iQ Credit Union hq opening May 4

On Monday, May 4, iQ Credit Union’s new corporate headquarters and downtown Vancouver branch will open at 9 a.m. at 1313 Main Street. The new building, on property that the credit union purchased from the city in 2007, has been under construction since mid-2008.

“This larger branch and expanded headquarters is about delivering better service to our members,” says CEO Roger Michaelis.

The new branch, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., features an always-available drive-up ATM. Relocating from Vancouver Mall, the Member Business Services Department will occupy an entire floor of the new building. The credit union’s current City Branch, located at E 16th Street, will close for business on Friday, May 1.

An Open House event is planned for the end of May, Thursday and Friday, the 28th and 29th.

For more information about the branch and the credit union’s new services, call 800-247-4364.

iQ Credit Union has provided members with financial services since 1940.

Job worry among Washingtonians

Conducted by Harris/Decima and sponsored by Everest College, a new survey finds that 40% of Washington workers 18 and older fear the loss of their jobs as a result of the nation’s economic slump and the sharp rise in unemployment.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) said that they suffer some form of work-related stress. The two principal categories of stress are low pay and potential job loss. Someone in their household lost his or her job in the past 12 months, 14% of respondents stated. This has happened much more often to those with a household income of less than $40k. More women (45%) than men (35%) were concerned about losing their job during this recession.

In addition, the current situation is generating sufficient job dissatisfaction that many people are considering changing careers and, as a result, are turning to educational opportunities to increase their chances of finding that better job.

Stimulus funds to smooth
Interstate-5 north of Kelso

A $15 million I-5 highway project between North Kelso and Castle Rock project, which includes $9.5 million in American Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act funds, will be advertised by the state Department of Transportation.

The project will replace and retrofit approximately 180 damaged concrete panels in both directions on I-5, as well as repave I-5’s northbound lanes. 

This three-month project will support an estimated 60 jobs in local communities, according to Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary.

Habitat for Humanity golf
tournament set for May 29

The fourth annual Evergreen Habitat for Humanity Fore x Fore Golf Tournament takes place on Friday, May 29, at Camas Meadows Golf Club. The event’s premier sponsor is West Coast Bank.

Justin Myers, West Coast Bank assistant vice president and East Vancouver manager, and also Evergreen Habitat for Humanity’s treasurer and golf chair, says, “It’s always West Coast Bank’s mission to support our communities, and this event helps provide housing for low-income families in our Clark County area.”

Evergreen Habitat for Humanity promotes home ownership with volunteers building houses in partnership with Clark County residents in need of adequate housing. Homes are sold without any profit being made. Homeowners contribute "sweat equity," and house payments are recycled to build additional homes. For more information, visit www.ehfh.org.

Conference on problem gambling booked

The third annual Western Regional Conference on Problem Gambling Awareness, with educators, policy makers, researchers, and clinicians from Canada and the U.S. among the 35 presenters, will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 1-2, at the Vancouver Hilton.

Delivering the Friday morning keynote address is Jim Wuelfing, an expert on problem gambling prevention. William Eadington will address the economic and social impacts of commercial gaming in his Saturday morning keynote address. Dr. Eadington is director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada, Reno.

For more information, visit the conference website: http://focusonthefuture.evergreencpg.org.

People

Having won state championships at the 2009 SkillsUSA competition this month in Yakima, five students from the Clark County Skills Center get to compete nationally in Kansas City, Missouri, June 21-26. All seniors, four of them from the Evergreen School District, they are as follows: Sterling Arkills, Parkrose High School, who will compete in the Quiz Bowl; Steven Dirocco, Mountain View High School, automotive service; Daniil Kernazhytski, Heritage High School, computer programming; Steve Nance, Mountain View, Quiz Bowl; Sergie Shalagon, Heritage, electronics technology.

Calendar

The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours, co-sponsored by Innovative Services NW and RSV Construction Services, Inc. is from 5 to 7 p.m. this evening in the Mary Firstenburg Family Center, 9414 NE Fourth Plain Road. <>Vancouver’s Charter Review Committee meets at 6 p.m. this evening, in the Elm Room in the Marshall Community Center, 1009 E McLoughlin Boulevard. <> Vancouver Schools middle and high school orchestras are featured in a free concert at 7 p.m. this evening in the Skyview High School auditorium. <> Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session in conference room B in the Public Service Center at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29.

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber Community 

• City of Vancouver Calendar