Things were normal. Then they weren’t. Then everything was closed. Then a few things could open—and that is where things have stayed. In early June Whatcom County moved to Phase 2 of the Governor’s Safe Start Plan, and for the time being that is where Whatcom County will remain. Per Governor Jay Inslee’s latest order,…

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In an economic downturn, marketing and sales are often the first budgetary items to get cut. So, what can Whatcom County’s local businesses do to align what the community knows about their company (public relations), their value proposition (marketing), and close customers (sales)? They can begin by asking the following four questions. Question 1: Who…

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By Kris Johnson We’ve all learned new terms and acronyms in the last few months, from “flattening the curve” and “social distancing” to WFH (working from home) and PPE (personal protective equipment). It’s remarkable how quickly COVID-19 has upended our lives and inserted itself into our daily rhythms. If you run a business, the terms…

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The impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the economic restrictions implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19 have had a dramatic impact on the state budget, with shortfalls as large as $10B projected over the next three years. While Governor Inslee has remained non-committal about the prospect of tax increases, members of his administration have…

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Nationally, the Small Business Optimism Index increased 3.5 points in May to 94.4. That increase reflects a strong improvement from April and shows that small businesses are optimistic that conditions will improve as states reopen following the economic restrictions implemented to contain the coronavirus pandemic. However, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) also reported a seven-point…

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At a meeting on Tuesday, June 16th, the City of Bellingham City Council unanimously voted to move forward with plans to accept the lease and sublease conditions for the Public Market site on Cornwall Avenue for a drop-in homeless shelter. The facility will be used over the next three years, with an option for a…

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Cotton masks are available for free to those in need courtesy of Whatcom 7 Firefighters. The masks can be picked up between 8am and 4pm in bins outside the front door at Fire Station 41, located at 2020 Washington Street in Ferndale. Shared from News Break

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More than two hundred members of the local business community, along with local elected and appointed officials, registered for “Navigating a New Health and Economic Reality in Whatcom County.” The webinar, held Wednesday May 13th, featured local business and health leaders taking questions from attendees looking to better understand what the post-coronavirus landscape could look…

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Responding to the urgent demand for emergency funding to support small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, Peoples Bank has helped over 1,600 businesses obtain $219 million in Small Business Administration (SBA)-authorized Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. A majority of these loans have been funded, with the remaining loans to be disbursed in the coming…

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