Port signs agreement for huge automobile
import terminal and distribution center

The Port of Vancouver and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Americas, by letter of intent, have outlined a potential joint project that could ultimately accommodate more than 500,000 vehicles a year.

WWL proposes to construct and operate an integrated marine terminal and vehicle processing and distribution center on 334 acres in Columbia Gateway, Parcel 3, adjacent to a deep water channel.

“This is easily our biggest news of the summer,” said Port Commission president Arch Miller. “Auto imports are job-intensive. They create more maritime jobs per ton than any other commodity at the Port of Vancouver.”

The project when fully completed could directly employ 1,193 workers, bringing in an annual payroll of more than $62 million, according to Miller.

The project would be developed in phases, according to port executive director Larry Paulson. Paulson said construction of the facility would create economic activity in excess of $453 million and a tax revenue increase of $28 million a year.

Miller said the agreement was two years in the making.

WWL is a leading global provider of outbound logistics services for the finished vehicle industry. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including supply chain management, ocean transportation, inland distribution, terminal services and technical services. WWL is capable of meeting the increased demand from customers for a “factory-to-dealer” service. The company employs over 3,000 people, deploys approximately 60 vessels serving 19 trade routes to five continents. WWL annually carries over two million vehicles by sea and 1.5 million vehicles by road.vehicles annually in a huge marine terminal and vehicle processing distribution center at the Columbia Gateway industrial property owned by the port.

For further details, click here to read the Vancouver Business Journal story.

Ray Hickey gives Hospice $3 million more

Ray Hickey, whose initial family contribution of $1.5 million helped create the Ray Hickey Hospice House, the first free-standing hospice project in the region in 2004, today presented Southwest Washington Medical Center’s Foundation with $3 million more.

The gift will establish an endowment fund to help cover the cost of care for low-income patients.

Combined with other gifts and donations, Southwest Washington Medical Center will have sufficient financing to provide hospice services for another 200 patients each year.

Hickey said today: “Many families in our community have been impacted by the compassionate care and comfort extended to their loved ones. I consider myself to be just one example of the people in our community—volunteers, caregivers and donors—who answer the call to make our community a wonderful place to live.”

International Festival in Esther Short
Park offers fun on worldwide scale

The Khmer Angor Dance Troupe, One-of-a-Kind Drumline, American West Chinese School, Sons of Italy Bocce Ball, Mariachi Viva Mexico, Kaleinani O Ke Kukui and Jim Fischer & Friends from Around the World perform during the free International Festival in Esther Short Park from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 29.

International food vendors will offer their wares. In addition, free bus tours of the Port of Vancouver will be conducted from the park. Port visitors will need photo identification.

The annual festival is sponsored by the port.

Corrections

Even the Insider spell checker knows that Izad Khormaee, president of the Clark County Chamber of Commerce, is not spelled Izod, and that there actually isn’t a Davie Kenny, but there indeed is a David Kenny, longtime banker, community activist and Vancouver’s first pyrotechnician. We regret these spelling errors in yesterday’s editions. <> We also made a mess of a story about Mr. Electric awards earned by two Vancouver men. Eric Breslin, electric service professional with the Mr. Electric franchise in Vancouver, won the company’s Mr. Electric Service Professional of the Year award. Owner of the Vancouver franchise, Jim Kleiser, won the Service from the Heart and the Personal Achievement Awards, erroneously attributed to Breslin. We just hate to make misteaks.

Calendar

The North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the community room in the Three Creeks Library, 800 NE Tenney Road. <> The Clark County Board of Health meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, in the Public Service Center. <> Rock violinist Aaron Meyer

 
                            Aaron Meyer

entertains at noon, Wednesday, July 25, in Esther Short Park. There is no charge. Food and non-alcoholic beverage vendors are on hand. <> Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, in conference room B in the Public Service Center. <> The Columbia River Crossing project is offering the first of three informational sessions from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, in the Hayden Island Yacht Club, 12050 N Jantzen Drive, Portland. Project staff persons will be on hand to answer individual questions. For further information, call 737-2726.

Headlines Tuesday, July 24

Proposed Boise Cascade waterfront project could get as many as 3,000 condos--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Local retail sales up 6.2 percent in first quarter of the year--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

House in ruins after standoff--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Sara Cemetery has grave sites for $200--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

IKEA customers asked to come in by back road--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Portland brewery blocks sell for $291.6 million--Oregonian, Dylan Rivera

Blast marks end of Marmot Dam on Sandy River--KATU, AP, William McCall (Video)

Poll: Republicans like Giuliani's electability--Washington Post-ABC News Poll

Bush insists Al Qaeda in Iraq threatens U.S.--New York times, Brian Knowlton

Stocks fall by more than 220 points--USA TODAY, AP

Iraq Coalition Casualties