Want to see the details of what your government and civic leaders proposed this week to keep Russell Investments from moving out of Tacoma?

Tacoma's business and government leaders presented Russell Investments executives with binders like this one that detail the incentives and commitments to keep Russell's headquarters in Tacoma and remake downtown as a magnet for other international financial services companies.

Coming Sunday, go to thenewstribune.com/business to download all or part of the 158-page portfolio provided to Russell executives. In Sunday's column, I will also outline the proposal and the most recent revelations that could provide clues about what may influence Russell executives' decision.

Russell, which started in Tacoma 72 years ago, plans to decide by the end of the year whether to build a new corporate headquarters in Tacoma or somewhere else by 2013.

U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Belfair) led a seven-member delegation into Russell's headquarters Monday to outline the incentive package.

What does it include? A lot, including...

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People registered with Starbucks' Web site received e-mails this morning notifying them of a big celebration planned for next week.

"We can't tell you exactly what's going to happen," the e-mail reads. "That'll ruin the surprise."

The e-mail instructs people to show up at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Pike Place Market Starbucks and to "be ready for something big."

What's the big thing? Free coffee? Free treats? Something bigger – is Howard Schultz is rebuying the Sonics?

My speculation: Free donuts. Or, maybe, one giant donut for all of Seattle to share.

The PI reported in February that Seattle-based Top Pot donuts will be available in Starbucks stores across the nation, also starting April 8.

Just a coincidence?

At least two developments have been added to a short list of projects proposed to house an expanded presence of Russell Investments in Tacoma.

Both projects, previously named, would place Russell’s campus downtown.

The first, proposed by the Haub family, puts Russell near the U.S. Post Office, Columbia Bank headquarters and the former Greyhound bus station in an area around A Street.

According to Haub family representative and Tacoma attorney, John Barline, the project could comprise up to 1.7 million square feet. Barline confirmed today that he has been contacted by Russell development consultants asking for a meeting within the next three weeks.

Nate Dreon, president of Ilahie Holdings – which owns Russell’s current headquarters on A Street – said Friday that Ilahie continues to have conversations with the Russell consultants.

“I know we’re talking to them a lot. We’ve had meetings and conversations pretty consistently,” he said.

He said he has another meeting scheduled within the next two weeks concerning Ilahie’s proposal for a project that could comprise 1.2 million square feet built in several phases.

Neither Barline or Dreon would say if they knew of other developments that had made the latest list.
“I know we’re all just working very hard to keep them in town,” Dreon said.

Concerning the presentation to Russell, Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma said Friday afternoon, “I feel good that we’ve essentially put the very best approach forward. I can sleep well at night – that we’ve done everything we can do.

“We laid out all of the benefits. I think we made a strong case that there were far more benefits in staying in Tacoma. There were benefits in both direct and indirect costs."

Fred Meyer Stores and QFC will sell some generic drugs for $4 per prescription, the company announced today.

The $4 generic prescriptions will be available at all QFC pharmacies in Washington and Oregon, and at all Fred Meyer pharmacies in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

The price will apply to more than 300 generic drugs prescribed for 30-day supplies for commonly prescribed dosages. Lists of the participating pharmacies and eligible generic drugs are available online or by calling 1-877-4RX-LIST (1-877-479-5478).

Other retailers including Wal-Mart and Target offer low-cost generic prescriptions.

The Fred Meyer and QFC programs include generic alternatives for some of the most commonly prescribed drugs used to treat conditions such as diabetes, asthma, depression, heart disease, thyroid and other health problems.

Separately, Fred Meyer and QFC will offer generic versions of the family planning drugs Ortho Cyclen(R) and Ortho Tri Cyclen(R) (28-day supply) and the generic version of the fertility drug Clomid(R) for $9.

Spending time on a computer after school just got better in Lakewood – thanks to Intel.

The kids who consider the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse their second home will have $40,000 in new equipment and software to help them celebrate the center's sixth anniversary next month.

A celebration of the new equipment, and the anniversary, has been scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. on May 22 at the clubhouse, 8800 121st St. S.W., the site of the old Lake City School.

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Tacoma-based Columbia Banking System announced Thursday that first quarter earnings will increase by approximately $1.9 million after-tax, or 10 cents per share, as a result of Visa, Inc.'s recent initial public offering.

The increase comes after Visa funded a litigation escrow account in March with $3 billion from the IPO proceeds. Based on Columbia's Visa USA membership percentage, the expected after-tax benefit is approximately $600,000, which will be recognized as a partial recapture of fourth quarter 2007 expenses incurred to establish a Visa litigation reserve liability.

Also, Columbia has received 118,637 shares of Class B Visa common stock, of which 45,866 shares were redeemed for a gain of approximately $1.3 million after-tax.

Columbia will not recognize any gain on its remaining 72,771 shares of unredeemed stock until such time they are redeemed for cash.

Additional information regarding the effect of the Visa IPO is available from Columbia’s Form 8-K, filed April 2.

Incidentally, Bloomberg is carrying a report that Recognia Inc. (www.recognia.com – “Leaders in chart pattern recognition”) is saying Columbia (ticker: COLB, www.columbiabank.com) stock is showing a "bottom triangle” and a “Diamond bottom,” both of which are considered “bullish signals.”

Given the diamond and triangle, says Recognia, COLB should be sailing toward $26.30-$27.10. The stock closed yesterday at $23.51, down 26 cents.