Business Briefs
Published 12:12 pm Thursday, September 1, 2011
EvCC to break ground on nursing building
EVERETT — Everett Community College will celebrate the start of construction on its new Nursing and Health Sciences building with a groundbreaking ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at 930 N. Broadway.
The three-story, $37.5 million fa
cility will be home to the college’s nursing, medical assisting and phlebotomy programs and other health sciences training. The building will also include room for the Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic.
“The new Nursing and Health Sciences building strengthens the college’s ability
to train the next generation of health care professionals for in-demand jobs caring for patients in our community,” said EvCC President David Beyer.
The new building will triple the amount of lab space for health sciences programs and include new technology to train health-care profess
ionals, such as the clinical simulation lab.
To make way for the Nursing and Health Sciences Building, EvCC will demolish the Royal Motor Inn and Frasier’s Sports Bar & Grill on Broadway this fall.
United Way sets 2011 Days of Caring
EVERETT — Take part in the la
rgest two-day volunteer event in Snohomish County, United Way’s annual Days of Caring. Workplace teams, individuals and families will complete projects that make an impact on our community. Sign up to be one of these volunteers.
Days of Caring will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday,
Sept. 24 at numerous Snohomish County nonprofit agencies.
Volunteers must sign up by Monday, Sept. 12 at uwsc.org/daysofcaring.php or by calling 425-374-5549.
Washington Federal’s new Edmonds branch
EDMONDS — Washington
Federal has finished construction on its new branch at 229 Main St. and consolidated accounts from a nearby branch.
The public can stop by the branch for an open house Sept. 6–9 during business hours. There will be an invitation-only evening reception and official ribbon cutting on Sep
t. 21. The new branch office will provide an ATM, drive-up banking and a night depository.
Mill Creek clinic joins Qliance health network
Qliance Medical Management Inc., which operates Qliance direct primary care clinics in Washington, has expanded its network of clinics with t
he addition of Guardian Family Care, a direct primary care practice in Mill Creek.
Qliance patients pay monthly fees of $49 to $89 for primary and preventive care and chronic disease management.
Guardian Family Care clinic is located at 805 164th St. SE. For more information, go to www.guardian familycare.net.
Edward Jones branch ranks No. 1 again
EVERETT — James D. Kellett and Cherry McLachlan of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Everett recently received the firm’s Client Service Excellence award for being the No. 1 client service provider in their region and in the top 25 percent of client service providers in the country. It’s the second year that this branch received the award.
This honor was bestowed upon the team based on the results of a survey in which random clients were asked to rank the service they received from the teams of their local Edward Jones branch offices.
Kellett’s office at 2927 Colby Ave., Suite 200, was one of only 215 branches to receive the award out of the firm’s more than 12,000 branch offices.
UW named America’s ‘coolest’ school
BOTHELL — What’s the coolest university in America? By one significant measure, it’s the University of Washington.
Sierra Magazine, the official publication of the Sierra Club, has named the University of Washington the top university in the country for its initiatives to operate sustainably and limit its contributions to global warming. This is the fourth year the UW has been among the top-ranked schools.
Sustainability efforts at the Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses of the University of Washington were considered in establishing the rankings using several parameters.
See the full list of cool schools at www.sierraclub.org/coolschools.
Walmart Foundation aids Maltby Food Bank
MALTBY — The Maltby Food Bank received a $30,000 donation from the Walmart Foundation in July to pay for a 2,000-square-foot expansion of storage space, including increased freezer and refrigerated storage.
The donation is one of 11 granted by Walmart’s Washington State Giving Council that totalled $375,000 to nonprofit organizations across the state. The grantees are focused on addressing hunger needs, part of Walmart’s pledge of $2 billion cash and in-kind donations through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S.
Edward Jones branch lauded for service
SNOHOMISH— Edward Jones financial adviser Laura Scott and branch office administrator Diana Ballmes in Snohomish recently were ranked within the top 25 percent of the country for excellence in client service at Edward Jones.
The honor was based upon the results of a survey in which random clients were asked to rank the service they received from the staffs of their local Edward Jones branch offices. The survey identified Scott and Ballmes as providing some of the most exemplary client service within the firm.
Ticket sales for Gusto! benefit begin Sept.12
EVERETT — Tickets go on sale Monday, Sept. 12 for the Everett Community College Foundation fundraiser Gusto! The tasting of food, wine and microbrews from the Northwest and elsewhere will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at Comcast Arena in Everett.
Admission includes access to all tasting, plus a commemorative wine glass and plate.
Tickets are $50 per person but buyers who purchase tickets before Oct. 24 can save $10 with the code “students.” To purchase tickets, call the Comcast Arena Everett box office at 866-332-8499 or go to www.comcastarena everett.com.
All proceeds from Gusto! benefit the Everett Community College Foundation, which funds college scholarships, equipment and programs.
Everett neighborhood’s sustainability efforts are rewarded
BELLEVUE — Quadrant Homes has selected the Acadia neighborhood in Everett as one of two winners in the company’s first-ever Sustainability Challenge. It was awarded $2,000 toward community improvement goals.
The grant challenge is part of the Friends of Quadrant Homes program, which focuses on increasing education, involvement and awareness around suburban sustainability and conservation.
Acadia will use their grant to build a community garden and composting program.
KSER seeks Voice of the Community nominees
EVERETT — Local public radio station KSER (90.7 FM) invites the public to nominate individuals, groups or businesses for the 2011 Voice of the Community Award.
The annual KSER Voice of the Community Award recognizes local voices that speak up about community or cultural concerns with positive results for the residents of Snohomish or Island counties. For more information and nominating forms, go to www.kser.org. Deadline for nominations is 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 12.
The winner and all finalists will be announced at the KSER Voice of the Community Award Celebration in November.
Ecology OKs cleanup action plan at Everett Marina
EVERETT — The Port of Everett has received approval from the state Department of Ecology on its cleanup action plan for a substantial portion of its North Marina property, known as the North Marina West End Site, located on the Everett waterfront.
The West End Site underwent a 10-year cleanup at a cost of more than $5 million. Cleanup began voluntarily in 2001 in anticipation of the Port Gardner Wharf project, and later became part of the state’s new Puget Sound Initiative program in 2007. Currently, the West End Site is one of three formal PSI cleanup sites that exist within the North Marina property. The port is also working on several other PSI cleanup sites within Port Gardner.
Between 2006 and 2008, the port dug up and disposed of more than 40,000 tons of contaminated soil at the West End Site. Petroleum-contaminated groundwater also was cleaned up. The agency’s remedial investigation shows this interim action successfully removed contamination.
To date for the entire North Marina property, the Port has removed 85,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil.
Ballard Technology unveils new Ethernet switch card
EVERETT — Ballard Technology Inc. has introduced the MPR-ES-1, a new 10-port managed-unmanaged Ethernet switch PMC for embedded use in the aerospace and defense industries.
This rugged COTS switch features advanced management functions, health monitoring, on-board magnetics and an integrated Ethernet controller. It is suitable for both conduction and convection (air) cooled systems.
The MPR-ES-1 Ethernet switch includes two gigabit ports and eight 10/100 mbps ports.
Outdoor products retailer debuts website
LYNNWOOD — WMN Enterprises LLC, a Lynnwood-based Internet retailer of outdoor products, has announced the launch of a new e-commerce Web site, www.YourOutdoorSupply.com.
YourOutdoorSupply.com offers a variety of camping, hiking and safety accessories such as rescue sticks, food kits, trauma kits, knives, medical marine kits and reference guides.
WMN Enterprises LLC was founded in 2011 as a customer-service focused company. The team is committed to prompt service, meeting customers’ wants and needs, and providing high quality and trusted outdoor products.
Visitors of YourOutdoorSupply.com can browse available products by category and can create a personal account for faster shopping, invoicing and to check an order’s status. New products and specials are added to the site periodically.
Child development volunteers needed
Deaconess Children’s Service is in need of volunteers for its Child Development Program.
If you’re 18 years or older and love working with children, call Stacey Pfeiffer at 425-259-0146, ext. 101, or e-mail spfeiffer@deaconesschildren.org.
Volunteers must be able to pass a state background check and commit to 19 weeks, once a week from 5 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.deaconesschildren.org.
State’s job vacancies reach three-year high
OLYMPIA — In April, job vacancies in Washington state reached their highest point in three years, according to a new report by the Employment Security Department.
An estimated 60,087 vacant jobs were available, an increase of 55 percent from a year earlier and nearly double the number that existed in spring 2009.
“This survey shows that employment conditions are gradually improving,” said Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause.
Job vacancies hit an all-time high in fall 2006, with nearly 91,000 open positions. The vacancies number hit a low of 32,037 in fall 2009.
The number of unemployed job seekers declined from a peak of about 337,000 in spring 2010 to around 312,000 at the same point in 2011. At the same time, the total labor force (which includes employed workers and unemployed workers who are actively looking for jobs) also declined, by an estimated 51,926 (seasonally adjusted).
Feds honor Sound Transit’s contracts
SEATTLE — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization has recognized Sound Transit for its exemplary work in utilizing small and disadvantaged businesses in its construction projects.
Of the contracts invoiced for the University Link project, $30 million, or 28 percent, were performed by disadvantaged business enterprises. Another $14 million — 13 percent — were performed by small businesses, for a total of 41 percent of University Link contract work done by small and DBE firms.
Sound Transit also conducted networking and outreach sessions to enable potential prime and subcontractors to meet and begin building relationships with Sound Transit. The agency has also hosted subcontractor and supplier forums in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties.
Western Governors U. announces investment
SEATTLE — WGU Washington, washington.wgu.edu, is one of three state subsidiaries that will be supported by a $4.5 million grant to Western Governors University from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The overall grant is aimed at leveraging Western Governors University’s state subsidiaries in Indiana, Washington and Texas to expand the reach of affordable, competency-based higher education. The investment in Washington will help support development and outreach for WGU’s new subsidiary, WGU Washington.
WGU Washington was established by the State Legislature as the state’s only all-online competency-based university. For more information, go to washington.wgu.edu.
State to offer online workshop about natural resources grants
OLYMPIA – Six state agencies will offer an online workshop at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8 to explain what grants and loans are available in the next two years.
The natural resources grants and loans webinar will feature more than 45 funding programs covering grants for boat launches, road projects and improved water quality.
“This is the first time that these state agencies have come together to provide this kind of workshop,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, which is coordinating the webinar.
The webinar is one result of Governor Chris Gregoire’s initiative to reduce duplication in natural resource agencies.
Register at www1.gotomeeting.com/register/435631369.
For more information and to see the Webinar after Sept. 8, go to www.rco.wa.gov/webinar.shtml.
$12 million in grants for state’s airports
ARLINGTON– Nearly $12 million in federal, state and local funds have been granted to maintain pavement, improve safety and enhance security at 26 Washington airports.
About 67 percent of the funding for the 32 airport improvement projects are focused on airport pavement.
The state Department of Transportation contributed $1.1 million through its Airport Aid Grant Program, and used $433,290 in state funds to leverage more than $9 million in federal grants.
DOT’s airport grant program is funded by an 11-cent fee on aviation fuel and a portion of the state aircraft registration fees.
This is the first round of Airport Aid grants awarded during the 2011-2013 biennium. DOT anticipates awarding the next round of grants in spring 2012.
South Snohomish County Commission for Health invests in community
LYNNWOOD— The South Snohomish County Commission for Health has announced its first round of funding awards for nine community health and wellness programs. Funding recipients include a wellness program that supports seniors with chronic health conditions and a group of programs that address childhood obesity.
The awards represent $883,000 of program funding for the first year.
Additionally, through collaboration with the parks and recreation departments of the cities of Lynnwood, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, swimming lessons will be available for any third grader who lives in or attends the Edmonds School District. Other funding recipients include programs from the Edmonds Senior Center, Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County, Edmonds School Foundation, Edmonds School District and the Cascade Bicycle Club.
The commission continues to seek proposals for health and wellness programs serving South Snohomish County. Detailed descriptions of funding guidelines, criteria and application materials can be found at www.ssccfh.org.
Council on Aging seeks new members
EVERETT— Snohomish County residents interested in the needs and issues facing older people and those with disabilities are asked to apply for membership on the Snohomish County Council on Aging.
The council is a 30-member citizen’s board that advises both the Long Term Care and Aging Office of the county’s Human Services Department and county executive on issues facing older persons and younger people with disabilities in Snohomish County.
New members will begin three-year terms on Jan. 1. The Council on Aging board meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except December, from 10 a.m. to noon. Smaller committee groups meet according to need. It is expected that every council member regularly attend and participate in the monthly council meetings and commit to serving on at least one subcommittee of interest.
Applications to the council are due by Friday, Sept. 16. Applications may be printed directly from the Council on Aging website at bit.ly/r0he0q.
To learn more, contact Joyce Frasu at 425-388-7377 or j.frasu@snoco.org.
Author Brian McLaren to keynote fundraiser
EDMONDS — Go the Second Mile, a local nonprofit organization that leads meaningful travel expeditions, will have author Brian McLaren as the keynote speaker of its annual fundraiser. This will be McLaren’s only West Coast appearance in 2011.
The event will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds. The community is invited to attend.
Individual tickets are $40, or a table of eight is $300. For ticket registration visit www.go2ndmile.org, call 206-730-1319 or e-mail info@go2ndmile.org.
Go the Second Mile advocates for children, women and families who are victims of poverty and injustice in remote areas of the world.
PUD refinances $9.6 million of water bonds
EVERETT — The Snohomish County Public Utility District will realize $1.4 million in interest savings under a refinancing plan for its water utility. The utility sold $9.6 million of Series 2011 water system tax-exempt refunding bonds in order to refinance a similar amount of Series 2002 bonds at lower interest rates.
This transaction will provide a net present value savings of 13.6 percent.
In conjunction with the transaction, the PUD received updated ratings from the bond rating agencies. Despite market uncertainty in recent weeks, both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s affirmed the bond ratings for PUD’s water utility. Moody’s maintained its rating of Aa2, and Standard & Poor’s maintained its rating of AA.
County, PUD offer free energy assessments
EVERETT — With Snohomish County’s sponsorship, the Snohomish County PUD has launched a new Team Up and Save program to provide free home energy assessments for Snohomish County residents.
Now for a limited time, when five Snohomish County households team up – family, friends and neighbors, the PUD will offer free energy assessments for each home. Assessments normally cost up to $500.
The home energy assessments are part of the PUD’s Community Power! program, a partnership between the PUD, Snohomish County, city of Everett and WSU Extension Energy Program.
As an added benefit, participating customers may be eligible to receive an enhanced $125 rebate for purchasing qualifying ENERGY STAR refrigerators.
Detailed program instructions and application documents are available at www.snopud.com/cpassessment or by calling the PUD Energy Hotline at 425-783-1700.
Energy efficiency training programs
BOTHELL — The Workforce Development Council Snohomish County (WDCSC) is partnering with Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties and Cascadia Community College to train qualified unemployed workers in energy efficiency training programs.
The programs are funded by a grant from the United States Department of Labor and the Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.
Applicants may be eligible for training at no cost.
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties is now accepting enrollment for an eight week Healthy Home Training for Building Professionals course beginning Sept. 22.
Cascadia Community College is now enrolling students for a grant-funded two-quarter Energy Audit Specialist Certificate program that will begin Jan. 2012.
United Way ‘Listen and Discovery’ tours set
EVERETT — United Way of Snohomish County is partnering with Sno-Isle Libraries to listen to people in communities throughout the county and share news of United Way’s new 10-year goals to advance the common good.
The Listen and Discovery tour is a series of town-hall style meetings designed to give people the opportunity to talk about needs in their own communities.
The Listen and Discover tour will include about eight to 10 community meetings in all areas of the county. Dates that have been scheduled so far are Sept. 15 at the Snohomish Library, Sept. 20 at the Marysville Library, Sept. 22 at the Lake Stevens Library and Sept. 27 at the Monroe Library. Hours are 2 to 3 p.m. for the meetings.
The Oct. 20 Arlington Rotary meeting will also host an event.
For more information, contact Lisa Maitland at United Way, 425-374-5517 or lisa.maitland@uwsc.org.
UW named ‘Best Buy’ school by Fiske Guide
BOTHELL — The UW has been named a “Best Buy” school in the 2012 edition of Fiske Guide to Colleges, by Edward Fiske.
The Fiske Guide takes into account such criteria as high academic ratings, an inexpensive or moderate price and the quality of student life on campus.
Fiske Guide to Colleges 2012 has an “Index by price” section that groups public and private institutions into four price categories, and also suggests schools that offer outstanding academic quality with “relatively moderate prices.” All the Best Buy schools are in the “inexpensive” or “moderate price” categories, and have four- or five-start academic ratings.
Apply for United Way Outreach Grant
EVERETT — United Way of Snohomish County is accepting applications for Outreach Grants from its Community Matters Vision Council. The purpose of Outreach Grants is to support groups that are working in human services at a grassroots level and, as such, may have difficulty getting funding from typical sources.
Proposals must also support the Community Matters Vision Council’s goal to improve the ways people get community support, connect with one another, and get involved. Specifically, projects must increase the availability and effectiveness of programs that teach survival English and cultural skills to immigrants and refugees.
The application deadline has been extended to Sept. 9. The maximum award for an Outreach Grant is $5,000. Application instructions and forms can be found at www.uwsc.org/outreachgrants.
Funding available for tourism development
SNOHOMISH — The City of Snohomish is accepting applications from non-profit agencies for projects that assist tourism development and promotion in the City of Snohomish.
The program is funded through the taxes imposed on lodging room rentals in the City of Snohomish.
Funds will be available after Jan. 1, 2012, on a reimbursement basis only for projects that will be completed by Dec. 31, 2012. It is anticipated that the total available funds will be $10,000.
Completed applications are due in the City of Snohomish offices by 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16. Detailed instructions and application can be found at www.ci.snohomish.wa.us.
Award for Community Transit workplace health
EVERETT — The Snohomish Health District presented its inaugural Healthy Workplace Award to Everett-based Community Transit at the Community Transit Board of Directors meeting last month.
The award honors businesses, agencies, and other organizations that have adopted 100 percent outdoor no-smoking grounds or tobacco-free grounds policies in addition to compliance with Washington’s Smoking in Public Places law (RCW 70.160).
Community Transit no longer has any designated smoking areas.
Established in 1959, the Snohomish Health District works for a safer and healthier community through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats.
National Firewise Program in county
The Snohomish Conservation District has partnered with Washington State University Snohomish County Extension and the Department of Natural Resources to help you and your neighbors become a “Firewise Community.”
This national program encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others in proactively protecting people and property from the risk of a wildfire.
If you’d like to have your property or neighborhood assessed to see how Firewise you are, call Leif Fixen at 425-335-5634, ext. 110, for a free site visit and evaluation. Go to www.firewise.org for information on becoming firewise.
UW Bothell’s Husky Village set to open
BOTHELL — UW Bothell’s first on-campus housing community should be ready for nearly 240 students this month.
The multibuilding apartment complex was acquired by the University of Washington in April in order to provide on-campus housing for the rapidly growing student enrollment. The property is located at the north perimeter of the Bothell campus and has been renamed Husky Village.
The north campus location will provide students with convenient access to classrooms and labs and direct pedestrian access to downtown Bothell.
Undergraduate and graduate students will begin moving into the new housing before fall quarter begins. The campus plans to hold a grand opening for Husky Village after the academic year begins.
For more information, go to www.uwb.edu/housing.
BECU offers 12-year, no-fee mortgage
TUKWILA — BECU has introduced a new 12-year, no-fee mortgage to help consumers who have been reluctant to refinance take advantage of the historically low mortgage rates.
With the BECU 12-year mortgage, members will be able to take advantage of the low interest rate environment and receive an interest rate comparable with a 10-year, fixed-rate mortgage without paying for costly closing costs or fees.
Governed by a volunteer board of directors, BECU is a not-for-profit credit union owned by the members. Profits are returned to the members in the form of better rates and fewer fees. All Washington state residents are eligible to join.
Agreement to publish state Visitors’ Guide
SEATTLE — The newly formed Washington Tourism Alliance announced a strategic partnership with the Washington Lodging Association and SagaCity Media Inc. to publish the official Washington State Visitors’ Guide beginning in 2012.
As part of the agreement, SagaCity will publish Washington state’s official print guide for travelers, which will be linked to the official state tourism web site, www.experiencewa.com.
The Washington Lodging Association has published the Washington State Visitors’ Guide since 2000. SagaCity plans to increase its circulation to 375,000 for the 2012 edition and will sell advertising space as well as fulfill visitor requests for the print visitors’ guide.
TVW goes to Comcast Business Ethernet
SEATTLE — Comcast Corp. has added TVW, one of the oldest and most respected state public affairs networks in the country, to its Comcast Business Class Ethernet service.
TVW, often called the Washington state version of C-SPAN, provides unedited television coverage of state government, elections and public policy events to more than 3.5 million viewers. From its state-of-the-art media center in Olympia, TVW sends a television signal to a satellite service at the University of Washington’s main campus in Seattle, which transmits the signal for distribution to cable television households statewide.
Grant-funded training for low-income or unemployed/dislocated workers
A Department of Labor State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) grant will pay tuition, books, and fees for students to earn short (two quarter) certificates in Energy Management this fall or winter at Edmonds Community College.
The certificates available are:
Energy Efficiency Technician — start fall or winter quarter
Commercial Lighting Auditor — start fall quarter
Energy Accounting Specialist — start winter quarter
Grants recipients will work with WorkSource/Workforce Investment Act on their job search.
Find out more at 425-640-1509 or www.edcc.edu/energy.
From SCBJ staff reports
