WSU Vancouver engineering building
in governor’s economic recovery plan

Gov. Chris Gregoire, in Vancouver yesterday to discuss her Jobs Now initiative and to attend the Port of Vancouver-Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail agreement signing, announced that the Washington State University Vancouver’s proposed nearly $40 million engineering and teaching building is included in the initiative.

The governor’s Jobs Now initiative includes $427 million in construction projects across the state. Gregoire’s initiative also includes $360 million to accelerate transportation projects, including improvements for I-5 between Kelso and Castle Rock.

Under terms of the port-Burlington Northern Santa Fe agreement, the port will buy 15 acres of railroad right of way for $3.1 million, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe will donate more than $6 million in rail improvements to the port.

While in Vancouver the governor volunteered time with Share. She helped fill backpacks with food, which will be distributed to children living in poverty.

Port of Vancouver
anchors economy

“Anchoring the economy in Clark County” is the theme of the Port of Vancouver's annual report to the community, to be presented at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay.

Principal speakers are Nancy Baker, president of the three-member port commission, and port executive director Larry Paulson will discuss creation of jobs and other port benefits to the community, as well as the port’s diversified cargo base, improved rail access and expanding industrial business activity.

Paulson will deliver a state-of-the-port address that focuses on creating jobs and benefiting the local economy through strategies that align port development with a diversified cargo base, improved rail access and by expanding industrial business activity at the port.

Admission is $25. For reservations, call The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, 694-2588, or go to www.portofvancouverusa.com.

BIA offering local
green building course

The Building Industry Association of Clark County is offering a two-day green-building for building professionals course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Jan. 30, in the BIA office, 103 E 29th Street.

The course will outline strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. Builders will learn how green homes provide buyers lower maintenance, better indoor air quality, and better long-term value. Techniques will also be discussed for competitively differentiating home products with increased indoor environmental quality as well as energy and resource efficiency.

Graduates of the course will be able to locate and design green building development sites, control moisture and durability for each component of the building envelope effectively, employ resource-efficient materials to achieve comfortable, safe and sustainable buildings, and to plan strategy to meet, exceed, and verify green building energy efficiency requirements.

The course is $200 for BIA members, $275 for nonmembers. For further information, call BIA public relations director Jordan Meade, 694-0933.

Transportation council
to meet next Tuesday

At its 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, meeting in the training room of the Public Service Center, the Southwest Washington Transportation Council will discuss a bridge tolling outreach project and a Clark County Transportation Alliance statement that downgrades the Columbia River Crossing (I-5) project from “our top transportation project,” to “one of our region’s top transportation projects.”

Calendar

Washington State University Vancouver is presenting playwright Heather Raffo’s Nine Parts of Desire, detailing the lives of Iraqi women, at 6 p.m. this evening in room 110 in the Administration Building. There is no charge, but seating is limited. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. 

Additional Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber Community 

• City of Vancouver Calendar