Vancouver, Washington’s Bold Gambit to Transform from Portland’s Bedroom Community Into Regional Economic Hub

The fast-growing city across the Columbia River is leveraging its tax advantages and strategic location to capture businesses and talent fleeing Portland’s urban challenges

Vancouver, Washington, once dismissed as merely Portland’s bedroom community, is orchestrating an ambitious transformation that could reshape the economic dynamics of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most important metropolitan areas. Armed with a five-year economic development strategy and 20 prime downtown redevelopment sites, the city of 185,000 is positioning itself as the region’s next major business destination.

The strategy comes at a pivotal moment. While Portland grapples with downtown vacancy rates exceeding 20 percent and ongoing urban challenges, Vancouver is capitalizing on Washington state’s lack of income