SWIFT plans to dissolve by year-end
Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust, the Vancouver-based foundation known as SWIFT, plans to dissolve operations by the end of 2008.
The 33-year-old organization is winding down its operations, citing increased local competition for donor dollars as a challenge to operations. Its history includes more than $4 million in grants to more than 1,200 projects.
Prior to dissolution, SWIFT will make three grants of up to $50,000 each from the SWIFT 4 Kids endowment. The balance of the SWIFT’s two endowments will be placed in trust with the Vancouver-based Community Foundation.
The SWIFT 4 Kids grants will be awarded at the Celebration of SWIFT reception at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Community Foundation, 1053 Officers Row in Vancouver.
Worker’s comp rates could increase
Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries proposed a 3 percent hike for worker’s compensation rates in 2009.
The increase is lower than the inflation rate, according to L&I. Average premiums would go up by about 2 cents per hour worked, bringing in an additional $57 million to the program.
Worker’s compensation rates are most influenced by wages, which were up 5 percent in 2007, and by health care costs, which are expected to grow 5.5 percent in 2009.
Proposed rate tables can be found on L&I’s website (https://lni.wa.gov) and are being sent to employers.
A public hearing about the proposal is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 24 at Red Lion at the Quay in Vancouver.
INNOVATION + TECHNOLOGY
David Evans wins national contract
The Vancouver-based marine sciences division of David Evans and Assoc. Inc. won a five-year, $250 million contract for hydrographic surveys with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The firm will survey United States territorial waters to assist in updates of nautical charts. The work will be supported by DEA’s main office in Portland, plus marine satellite offices in Seattle and Richmond, Va.
The firm has contracted with NOAA since 2005 for hydrographic surveys of the Columbia and Willamette rivers.
nLight gets top honor for growth
Vancouver-based nLight Corp. was named 2008 Growth Company of the Year by the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network.
nLight supplies innovative high-power semiconductor lasers and high-performance fibers for industrial, medical, defense and consumer applications.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
WSU grant to boost female faculty
Washington State University received a $3.69 million grant in September to increase its female faculty numbers.
Women make up less than 15 percent of WSU’s faculty in engineering, math and the sciences.
The National Science Foundation awarded the five-year grant to help WSU develop and practice new strategies for faculty recruitment, retention and advancement. The grant will establish WSU’s Center for Excellence in Science and Engineering to implement the initiatives.
Also in September Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review ranked the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at WSU’s undergraduate College of Business as 18th in the nation. The center was chosen from more than 2,300 schools.