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CONTACT SCBJ John Wolcott, Editor jwolcott@scbj.com Dave Clark, Assistant Editor dclark@scbj.com

Business Briefs - May 2008

Cobalt Group brings 300 Internet marketing jobs to Lynnwood
Lynnwood’s Northview Corporate Center, a six-story building at 20700 44th Ave. W. overlooking I-5, has a new tenant, The Cobalt Group.

The Seattle company provides online marketing services for more than 40 percent of all auto dealerships in the United States. On average, the dealerships are spending 10 percent of their advertising budgets on the Internet, so Cobalt expects 35 to 40 percent annual growth over the next two years.

“We were looking for an expansion area that was somewhat near Seattle, but that also could draw from other areas with a hireable work force,” said David Peugh, a senior program manager for Cobalt.

He said the cost of the 40,000 square feet of office space was lower in Lynn-wood than in King County and the location was right.

Cobalt executives said Lynnwood’s ability to handle permits quickly also was important, as the company is trying to expand rapidly to keep up with customer demand.

“Cities usually aren’t easy to deal with, but when the city’s at least trying, it helps,” Peugh said, noting that Lynn-wood issued its permit in a day, while other cities said they would need weeks or even months to complete permits.

David Kleitsch, the city’s economic development director, said the city has worked hard to streamline its permitting system and promote Lynnwood, where more than 30 percent of the city’s office space was empty as recently as last fall, according to Colliers International.

“With Cobalt’s leasing of 40,000 square feet and other deals in the works, that will change,” Kleitsch said. “We’ve been getting the word out to brokers and marketing Lynnwood’s value and location.”

The 12-year-old, privately held company expects revenue to reach $170 million in 2008.

Soroptimist of Sno-King honors Windsor for work with youth
A Making a Difference for Women Award is being presented to Anne Windsor, director of Your Place After School, a program designed as a safe and supportive place for adolescent girls ages 14 to 18, including emotional, social and academic assistance.

Windsor, a teacher for 17 years with Mukilteo School District, has dedicated her professional career to helping girls understand who they are and what they want to do with their lives.

First Heritage Bank to open branch in Woodinville
First Heritage Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Cathy Reines has announced the bank will be opening its seventh branch at NE 175th Street in Woodinville in the third quarter of this year. Kirtley Cole is the general contractor, and Mosaic Architecture is designing the facility,

First Heritage is the top local SBA lender in Snohomish County, specializing in small business, construction, real estate and minority lending.

The bank underwent extraordinary changes during 2006, including remodeling all its branches in Snohomish, Marysville, Monroe, Everett, Arlington and Lynnwood.

UW-Bothell announces new biotechnology, biomedical institute
The University of Washington’s Bothell campus has formed the Biotechnology and Biomedical Technology Institute (BBTI) as a resource for individuals and organizations in the region and state with an interest in the development of the biotechnology and medical device industries.

BBTI also seeks to engage government, business leaders and citizens in an ongoing conversation about the future of these technologies, their implications for society, and their role in the local, state, national and global economies.

It also will provide a range of information, educational opportunities and research, serving as a forum for scholars, business and government leaders, students, and citizens to meet and exchange information.

The group will promote UW-Bothell’s unique position to play a leadership role in these industries due to its proximity to a large portion of the state’s biotech and biomedical corporations near the campus.

BBTI Executive Director Dr. Michael Stiber said the venture has been years in the planning and thanked the support of the UW-Bothell administration and faculty. While awaiting formal institute approval, the BBTI took a leadership role in partnering with the city of Bothell and local businesses to develop a Bothell Biomedical Manufacturing Corridor. The corridor already has received an official designation as an Innovation Partnership Zone by the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

BBTI intends to build off of this success and create additional alliances within the biotechnology and biomedical technology fields, resulting in research opportunities, instruction and community outreach.

For more information about the BBTI at UW-Bothell, visit www.uwb.edu/BBTI.

Mountain Pacific Bank opens new Lynnwood branch this month
A new branch of Everett-based Mountain Pacific Bank opens in May at 196th Street SW and Highway 99 in Lynnwood. The bank received approval to open its second branch within the first year of its operation, following a year of record-setting profitability, the bank said.

President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Duffy said the Lynnwood branch marks an important milestone for the bank, expanding beyond Everett to establish a presence in south Snohomish County.

New employees at the branch will include Assistant Vice President and Operations Supervisor Diana Cadena-Sanner, Senior Financial Services Representative Irina Desvignes and Financial Services Representative Adriana Alvarez-Clampitt. All three previously were with The Bank of Washington in Edmonds.

Jeff’s Auto Repair in Lynnwood earns AAA Top Shop Award
Based on the quality of repair work, courtesy of employees, shop cleanliness and customer satisfaction, Jeff’s Auto Repair in Lynnwood has earned an American Automobile Association Top Shop Award. The facilities that earn this honor typically have received customer satisfaction rates close to 100 percent during the last calendar year. To be eligible for the award, the shop already was qualified as part of AAA’s Approved Auto Repair network by the shop’s quality equipment and employee certification and training levels.

Premier Golf is new manager for Everett’s two golf courses
Premier Golf Inc. has replaced Billy Casper Golf as the management for Everett’s two public golf courses, Legion Memorial and Walter E. Hall.

The company also manages Seattle’s Jackson Park, Jefferson Park, West Seattle and Interbay golf courses; Bellevue Golf Course; Pierce County’s Lake Spanaway and Fort Steilacoom golf courses; and Maple Valley’s Lake Wilderness Golf Course.

Legion Memorial and Walter E. Hall are both popular golf courses, with roughly 60,000 rounds played annually for the past few years. Located in a major population center, the courses offer low rates, from $28 to $32 on weekdays and weekends at Legion and $20 and $24, respectively, at Walter E. Hall.

Camp Fire adds another $250,000 donation to its capital campaign
Camp Fire USA’s $2.7 million capital campaign now has raised $1.7 million, with the latest $250,000 donation coming from the Stillaguamish Tribe in Arlington. The tribe’s name will be placed on the new multipurpose building being built at Camp Fire’s Camp Killoqua.

Earlier in the campaign, the Boeing Co. and Norcliffe foundation each donated $100,000. The first $250,000 donation came from local philanthropist Phil Johnson, Camp Fire officials announced.

Clothes for Kids asks help for disadvantaged youth
Donations of money, new socks and underwear, new or gently used clothing and shoes are being requested by Clothes For Kids in Snohomish County.

For donation information call 425-741-6500 or visit www.clothesforkids.org.

Pill Phone offers medication information, reminders
Pill Phone, co-sponsored by Verizon Wireless and VOCEL, a publisher of mobile phone applications, will provide cell phone customers with detailed drug information about more than 1,200 medications, plus automatic dosing reminders.

The system is based on a mobile version of the best-selling medical reference guide, The Pill Book. The service is provided exclusively through Verizon Wireless. View a demonstration of the program at www.pillphone.com.

Sherwood Community Services benefits from Boeing volunteers
In April, more than 120 Boeing employees converged on Sherwood Community Services in Everett for the 13th consecutive year to provide spring cleaning. The group collected winter’s abundance of fallen pine cones and needles, cleared flower beds and swept sidewalks.

Throughout the years, volunteers have painted every wall in the three buildings, many of them twice. Long lists of maintenance requests have been fulfilled and carpets, floors, restrooms and equipment all get a thorough cleaning. Boeing engineers even designed and built a “cat proof” sandbox for the playground.

Sherwood Community Services is a nonprofit organization that provides services to children and adults with disabilities, helping them to reach their goals.

Throughout Puget Sound, the April 26 events included more than 1,000 Boeing employes and family members volunteering to help nonprofit organizations in the Puget Sound area.

County promotes tourism through grant programs
Snohomish County is accepting applications from public and nonprofit agencies for projects that develop and promote tourism in the county. Funding is available for marketing only and not for capital improvements. Money is awarded from revenue collected annually on taxes from hotel and motel room rentals in Snohomish County.

The Snohomish County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will review applications and make recommendations to the Snohomish County executive and County Council for final approval. Funds will be available beginning in July and will be awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who can complete their proposed projects by Dec. 31, 2008.

Historically, individual project allocation has averaged about $6,500. The county anticipates it will disperse between $20,000 and $25,000 for the current applications.

Details of eligibility and other program requirements are included in the application package that must be submitted to the Snohomish County Department of Economic Development by 5 p.m. May 12.

Applications are available from the Department of Economic Development, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 411, Everett, WA, 98201.

For more information on the program, contact Brent Lambert at 425-388 -3263.