Reporter's Notebook

-Charity Thompson can be reached at cthompson@vbjusa.com

MY, WHAT A WEEK!

A few of this week’s local business happenings:

• There might be a light at the end of the Wall Street tunnel. Kory Johnson, owner of Vancouver-based Johnson Financial Strategies, said today that the Great Depression fears of fall 2008 don’t look realistic. After the stock market crashed in 1929, he said, there was no government intervention for four years – quite a different scenario from today. And while we all feel the heartache of institutions such as Bank of Clark County, in 1933 there were 11,000 failed banks out of 25,000 nationwide. “I hate to be too optimistic, but I think we may have seen a bottom,” Johnson said.

• After acquiring Lake Oswego-based software company Infinet Systems on Monday, Washougal-based iCooper has also inked a deal to develop health records software for mobile devices with Sunrise Health and Hospice, a fast-growing health agency in Arizona. Not bad for a startup. Not bad at all.

• Vancouver’s Uptown Village Association will host First Friday art walks from May through September this year! Claire Ghormley, president of UVA and owner of Mon Ami café, said the event series will include artists’ booths, food vendors and live music.

“We’re trying to start things off this year (by) getting our neighbors involved,” Ghormley said. “We don’t stay open unless they support us and we appreciate that.”

• Don’t forget – April is Financial Literacy month. No matter how much or how little money you have, there’s always something to learn about using it well.

Only six days until the VBJ’s annual Business Growth Awards! This is a great opportunity to learn about companies that aren’t just surviving the recession, but thriving in it. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m. April 16 at the Hilton Vancouver. Tickets are $45. Visit www.vbjusa.com or call 360-448-6006 to RSVP.