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CREDC recruitment brought
530 new jobs to area last year
New and expanding local industries in Clark County
created 530 new jobs in southwest Washington in 2004,
Bart Phillips, Columbia River Economic
Development Council executive director, announced today at the first-quarter
CREDC investor luncheon.
Phillips added that the average pay for each of these new
jobs is $33,300. The companies who created these jobs invested more than $17.7
million in the community and supported 230 construction jobs, which had a $10.6
million payroll. The new construction investments produced one-time sales tax
receipts of $408,300 for local jurisdictions and $1.8 million to the state. In
addition, annual property taxes for local schools and other local jurisdictions
were increased by $311,000.
Leaders of three companies to come to Clark County during
the past year cited their reasons for the move.
Rob Bernardi,
president/COO of Kokusai Semiconductor Equipment Corporation, brought his
formerly Portland-based operations four miles across the Columbia River from
Airport Way to Columbia Tech Center because of lower business costs,
availability of high tech employees, close proximity to the Portland
International Airport and a good attitude on the part of state and local
government. Another draw to the area for Kokusai is that there is a cluster of
28 Japanese-based companies in Clark County.
Arjen Sundman,
president of Amfit, a company that designs and makes orthopedic foot support
devices primarily for health care, said he brought the headquarters of his
company to Clark County from Santa Clara, Calif., after a laborious study of
scores of west coast sites. Sites ranged from Mexico to northern Washington.
Two major reasons for selecting Clark County were lower
living costs, lower wage costs and lower costs of construction. And, beside
that, the people are friendly here, Sundman concluded.
One of Oregon’s leading residential real estate
companies, The Hasson Company, opened its first office outside of Oregon in
Vancouver this year. Vice president of Hatton,
Dan Scott, said the decision was made because his company recognizes that
Vancouver is a growing part of the overall metropolitan area.
According to Phillips, a recent survey completed by CREDC
showed that the main reasons Clark County was selected over other locations were
lower cost of living, close proximity to Portland International Airport, labor
force availability, quality schools and easy access to major freeways.
Stacy Mortensen named interim
director for Habitat for Humanity
Stacy Mortensen
has been appointed interim executive director of the Evergreen Habitat for
Humanity. Mortensen had been assistant controller for O’Callahan’s Restaurant.
Affiliated with Habitat for Humanity, the local unit
works with donors, volunteers and homeowners to develop affordable homes for
those in need.
Mortensen had been a board member of the local affiliate.
She is a past president of Women In Action and the Fort Vancouver Chapter of the
American Business Women’s Association. She is a member of Vancouver
Toastmasters.
Clark College notifying students
of financial aid awards online
Clark College is among the first three institutions in
the northwest to have begun notifying students of financial aid on the Internet.
The automation has greatly streamlined the process, according to
Alex Montoya, director of financial aid
for the college.
Montoya said that, between July and December 2004, the
office processed $17 million in grants, scholarships, work-study and loans to
over 4,400 students. He said over 6,000 students will benefit from the new
technology this year.
People
Diane Coey,
recently hired C-TRAN controller, has been designated auditor and treasurer for
the transit agency, succeeding retiring Fred
Bateman, in those two internal positions.
News briefs
Group opposing the proposed Cowlitz Casino Resort near La
Center, Stand Up For Clark County Citizens is holding a public meeting at 6:30
p.m. this evening in the La Center High School commons. For further information,
call Cindy Goolsby,
263-8752. .
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MIRIAM GREEN 
"Working to help you!"
