Vancouver Celebrates America's 250th Birthday With Free Daylong Festival At Fort Vancouver (Photo) - 06/30/26

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver, The Historic Trust and the National Park Service invite the community to celebrate America's 250th birthday with a full day of free family-friendly festivities at the historic Fort Vancouver Parade Grounds on Friday, July 3.

Vancouver Celebrates America 250 will transform the Fort Vancouver Parade Grounds into a community gathering featuring live entertainment, hands-on activities, local history, food vendors and an outdoor movie under the stars. The free event runs from noon to 11 p.m. and is open to all ages. 

Highlights include a welcome from the mayor, a blessing from Colville-Lakes Tribal Member, live performances throughout the afternoon, a community pet costume contest, historic weapons demonstrations, family games and roaming entertainment. The celebration concludes with a free outdoor screening of the beloved film A League of Their Own (PG) beginning at 9:15 p.m. 

Visitors can also explore the rich history of Fort Vancouver through free admission to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site facilities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., guided tours of the historic Marshall House and demonstrations presented by the Fort Vancouver Historic Weapons Program. 

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for the evening movie and spend the day enjoying one of the Pacific Northwest's most historic settings. 

Vancouver Celebrates America 250 
Friday, July 3, 2026 
Noon to 11 p.m. 
Fort Vancouver Parade Grounds 
1501 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver 

Admission is free. 

The celebration is presented in partnership with Washington State America 250 by The Historic Trust, National Park Service, City of Vancouver and Xfinity. Additional support is provided by Port of Vancouver USA, Riverview Bank, Waste Connections, The Columbian and Thompson Metal Fab. The outdoor movie is presented by Kaiser Permanente. 

For event information and a complete schedule, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/America-250.  

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City Launched $2.4M Small Business Loan Program In Partnership With Business Impact NW (Photo) - 06/18/26

Vancouver, Wash.— The City has launched a new citywide $2.4 million Revolving Loan Fund designed to expand access to capital for small businesses. Business Impact NW has committed $1.2 million in matching funds. The Fourth Plain investment area will receive $1.2 million in dedicated funding.

The Revolving Loan Fund is part of the City’s recently adopted Five-Year Economic Development Strategy and supports the City’s Fourth Plain for All Investment Strategy. Loan applications are now open, with funding expected to begin in June.

The program supports businesses that are opening, stabilizing, or growing but may not qualify for traditional financing. Eligible businesses may use loan funding for equipment, working capital, rent, wages, and other business needs.

“This fund is a critical step toward expanding economic opportunity in communities that have historically faced barriers to growth,” said Small Business and Entrepreneurship Program Manager Victor Saldanha. “Our partnership with Business Impact NW will help us increase access to capital right away while we lay the groundwork for a locally rooted financial institution that can serve Vancouver’s small businesses for years to come.”

The Revolving Loan Fund will be administered by Business Impact NW, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that specializes in supporting underbanked entrepreneurs through flexible financing and technical assistance.

“This revolving loan fund represents the shared commitment of Business Impact NW and the City of Vancouver in building an economy where small businesses can take root and thrive,” said Kyle Lovell, Chief Lending Officer at Business Impact NW. “This fund will ensure that capital keeps flowing back into the hands of local entrepreneurs, fueling growth, creating jobs, and strengthening the fabric of our community for years to come.”

The fund is initially capitalized with $1.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received by the City. Its primary purpose is to increase access to capital for businesses unable to secure traditional financing.

Businesses must be located within the Fourth Plain area to qualify for City-funded loans through this program. Businesses can verify eligibility by checking their business address. Businesses located outside the Fourth Plain investment area may still qualify for a range of other Business Impact NW loan options.

Business owners interested in exploring available financing options can contact Business Impact NW’s lending team at lending@businessimpactnw.org or visit https://businessimpactnw.org/about-our-loans/

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About Fourth Plain for All

Funding for the Revolving Loan Fund was made available as part of the City’s larger Fourth Plain for All community investment strategy, a plan to invest more than $25 million in central Vancouver neighborhoods near Fourth Plain Boulevard thanks to federal funds received through ARPA. The plan outlines investments in housing, community building, public health, parks and public spaces, transportation, and economic development. 

About Business Impact NW

Business Impact NW is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving small businesses at every stage across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Since 1997, Business Impact NW has provided access to small business loans, free business coaching, classes, and resources that help entrepreneurs launch, grow, and strengthen their businesses.

City Seeks Volunteer To Serve On Parking Advisory Committee (Photo) - 06/17/26

Vancouver, Wash. –  The City is seeking applicants to fill one mid-term position opening on the Parking Advisory Committee. Applications are due by Tuesday, Jul. 15. 

​​The Parking Advisory Committee advises the City on parking policy and program implementation.  

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​Membership eligibility and requirements: 

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• ​Must be a City resident  

• ​Candidates who represent either residential or business interests in Vancouver’s downtown core   

• ​Current openings are for one mid-term position beginning immediately upon appointment and expiring June 30, 2027 

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For full board details, including term information and meeting times, visit http://www.cityofvancouver.us/boards. 

How to apply: 

Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/boards to apply online. For questions or to  request the application in other languages or formats, please contact the City’s Boards and Commissions Coordinator by mail at Vancouver City Hall, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, by phone at 360-487-8600 (WA Relay 711), or by email at bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us. 

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City Of Vancouver Issues Temporary Ban On All Recreational Burning - 06/16/26

City Council To Host Community Forum On Climate June 22 (Photo) - 06/15/26

Vancouver, Wash. – City Council will hold its next council community forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 22, at the Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 East Mill Plain Boulevard.

The forum will focus on how our community is leading the way in environmental sustainability. Feedback gathered during the event will help inform the City’s Climate Action Framework, which will be updated this fall. Ahead of the meeting, we invite you to consider:

• What do you love about Vancouver that you want to pass on to future generations?
• When you think about climate change, what are you concerned about?
• Thinking 15 years into the future, what would it look like if we’re successful in addressing Vancouver’s climate needs?

Doors open at 6 p.m. RSVP to attend.

For interpretation services or accommodations, please get in touch with the City Manager’s office at 360-487-8600 or cityinfo@cityofvancouver.us.

During Council Community Forums, community members can engage directly with City Council members in small-group conversations. This year, each forum will have a main discussion topic, based on the Council’s priorities of equity, safety and climate action. Community members are welcome to talk about other issues, but all participants will be invited to share their experiences and ideas related to the main topic.

Additional community forums will be held on Sept. 28 and Nov. 23. Please see the City’s events and meeting calendar for more information prior to each forum.

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City Announces Appointment Of A New Chief Financial Officer (Photo) - 06/10/26

Vancouver, Wash. - After a national search, the City has selected Katie Shifley to serve as its next Chief Financial Officer.  She will join Vancouver from Multnomah County Library, where she currently serves as Finance and Facilities Director for Oregon’s largest library system. 

City To Celebrate Rededication Of Restored Salmon Run Bell Tower (Photo) - 06/02/26

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver will celebrate the rededication of the Salmon Run Bell Tower from 11:30 a.m. to noon Friday, June 5 at Propstra Square in Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St.

The free community event marks the completion of a restoration project to preserve the beloved landmark for future generations.

Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Vice Chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation, Sam Robinson, will open the rededication event by sharing how the tower’s artwork and storytelling elements were created to honor Indigenous history and culture in the region. At noon, the bell tower will once again come to life as the restored glockenspiel and animated diorama return to operation after years of inactivity.

Originally dedicated in June 2002, the Salmon Run Bell Tower was a gift from George and Carolyn Propstra. The 69-foot tower, designed by Cindy Sterry, serves as a centerpiece of Propstra Square and reflects Vancouver’s connection to the Columbia River and the region’s first peoples.

Inside the tower, a rotating sculptural diorama combines motion, storytelling and audio narration to present the Chinook legend of the salmon. The narration, recorded by William Joseph Elk III, accompanies the immersive display.

The tower also features a 35-bell glockenspiel with bronze bells cast in the Netherlands. The carillon is scheduled to ring daily at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., followed by the animated salmon legend presentation.

Surrounding the tower are brass salmon sculptures created by Jim Demetro and Kevin Maddix, along with inscribed stones and commemorative donation bricks.

To honor the original community gift and preserve this Vancouver landmark, funding for the restoration project was included in the City’s 2023-24 budget.

Learn more about the project and the rededication event at www.cityofvancouver.us/belltower.

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City Council Adopts Comprehensive Plan To Guide Vancouver’s Growth Over The Next 20 Years - 06/02/26

Vancouver, Wash. – On June 1, the Vancouver City Council adopted a new Comprehensive Plan, along with an updated zoning code and zoning map at their regular City Council meeting. The new plan, Our Vancouver 2026–2045, and code will guide how the city grows over the next 20 years, shaping where homes, jobs, parks, streets, and public services will be located and how they will look and function.
 

"Community input guided every step of this plan," said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. "People told us what is working, what needs to change, and what kind of Vancouver they want to build for future generations. This plan was built on their ideas, concerns, and hopes for a more equitable and sustainable future. Their voices shaped the decisions we made and the direction we are taking."

Vancouver is expected to grow by 81,000 people by 2045, which means at least 38,000 more homes and 43,000 more jobs are needed to help keep Vancouver livable and affordable for current and future residents. The new plan and code lay out how the City will manage future growth and development to meet the community’s long-term vision. Changes will occur gradually as property owners submit new development proposals and as the City implements the plan.
 

The previous Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2011, no longer reflected community needs and state requirements. The new plan and code better address climate action priorities, the housing and homelessness crisis, economic trends, opportunity for all, and new state laws. Additionally, Vancouver is required to adopt an updated plan under Washington’s Growth Management Act. The plan is designed to be flexible. Minor updates typically occur each year, and a full review and update are required at least once every 10 years to adapt to new trends, technologies, and community needs.

The plan reflects more than three years of community engagement, including input from community members at more than 100 meetings and events. The Planning Commission has also been involved in creating the plan and code and unanimously recommended its adoption on April 28, 2026.
 

"It has been deeply meaningful to watch community voices take shape in the formation of this comprehensive plan," said Planning Commission Chair Patrick Adigweme. "Residents challenged ideas, asked hard questions, and made clear that growth must be equitable to be meaningful. While not everyone agreed on every detail, I hope all can recognize their contributions in the final plan."

The plan and code apply only within Vancouver’s current city limits. Areas outside the city, including in Vancouver’s urban growth area, continue to be managed under Clark County’s Comprehensive Plan, which is also being updated. The plan and code become effective July 31, 2026. More information is available on the Our Vancouver page on Be Heard.

Photos available upon request.

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