PORTLAND-The greater Portland area saw a large influx of rooms in the late 1990s and now is absorbing that extra space, albeit at a slower pace than originally anticipated. If it's a predictable cycle, however, better times are near.

CULVER, OR-Seaswirl Boats' 245,000-sf manufacturing facility here - which employs 260 in a town of 883 - sits idle while its parent company, Outboard Marine Corp., begins the process of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

TACOMA, WA-The FTZ designation lets companies who operate on the properties to ship, store, manipulate and add value to imported goods while delaying or even eliminating payment of US Customs duties.