place II, a permanent supportive housing complex being designed by Access Architecture, has floor-to-ceiling windows, muted natural colors and a brick exterior on the ground floor to create a calming atmosphere for people exiting homelessness.

Vancouver awarded $3.5M in grants for affordable housing

January 31, 2024, 6:08am Business

The city of Vancouver won $3.5 million in state grants for four affordable housing projects, the Washington Department of Commerce announced Tuesday. Read story

Affordable Housing Fund grants available in Vancouver

January 31, 2024, 5:56am Business

Up to $9.5 million in Affordable Housing Fund dollars are available to developers, nonprofits and other housing providers to go toward projects that supply housing low-income residents in Vancouver. Read story

Leann Caver will become C-Tran's CEO on March 1.

C-Tran names new chief with deputy CEO taking the top role

January 30, 2024, 11:30am Business

Leann Caver will be C-Tran’s next chief executive officer, the agency’s board of directors decided in a unanimous vote Monday. 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

Washington’s climate efforts hit Clark County utility bills; Typical NW Natural customer will see increase of 11.9 percent

January 26, 2024, 6:07am Business

This month, natural gas customers saw the cost of Washington’s climate efforts reflected in their monthly bills. Read story