Advocacy
Business success, job growth keys to a healthy community
A vibrant business community, supported by public policies, is the key to a healthy community. Do you believe this statement? Whatcom Business Alliance members – industry leaders based in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine and other cities in our county – certainly believe this to be true. They have seen firsthand how the success of businesses…
Read MoreWhere to find fact-based industry data in Whatcom County
Local business leaders, small-business owners and voters have relied on Whatcom Business Alliance to advocate on their behalf since 2013. It has become WBA’s role in the community to help stakeholders in Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale and throughout Whatcom County access policy information and fact-based research during key decision-making periods. When important issues arise in Whatcom…
Read MoreResponse to Bellingham’s Climate Action Task Force
The City of Bellingham’s Climate Action Task Force was launched in September of 2018 with the purpose of determining the feasibility, costs and impacts of the city’s 100-percent renewable energy ambitions. The Task Force rolled out preliminary recommendations for the building and transportation sectors in June 2019. Recommendations include the electrification of all commercial, residential,…
Read MoreCherry Point wages are twice the county average
The average annual wage in the Cherry Point Industrial Zone is more than double the average wage in Whatcom County as a whole. According to the 2019 Employment at Cherry Point study prepared by Western Washington University’s Center for Economic and Business Research, the average wage at Cherry Point of $110,690 dwarfs the county average…
Read MoreStep Up for Business Advocacy: Update
[Originally published March 2017] Take Action to Support Cherry Point The saga continues! The Cherry Point Amendment to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan is being introduced to the full Council on Tuesday, March 21st with the anticipated vote scheduled for Tuesday, April 4th. The language moving forward continues to concern the Cherry Point businesses: the…
Read MoreWe can balance economic prosperity and environmental stewardship
originally published March 2017— By Tony Larson, President Whatcom Business Alliance Most reasonable people understand there are trade-offs on most important decisions. Few decisions provide all benefit with no costs. Decisions that impact our community are typically no different. Particularly when the goal is to balance our economic prosperity and environmental stewardship. Many believe it…
Read MoreWhatcom County Council has a choice: Is Cherry Point open for business, or not?
originally published Jan. 2017— Whatcom County Council has a choice: Is Cherry Point open for business, or not? John Huntley, president of Mills Electric in Bellingham, found himself recently in a place he never thought he’d be – in a room full of people on a snowy night, standing in front of the Whatcom County…
Read More2014 Employment at Cherry Point Report
originally published Jan. 9th, 2017 Whatcom County Council has a choice: Is Cherry Point open for business, or not? John Huntley, president of Mills Electric in Bellingham, found himself recently in a place he never thought he’d be – in a room full of people on a snowy night, standing in front of the Whatcom…
Read MoreWhen local businesses sneeze, the community catches a cold
March 25, 2016 – Letter from WBA President Tony Larson If you are not part of the Whatcom Business Alliance leadership network, I invite and encourage you to get on board. Next month will mark our 4th anniversary. The WBA was founded as a nonprofit, nonpartisan economic development organization with the primary mission of facilitating…
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