Fourth Plain Forward

06/23/2026

See you tomorrow!

Small businesses play a vital role in strengthening our local economy, and understanding credit can be an important step toward reaching your business goals and building long-term financial stability.

Join us for this workshop and connect with practical information designed to support your growth and financial readiness.

Hosted by Fourth Plain Forward in partnership with KeyBank Small Business.

Spanish interpretation is available through support from the City of Vancouver.

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth!

Today we recognize Juneteenth as a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of opportunity.

We honor the history, contributions, and resilience of Black communities, and we remain committed to supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community members as they build opportunities for themselves, their families, and future generations.

06/18/2026

Last night, entrepreneurs from a variety of industries came together for the second class in our Business Academy Series: Strategic Pricing for Sustainable Growth.

During this hands-on class, participants explored practical pricing strategies and real-world approaches to help them make informed business decisions and build stronger, more sustainable businesses.

Participants worked through practical exercises designed to better understand costs, pricing strategies, and profitability, key elements of building a sustainable business.

A special thank you to facilitator Miryam Valdivia for leading another practical and engaging session, and to Fort Vancouver Regional Library District for hosting us.

We are also grateful to the entrepreneurs who invested their time in learning, sharing experiences, and taking meaningful steps toward strengthening their businesses.

This Business Academy Series is made possible through support from Clark County, WA , helping small business owners access education, technical assistance, and resources that contribute to business growth and economic opportunity throughout our community.

06/16/2026

📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Fourth Plain Community Commons
3101 E 4th Plain Blvd, Suite 101

👉 Register: fourthplainforward.org/workshops

📩 Contact: [email protected]

06/15/2026

Join us on Saturday, June 20 for a beautiful community celebration of pollinators, native plants, art, science, and connection. We’re grateful to support an event that brings neighbors together and highlights the importance of caring for the world around us. 🐝🌿

One week from tomorrow!

The 2026 Vancouver Pollinator Festival is almost here and we couldn’t do it without the incredible support of our sponsors. A huge thank you to Vancouver Bee Project, City of Vancouver, Firstenburg Foundation, Clark Public Utilities, Clark College, Waste Connections, Fourth Plain Forward, Urban Abundance, and theARTScentered for helping make this community event possible.

Before the festival, don’t miss two ways to get started on your Pollinator Festival Passport:
• Join us tomorrow for the Get Outdoors Day Movie Matinee at the Water Resources Education Center and earn a stamp
• Stop by Vintage Books to pick up your Passport and pre-purchase books by Dr. Doug Tallamy and Dr. Olivia Messinger Carril for signing at the festival

The countdown is on! We can’t wait to celebrate pollinators, native plants, art, science, and community with you on June 20.



¡Falta solo una semana para mañana!

El Vancouver Pollinator Festival 2026 ya casi está aquí y no podríamos hacerlo posible sin el increíble apoyo de nuestros patrocinadores. Muchísimas gracias a Vancouver Bee Project, City of Vancouver, Firstenburg Foundation, Clark Public Utilities, Clark College, Waste Connections, Fourth Plain Forward, Urban Abundance y theARTScentered por ayudar a hacer posible este evento comunitario.

Antes del festival, no te pierdas dos maneras de comenzar tu Pasaporte del Pollinator Festival:
• Acompáñanos mañana en la función especial de Get Outdoors Day Movie Matinee en el Water Resources Education Center y gana un sello
• Visita Vintage Books para recoger tu Pasaporte y comprar libros de Doug Tallamy y Olivia Messinger Carril para que te los firmen durante el festival

¡La cuenta regresiva ha comenzado! Estamos emocionados de celebrar polinizadores, plantas nativas, arte, ciencia y comunidad contigo el 20 de junio.

06/11/2026

Thinking about starting a food business in Clark County?

Join us for Food Permits 101: What You Need to Know Before Selling Food, an introductory workshop presented in partnership with Clark County Public Health.

Whether you’re interested in a food cart, catering business, pop-up, packaged food product, or restaurant, this session will provide an overview of food permits, licensing requirements, health department expectations, and resources available to help you navigate the process with greater confidence.

Access to clear, reliable information can help entrepreneurs make informed decisions, avoid common mistakes, and move forward with greater confidence as they build their businesses.

This workshop is offered in partnership with and is made possible, through funding support from Clark County, WA

Spanish interpretation will be available.

06/11/2026

Last night, entrepreneurs from a variety of industries, including food, beauty, construction, landscaping, family services, and other small business sectors, came together for our first Business Academy workshop, Business Mindset & Resilience for Entrepreneurs.

Participants engaged in meaningful conversations about resilience, confidence, leadership, and the mindset needed to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship while building sustainable businesses. The level of participation, openness, and peer-to-peer support throughout the evening reflected the strength and dedication of our local small business community.

A special thank you to facilitator Miryam Valdivia for sharing her experience and guiding an engaging and practical session, and to FVRLibraries - Fort Vancouver Regional Library District for hosting us.

These opportunities are made possible through support from Clark County WA, helping entrepreneurs access education, resources, and connections that support long-term business growth.

06/10/2026

06/08/2026

After 25 years in media and production, I found myself at a crossroads. My passion for being behind the camera started to fade, so, I needed a change, I packed up my life and moved to Australia.
Australia is an incredible place, but you still always miss the small the comforts of home. And for me, that meant a real glass of freshly brewed iced tea.

I looked everywhere, but all I found were mass-produced, overly sweet, artificial drinks pretending to be iced tea…but not even coming close. So like any American abroad, I complained about it. Until my girlfriend told me to buck up and make my own.

What began as a simple craving quickly turned into an obsession. I spent months experimenting with different teas, fruits, and florals, trying to create something that felt clean, refreshing, and honest. Somewhere along the way, Stripped Teas was born.

After returning to the Pacific Northwest with a suitcase full of iced tea recipes I couldn’t wait to share, I relocated to Vancouver, Washington, and decided it was time to turn Stripped Teas from an idea into a real business. As I started looking for resources and guidance to help get things off the ground, I found Fourth Plain Forward.
However, I had no idea where to even begin. Starting a tea company was a completely different world for me. I knew how to get film permits and organize productions, but health permits, commercial kitchens, and food regulations were all brand-new territory. There were so many things I never would have thought about.

I thankfully googled for who could help and Fourth Plain Forward came up. The team there has been incredible, I was able to better understand the permitting process, connect with resources, and gain the confidence to move forward. What once felt overwhelming became a series of manageable steps. Their support has played a huge role in helping turn this idea I had into a real business.

06/05/2026

Every business journey is different, but having access to the right resources can open new doors for growth.

We’re excited to share this free Certification 101 Information Session on June 24. Whether you’re interested in government contracting opportunities, learning about certification benefits, or connecting with business support resources, this workshop is a great place to start.

We encourage small business owners throughout Southwest Washington and the Portland-Vancouver region to take advantage of this opportunity and learn more about the resources available to support their success.