Columbia Signs expands to renovated building
Vancouver-based Columbia Signs Inc. is expanding to a new location at 4700 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. in Vancouver.
The company bought Andy’s Auto Center and spent the past 13 months renovating the commercial acre. Andy’s owned the location for more than 25 years, and it previously was a gas and oil distribution center for the city of Vancouver.
In the past decade, Columbia Signs grew to five employees and expects to add more with the expansion.
BNSF donates to Fourth celebration
With its $20,000 contribution, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. is the first business to make a donation toward bringing back a July 4 fireworks event at Fort Vancouver in 2010.
In 2008, the event cost more than $450,000 to produce. The Fort Vancouver National Trust, which produces the event, chose to cancel the 2009 event.
Biokleen gives gifts for its anniversary
Vancouver-based natural cleaning supply company Biokleen is celebrating its 20th anniversary by giving $35,000 total to environmental causes and youth athletic sponsorships in nine states.
In Washington, money went to Vancouver’s Urban Forestry’s April tree planting event and Seattle Earth Corp.’s citywide clean up.
The company also sponsors youth soccer clubs.
Award applications sought from African American business owners
Wells Fargo and the National Black MBA Association seek applications for their third annual Entrepreneur Excellence Award.
Two entrepreneurs will win $5,000, based on their demonstration of vision, leadership, innovation and perseverance. The entry deadline is June 22 and more information is available at www.wellsfargo.com/biz/aabs or www.nbmbaa.org.
First occupants sign on at Columbia Shores
Certified Financial Planner Mark Martel and Regents Bank have purchased 5,000-square-foot ground floor office spaces at the recently completed Columbia Shores Office Condominium, located on the waterfront of the Columbia River.
Martel is an independent financial adviser with KMS Financial Services and will use the space for his financial advisory and wealth management business. Interior build-out, to be completed by James E. John Construction Co., is set to wrap up by late summer.
Regents Bank expects to occupy its space by the fall. C.E. John Co. handled the transactions.
County plans development code meetings
Clark County will host two meetings to review and make changes to Title 40, the Unified Development Code.
The first meeting, set for 1 p.m. May 21 at the Public Services Center, will identify problems in the code.
The second, 1 p.m. June 11 at the county Elections Building, will work to develop potential solutions to the problems.
Retail import volume remains low
Import cargo volume at container ports improved slightly in March, but is at the lowest level in five years, remaining below the 1 million mark.
The number shows that retailers expect slow sales this summer, so they’ve ordered less merchandise, according to the National Retail Federation.
Washington State University unveils online MBA
Washington State University’s College of Business is launching an online master of business administration program beginning fall semester. The program, accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, will initially be available for part-time enrollment but opened to full-time students in fall 2010.
Students will be offered 24/7 course access and tech support, and full support services including advising, financial aid, career counseling and registration assistance. More information is available at www.omba.wsu.edu.
Washington housing market remains weak, affordability improves
First quarter statistics housing statistics show that Washington’s housing market did not improve with other parts of the nation, but suggest stabilization may be near, according to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at Washington State University.
Statewide home sales slipped 8.6 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008 – 30.6 percent below that of a year ago and the slowest sales rate since the center began monitoring the market in 1994.
However, falling home prices combined with lower mortgage interest rates improved affordability in most of the state. The statewide housing affordability index for all buyers reached 125.5 in the first quarter, which means median income families had 25.5 percent more income than the minimum required to buy a median priced home.
State launches consumer fraud protection website
The Washington State Department of Revenue unveiled its consumer fraud prevention website, providing citizens with links to fraud prevention information services. Options for visitors include searching for business registration and licensing status, reporting illegal businesses and checking records for complaints and violations.
Visitors also can verify the legitimacy of charity fundraisers, and report fraud involving a variety of industries, such as banks, child support, insurance, unemployment and workers’ compensation, vehicle titles, and medical services.
More information can be found at www.suspectfraud.com.
