State workers get new training
On Jan. 20, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) and U.S Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced that Washington state will be receiving $5,973,635 to train workers in high demand, energy-efficiency occupations.
This grant will help train and place approximately 4,731 dislocated workers, veterans, at-risk youth, low-income adults and individuals with disabilities.
The project will mobilize postsecondary investments in education and training in energy and energy efficiency to improve the K-12 pipeline of green skilled workers. The grantee will survey the green labor market bi-annually to measure employment and training trends.
"This grant will help close to 5,000 Washington state workers get the skills and training they need to succeed in the growing clean-energy industry," Murray said.
Changes at the farmers market
The Vancouver Farmer's Market announced last week a staff restructuring, including one new hire and two open positions.
Judy Askelson has been brought on as a full time office manager. Askelson has experience as an agricultural vendor and manager, as well as being a former VFM board member.
Applications are now being accepted for an on-site market manager and an assistant market manager.
Assistance available to SEH workers
Last week the U.S. Department of Labor announced that 4,800 workers from companies in 14 states, including Shin-Etsu Handoti America, Inc. in Vancouver, can apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Those who apply may receive case management and re-employment services, training in new occupational skills and trade readjustment allowances that provide income support for workers enrolled in training.
For more information on TAA, including a range of Department of Labor employment and training services, visit www.doleta.gov.
Columbia River Bank closed, acquired by Columbia State Bank
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services ordered the closure of Columbia River Bank and appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver on Jan. 22. Columbia State Bank of Washington acquired essentially all of Columbia River's assets and liabilities from the FDIC.
Columbia River Bank is headquartered in The Dalles, with 21 offices in Oregon and Washington. All deposit accounts of Columbia River Bank are being transferred to Tacoma-based Columbia State Bank and were available immediately.
Columbia River Bank had been experiencing critically low levels of capital and ultimately became insolvent. The bank's problems resulted primarily from nonperforming residential construction loans.
"Columbia River Bank management worked hard to restore the bank to financial health," said Cory Streisinger, director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. "We and the FDIC engaged in some intense discussions to ensure the bank had been given every opportunity to turn the corner. However, a review of the bank's loan portfolio in early January showed that a key measure of the bank's solvency – called Tier 1 capital – had sunk well below the minimum level needed for the bank to remain in operation. Unfortunately, this left us with no option but to order the bank's closure."
Columbia River Bank was founded in 1977. As of Sept. 30, 2009, Columbia River Bank had total assets of approximately $1.1 billion and total deposits of $1.0 billion. Columbia State Bank has total assets of about $3.2 billion and total deposits of $2.5 billion.
Columbia State Bank has 50 offices, including a newly-opened branch location in the Al Angelo Building in downtown Vancouver.
