A Look Ahead at New Jobs Coming to Vancouver, Washington

Recent events in Vancouver are priming the pump of the city’s economic engine. On August 13th 2009, the Port of Vancouver dedicated a new marine terminal, Terminal 5. The terminal is part of the West Vancouver Freight Access Project, a $137 million rail project expected to be completed next summer. The Washington State Department of Transportation expects the project to yield up to 4,000 new jobs, nearly doubling local and state tax revenues and attracting millions in private investment. The Port is receiving $2.5 million in federal stimulus money for the project.

In June 2009, SEH America -- a Japanese manufacturer of solar equipment and computer chip components -- purchased the 174-acre Vancouver campus of HP for $55 million. HP is leasing back part of the property for the time being. SEH America is expected to use the former HP facilities for manufacturing its products. A company spokesman referred to the purchase as part of its long term investment in Vancouver. Since 2006 the company has spent $350 million upgrading its East Vancouver plant. The company announced in February it would double its Vancouver workforce, which would mean ultimately adding as many as 1,000 jobs.

Also in June, developers submitted plans to transform a 26-acre industrial site along Vancouver’s waterfront into a bustling riverfront extension of Vancouver’s downtown district. Work is scheduled to begin in 2011. (From news reports.)