After 20 years in the Portland area, Joel Coombs has returned to Grant County and opened up a general contracting business.

Coombs was raised on a ranch east of Prairie City but finished high school in Portland, where he went to work in the buildings trades. He started out building five-story high apartment buildings before working for several maintenance companies.

Sometimes that took him to tough neighborhoods, where repairs to drywall and doors were common. He also worked in Portland’s Pearl District, where gentrification was taking place in a former industrial neighborhood.

Coombs went into business for himself in 2017 and moved to Grant County in June. Joining him from Portland is Michael McClung, who has known and worked with Coombs for the past 20 years.

Coombs offers experience in remodeling, renovation, maintenance, hardwood flooring, drywall, plumbing and general carpentry. He doesn’t build houses, but he’ll take on garages, decks, unfinished basements, bathrooms, kitchens, windows, doors and roof repairs.

He said he picked up fine carpentry experience working on historic buildings in Portland that owners were restoring. He has a state contracting license and is bonded and insured.

He recently worked on a home up Pine Creek that included light fixtures, an attic fan, exterior doors, a new roof and siding for the shop, toilets and painting. He said he’ll take on jobs across Grant County.

Coombs recalled being one of two teenagers in Prairie City who were ardent skateboarders. In Portland, he volunteered for 20 years for Skate Church, a nonprofit Christian ministry.

Coombs said he has lots of family and friends in Grant County.

“We’re glad to be back, and we’re here to stay,” he said.

To contact Joel Coombs General Contracting, call 503-313-5860 or email jcoombsgc@gmail.com.