Governor Inslee announces sweeping new coronavirus restrictions, WBA to monitor

In response to increasing coronavirus cases, Governor Jay Inslee announced sweeping, potentially devastating new restrictions on business. Those restrictions include the closure of indoor dining, bars, movie theaters, bowling alleys, museums, restricting retail to 25% capacity (including grocery stores), and banning indoor gatherings of any kind with individuals outside of your own household. Unlike the…

Read More

County businesses get latest health and economic news in WBA’s first “Recovery Whatcom” series webinar

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…

Read More

WBA Business Confidence Survey Results

The coronavirus pandemic has had a severe impact on the local, state, national, and global economy. With the statewide Stay-at-Home order in effect until at least May 4th, the Whatcom Business Alliance (WBA) conducted a survey of over 220 county businesses to better understand how they have been affected by the current health and economic…

Read More

Whatcom County needs living wage jobs

In early 2018, WBA began an effort to bring attention to the importance of local workforce development, engaging with employers, educators, parents and other stakeholders. As one way to address workforce development, WBA has launched the YESWhatcom.com recruitment portal, which aspires to help Whatcom County employers meet workforce needs while assisting local youth and other…

Read More

Alcoa Intalco Works Ferndale avoids planned layoffs of nearly 500 employees

Published May 3, 2016 On May 2, Alcoa announced its agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration to amend its current power contract to help improve the competitiveness of the Intalco Works Ferndale smelter. The new amendment to the power contract, effective July 1, 2016 through Feb. 14, 2018, will provide for additional market access during this…

Read More

Whatcom County Top 25 – jobs, employers, skills and certifications

Summer 2018  Employer Demand report from the Employment Security Department https://www.esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/employer-demand Employment Rate is lowest in 11 years in Washington State! Here are some of the Top local employers, types of Jobs, hard skills and certifications in Whatcom County! (from https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/monthly-employment-report) Top 25 occupations advertised online Return to content Whatcom County, June, 2018 Source: Employment…

Read More

Build your workforce with an apprenticeship program

  One effective way for manufacturers to develop skilled workers is through apprenticeship programs, which are again taking hold among manufacturers in the U.S. as they look for ways to address their workforce needs. Per the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship is an “earn and learn” training model that combines work-based learning with related classroom…

Read More