Open for Business

Revitalizing local commerce is the goal of Vancouver's Downtown Association. To achieve this, we are looking for partners—partners who will support our entrepreneurial drive and promote our community.

Vancouver is Washington's fourth largest city, Vancouver offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, but with the charm and hospitality of a small town. Downtown is a pleasant mix of restaurants, art galleries, and a variety of retail shopping, from boutiques to antiques. The eclectic blend of new construction and historic architecture offers a unique setting for numerous, year-round attractions and events for visitors and residents alike.

VDA has finalized its first Business Recruitment Packet to help interest new business to Downtown Vancouver. It includes a few fast facts about Vancouver as well as the many business opportunities we have to offer. Take a look and tell us what you think.

DOWNTOWN VISION

Building from these assets, we seek to create and support a dynamic and rich mix of residential, cultural, civic, retail and entertainment places that will attract growth, jobs and round-the-clock activity.

FAST FACTS ABOUT VANCOUVER

Vancouver's population is 162,400 making it the fourth largest city and one of the fastest growing counties in the State
Over 10,250 employees in the downtown corridor
50,000 residents live within a five-mile radius of Downtown
Washington State University and Clark College are community assets
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a 336-acre campus and is the only national park in the Vancouver/Portland Metropolitan area
Vancouver has two sister cities: Joyo, Japan and Arequipa, Peru
15 minutes from Portland International Airport and home to Pearson Air Field

Why open or relocate a business to Vancouver's downtown?
Here are just a few reasons.

1. OUTSTANDING BUSINESS CLIMATE
Washington ranked the 3rd best state for business in the Forbes 2008 Best State for Business Index. Washington is also ranked as the 5th friendliest state for small business and entrepreneurs by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council's, Small Business Survival Index.

2. EXCELLENT TRANSPORTATION
Interstate 5 runs north and south through the Clark County enabling easy travel to Portland, Seattle and California. Interstate 84 provides direct access to eastern Washington, Oregon and Idaho markets. Ports and full rail access make Vancouver/Clark County an inter-modal transportation hub for the Northwest. Southern California is a mere 1.5 hours away by air.

3. ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION
Vancouver has excellent access and proximity to the Portland International Airport (PDX) for business travel or air freight.

4. LOWER LEASE COSTS, LOWER LAND PRICES
Overall, Vancouver's space is very competitive in the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan market. The average lease rate for Class A office space in Vancouver is $19.74 per square foot. Downtown Portland averages $22.71 per square foot. Warehouse space is $6.85 per square foot in Portland and $5.17 per square foot in Clark County. Monthly parking fees in downtown Vancouver average $55 to $75 versus $120 and up in downtown Portland.

5. TALENTED & AVAILABLE WORKFORCE
Clark College, located in Vancouver, Washington is the second largest community college in Washington State. WSU Vancouver offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Business, Sciences and Engineering. Approximately 60,000 workers commute to Portland to work. In a recent survey, 79% of commuters would readily take a Clark County job if available, avoiding the commute and eliminating the 9% Oregon income tax.

6. POPULATION GROWTH
With a net migration of 55,083 people between 2000 and 2008, Clark County experienced a 23% increase in population over the past 8 years.

7. LOWER COST OF LIVING
Cost of living is 18% lower than in Portland, Oregon with no personal income tax.

8. AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In Vancouver, the average sale price for a 4-bedroom, 2,400 square foot, single-family home is $271,356. The average price in Portland is $413,567.

9. BUSINESS INCENTIVES
The State of Washington and the City of Vancouver offer a variety of incentives and programs to attract businesses and industries. Vancouver's incentives include Multi-Family Tax Credit, SBA's HUBZONE and International Services Zone.

10. SUSTAINABILITY
As a significant economic development partner in the Portland/Vancouver region, Vancouver is poised to embrace a sustainable community. The existing downtown infrastructure is planned to support 4,550 residential units, 2,425,000 square feet of office use, and 400,000 square feet of retail use, creating a vibrant walkable community. In addition, the City benefits from an innovative sustainable business mentality that will further economic growth. Vancouver's premier yacht-building company, Christensen Yachts, is applying its technology to new engineering and fabrication projects in order to propel itself into wind turbine and hydrokinetic (wave motion) energy component manufacturing. At the same time, the Port of Vancouver serves as the sole source of import for wind turbines on the west coast—a thriving industry fueling future energy demands.

If you are interested in more information, please email us at director@vdausa.org, call us at 360-258-1129 or stop by our office at 811 Main Street in the heart of downtown.