Brown & Brown Northwest to consolidate Camas and Battle Ground locations

The employees of Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance have left their office in downtown Camas and moved to Battle Ground.

That move, from 506 N.E. Fourth Ave. to 2401 W. Main St., Ste. 105, is temporary.

The plan is to consolidate both offices in the EastRidge Business Park, 11713 N.E. 99th St., Vancouver, in February 2017.

The cost saving measure will involve the relocation of eight employees.

They offer automobile and homeowner insurance, as well as renters, motorcycle, RV, condominium, flood and earthquake insurance.

Brown & Brown is a publicly owned corporation, founded in 1939, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In January 2011, Nies Insurance Agency, Inc. was purchased by Fullerton & Company, Inc., of Portland. Fullerton is a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc.

The Camas office building is owned by Jerry and Marilyn Nies.

Nies Insurance was started in 1972, in Battle Ground. It was a partnership that involved Jerry, his father Ira and mother Leona.

In 1988, the company expanded to Camas by purchasing Community Insurance. Shortly after that, Jerry purchased the building from the local chapter of Odd Fellows.

For more information about Brown & Brown, call 254-2220 or visit www.bbnw.com.

Downtown Camas office market is strong

A lease for the 506 N.E. Fourth Ave. office space will reportedly be in place soon.

Greg Goforth, a commercial and residential real estate broker with Windermere Crest, of Camas, said there is little to no retail space available in downtown Camas.

“Our downtown building owners and investors are now seeing rent increases for the first time in years,” he said. “Investors are waiting in line to buy buildings in downtown. Demand is up, and it’s an exciting time for all types of customers to enjoy a great downtown atmosphere.

“Building owners are loving it, so that their returns on their investments are paying off,” Goforth added. “Our location, accessibility to the river, Gorge, Portland International Airport, Portland, the mountain and beaches have put us on the map in a big way.”

He is hoping condominiums and apartments will be built downtown to accommodate the demand of people who want to live in Camas.

“This town has great potential for controlled growth to meet the needs of the millennials, families and empty-nesters,” Goforth said.