Waterfront developments get stimulus cash
Nine Southwest Washington projects will get nearly $13.7 million in federal stimulus money, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) announced July 31.
The Port of Vancouver, the city's waterfront access project and the Columbia River Crossing Project are some of the major beneficiaries of the funds. Murray secured the funding in the bill approved by a Senate Appropriations subcommittee last Wednesday.
About $3 million of the total funds will be set aside for the West Vancouver freight access project meant to relieve a chokepoint in traffic along the city's north-south rail corridor. The project is expected to create 1,900 construction jobs.
Other recipients of this funding include an alternative energy employment center in Centralia, a homeless shelter in Longview and the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington in Vancouver.
Vancouverites selected to conduct fundraising workshops in Singapore
Vancouver-based fundraising firm ACCG:avenue2possibilities LLP, has been selected to conduct workshops and a series of consultation sessions by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) of Singapore.
This will be the first time partners Jonathan Abramson and Randa Cleaves will be bringing their popular "Inspired Giving NOW!" workshop to Southeast Asia. The sessions are designed to train boards and staff members to talk about their organization's work, and when appropriate, to ask for donations for support of their mission.
Cleaves has more than 30 years experience with nonprofit organizations in Vancouver, Portland, Tacoma and Olympia. Abramson has worked in the arts and culture, community development and human service nonprofit fields.
HomeStreet Bank contributes to local housing program
Continuing its long-term commitment to affordable housing, HomeStreet's Vancouver branch contributed $1,000 to the Community Housing Resource Center.
HomeStreet Bank staff have been active with the nonprofit group, formerly known as the Vancouver Homeownership Center, since its founding 1995. CHRC provides resources and tools to help individuals and families in Southwest Washington become homeowners.
Services to first-time house seekers include assessment counseling, certificated homebuyer education classes and assistance with applications for special first-time buyer loans. Other services include mortgage default counseling, and assistance to senior citizens on using equity as a means of providing monthly income through reverse mortgages.
Over the past 12 years, the center has worked with over 18,000 mostly low-to-moderate-income households, 5,000 of which purchased a home within a year of contacting the center, according to CHRC.
KeyBank planning Clark County expansion
KeyBank National Association, the holding company for KeyBank, is planning on adding four new branches in the Clark County area over the next two years.
With five offices in Vancouver, KeyBank plans to expand include new locations in Vancouver and Camas – part of the Cleveland-based bank's plan to build 20 branches and remodel 33 others by 2012. The first new branch in Vancouver is scheduled to open in early 2010.
EastRidge Business Park hosts community fair
Over 2,000 local residents last month came to the community fair at EastRidge Business Park in Vancouver to enjoy vendor booths, games, pony rides and exhibitions. At the event, EastRidge pediatric dentist Dr. Frank Foreman dazzled the kids with large slides and prizes, while representatives from the U.S. Army challenged young men and women with their rock climbing exhibit.
Also on hand, the Clark County Sheriff's Department passed out free gun locks, while the Bomb Squad did a demonstration featuring bomb-deactivating robots.
Attendees at the July 11 event also donated over $4,400 for athletics, clubs and other activities at Vancouver's Heritage High School.
