Columbia Communities: Camas

The high-tech computer industry transforms Camas

WaferTech, which moved to Camas in 1996, is the city's largest high-tech employer. Its facility is located in Cascade Business Park. Photo pending permission from WaferTech.

I think really the industries that have come to Camas now basically have made us a very diversified economic city in the sense that if the mill were to decide to shut down for some reason or not, it would be much more easily absorbed from the standpoint of our revenue stream, we'd notice it obviously because it's a lot of money, but with WaferTech, and some of the other ones that have located in the city, that's taken a lot of heat off of the mill from the standpoint of being that supply of money. -- Camas Mayor Dean Dossett, 2000 interview

The high-tech businesses that came to Camas provided more than 2900 local jobs. WaferTech alone employs approximately 1200 employees and provides the city with twenty-five percent of its tax base. The Cascade Business Park still has vacancies.

1987 -- Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas, manufactures computer technology, such as liquid-crystal display screens, integrated circuits, and radio frequency components.
Where: Cascade Business Park
Employees: 400

1992 -- Heraeus Shin-Etsu, manufactures high purity quartz crucibles used in the semiconductor industry
Where: Cascade Business Park
Employees: approximately 50

1994 -- Underwriters Laboratories Inc, independent testing for product safety.
Where: 2600 N.W. Lake Road, Camas
Employees: nearly 200

1996 -- WaferTech, A silicon semi-conductor wafer foundry
Where: Cascade Business Park
Employees: approximately 1200

1996 -- Linear Technology Corporation, A semiconductor plant that designs, manufactures, and markets silicon wafers for standard linear integrated circuits, which are used in equipment such as radios and phones.
Where: Cascade Business Park
Employees: 100

1998 -- Furuno, A marine electronics company. The local facility manages a warehouse, sales, and repairs.
Where: Cascade Business Park
Employees: 82