Intalco Restarting Production Lines

The Alcoa Intalco Aluminum smelter in Ferndale will resume production by mid-May.

The plant will restart two of its three potlines that have been idle since May 15, 2001. Dave Boyer, operations manager of the Ferndale facility since March 1, say an improved global economy and the ability to negotiate an affordable power agreement through Sept. 30, 2003, enabled the plant to resume production 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Boyer declined to state the source of the electricity.

Intalco’s workforce of 650 employees has been kept on the payroll since then through an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration. The employees were assigned plant maintenance tasks and also were loaned to various community projects. No additional employees will be hired because of the resumption in production.

Alcoa, which owns 61 percent of the Ferndale plant, agreed to return 90 percent of electricity allocation from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2003, to BPA. In return, Alcoa receives revenue to pay the wages and benefits of its employees.

The restart is particularly good news for businesses that provide materials and services essential to production, says Fred Sexton, president of the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council.

“Also, I think it will have a very positive psychological impact on the community that will translate into more aggressive economic activity during the coming months,” Sexton adds.

The restart will result in production of 95,000 metric tons per year (mtpy) of aluminum, according to Alcoa. Before last year’s shutdown due to high electricity prices and weak demand for aluminum, the Ferndale smelter’s production rate was 115,000 mtpy. Its total capacity is 270,000 mtpy.

Port, WWU Working on Economic Research

The Port of Bellingham and Western Washington University have reached an agreement to provide a detailed, ongoing analysis of the local economy.

Under a $25,000 contract, including acquisition of the latest software, the Port of Bellingham will fund work by WWU’s Center for Economic and Business Research. The CERB will expand projects of the regional economy, which it has been doing since 1985, to include specific analysis of the industrial, agricultural, forestry, fishing and retail sectors.

“This analysis of the many different sectors of the economy will enhance our community’s planning for a healthy economy,” says Scott Walker, president of the Port’s board of commissioners.

The Western contract is part of a $36,000 research and community education project led by the Port and the Partnership for a Sustainable Economy, a countywide effort to identify and act on a shared vision for Whatcom County’s economic future. The project includes detailed research, community forums, a newsletter and an annual “State of the Economy” report and presentation. WWU will participate in the community education effort.

“It will be extremely helpful to have specific retail data and, equally important, to know more about other market segments,” says Mauri Ingram, executive director of Bellingham’s Downtown Renaissance Network.

Chuck Anthold, chairperson of the Whatcom County Council’s Agricultural Preservation Committee and owner of Three Pheasants Farm, also supportd the project.

“The study will provide a factual basis as to the importance of agriculture to the county,” Anthold remarks. “This is of particular importance in underpinning initiatives to mitigate the irreplaceable loss of farmland in Whatcom County.”

The Port received a $25,000 grant earlier this year from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The grant is designed to assist coastal communities with transitioning economies historically based upon fishing and aquaculture, says Stephan Jilk, the Port’s economic development director. In addition, the Port will pay $7,000 toward the project and the local banking community is being asked to contribute $4,000.

Construction Starts on Lynden Library

A groundbreaking ceremony was conducted in early April for the new Lynden Public Library, designed by Ross McClure Cornwell Architects of Bellingham.

The 15,400-square-foot structure will be the permanent home for the Whatcom County Library System’s reference library. When completed in February by general contractor John Daniels Construction, the $1.65 million building will be the largest library in the county’s nine-branch system.

RMC partner Brad Cornwell says the project aesthetically integrates Lynden’s heritage into the design by incorporating traditional Dutch architectural forms. It also maximizes the use of natural light.

“The new design allows the library to move into the 21st century with ultimate flexibility created by an open floor plan, high ceilings and an extensive underslab electrical and data service distribution,” Cornwell states.

The new building, across Fourth Street from the current one in downtown Lynden, increases shelf capacity by 220 percent. It will include a public meeting room with a kitchenette for community and city usage.

Organizations Honoring Local Businesses

The first Economic Development Awards breakfast will be conducted May 23 in Bellingham.

The Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council and the Western Washington University Small Business Development Center are organizing the event. It aims to recognize and thank local commercial and industrial businesses that have helped contribute to the overall economic development of the community.

Businesses will be recognized through a nomination process in three categories. The categories are based upon long-lasting presence and contribution to economic development in the community; expansion and job creation; and performance through actions to retain jobs and/or investments that have led to future expansion or diversity.

The breakfast is scheduled from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Best Western Lakeway Inn. The cost is $15 for members and guests of members and $20 for nonmembers. Reservation are required by May 21.

Whidbey Island Bank is the title sponsor for this event and the Bellingham Business Journal is the co-sponsor. For more information or to make reservations for the breakfast, call the EDC, 676-4255.

Commercial Print Shop Opens in Bellingham

Lithex Northwest, a commercial print shop, opened in March in Bellingham.

The business was launched by co-owners John Busch and Scott Wheeler and a third owner, identity not disclosed, who also owns Lithex Printing Solutions in Hillsboro, Ore.

Lithex Northwest, a separate company from the Oregon firm, operates in a 10,000-square-foot building at 3550 Meridian St., Suite 6, behind the Michael’s Crafts store.

Lithex Northwest’s 12 employees provide stationery, marketing pieces, books, flyers and instruction materials for clients in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Snohomish and King counties. It offers a complete prepress and bindery department and printing capabilities up to six-color work.

Busch has 20 years in the printing industry and Wheeler has 10 years.

For more information, call 676-1977.

Law Offices Support Salmon Enhancement

Two Bellingham law offices, Roy and Simmons P.S. and Brett and Daugert PLLC, presented $60,000 to the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association in March.

The law firms decided to support the NSEA for its work on salmon and stream habitat improvements in Whatcom Creek and other Whatcom County streams. In addition to the cash contribution, Brett and Daugert will contribute $10,000 for riparian restoration on the portion of Whatcom Creek adjacent to its offices.

The NSEA is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring economically productive, self-sustaining salmon runs in the county through habitat restoration, education, community participation and the production of salmon. Since 1990, it has worked on projects covering more than 40 miles of streams in the county. For more information, call NSEA, 715-0283.

Skagit State Bank Plans Lynden Branch

Skagit State Bank has announced plans to build a branch this year in Lynden.

The Burlington-based bank has purchased property in the 200 block of Birch Bay-Lynden Road. The location is just west of the Bob’s Burgers & Brew Restaurant at the corner of the Guide Meridian and also across the street from the new Safeway supermarket.

The 3,600-square-foot branch will include a loan officer, three drive-through lanes, an automated teller machine and safety deposit boxes. It will be the bank’s third branch in Whatcom County; the other two are in Bellingham (downtown and Sunset Square).

Fisher & Sons Construction of Burlington will be the general contractor. Construction is expected to start in June or July and be completed by November.

Skagit State Bank, established in 1958, currently has 11 branches in Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties. It will face stiff competition in Lynden, which already 12 offices representing nine banks and one credit union.

High-tech Manufacturer Moving to Bellingham

Micro-Radian Instruments, Inc., a manufacturer of laser measuring instruments, is moving this fall from California to Bellingham.

Micro-Radian Instruments, currently based in San Marcos, Calif., expects construction to begin this month on a 7,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in the Cordata Business Park in north Bellingham. The building will be ready for the company’s 10 employees this fall.

Micro-Radian Instruments, founded 29 years ago, produces angle measurement instruments for military, aerospace, metrology and industrial clients. Its autocollimators are laser-based optical instruments that can measure the size of a human hair from 10 miles away.

“We decided upon Bellingham primarily because the community was very attractive to us for several reasons and because the (Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council) provided excellent assistance and led us to a planned industrial park where several other high-tech companies are location,” says Tom Thurston, the company’s owner and chief executive officer.

“Our main reason for moving is the California tax code,” general manager Jerrat Morel told Business Pulse. “Taxes are so high here now that the many benefits of living in San Diego are no longer sufficient compensation. Along with high taxes are a high cost of living, high insurance costs, high housing costs and the high costs of maintaining the state’s general welfare system.”

Morel adds, “Along with no personal income tax and the other monetary benefits, we consider Bellingham an ideal location for both life and business.”

Salon Elysium Opens in Fairhaven

Four women have opened Salon Elysium in Fairhaven.

The co-owners are Jessica Anderson, Donna Bertucci, Gwen Comfort and Robin Shannon. Each will work at the salon and provide services that include cutting, styling and coloring hair, perming, waxing and manicures.

Salon Elysium opened in late March at 1010 Harris Ave., Suite 101, next to Skylark’s Restaurant. The salon opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closing hours depend on appointments.

For more information, call Salon Elysium, 756-1910.

Peoples Bank Gains Branch in New Store

Peoples Bank opened a branch April 10 inside the new Safeway supermarket at 8071 Guide Meridian, Lynden.

The branch is the Lynden-based bank’s third in the city and gives it 10 offices in Whatcom County, more than any other financial institution. Peoples Bank has a total of 16 offices in Whatcom, Skagit and King counties.

The store branch is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Its features include an automated teller machine and a night depository.

The branch has five employees, headed by branch manager Pam Langstraat and assistant branch manager Lisa Stauffer.

New Blaine Restaurant Offers Sicilian Cuisine

Nick and Gillian Scianna have opened Bella Marina, a restaurant focusing on authentic Sicilian cuisine, in Blaine.

Bella Marina is located at 825 Marine Drive, overlooking Blaine Harbor. It has a “million-dollar view,” according to Nick Scianna.

The restaurant, opened in late April, serves lunch and dinner. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The Sciannas also own Nicky’s Diner, a restaurant in Blaine that is going into its 10th year. But, as Nick Scianna says, “It’s very hard to introduce Italian food into a ’50s diner.”

Sciana is a native of Sicily and will use recipes handed down from his parents and his uncle. Bella Marina will feature pasta, steaks, seafood and pizza and also serve panini sandwiches. The restaurant will offer three meat and vegetarian tomato-based sauces and a white roasted garlic sauce.

For more information, call Bella Marina, 332-2505.

Downtown Plans Special Events in May

Downtown Bellingham businesses will offer a variety of special events in May through a new promotion, “Explore Downtown Bellingham: Urban Trek 2002.”

The events, organized by the Downtown Renaissance Network will coincide with the community’s Ski to Sea Festival (May 17-26), which attracts approximately 150,000 people.

Downtown businesses plan events such as artist and product demonstrations, specialist consultations and a brewery tour, as well as special promotions. A guide detailing the various events will be available May 15 at participating downtown businesses and organizations.

Also, the Bella Umbrella Contest will make its debut. Contestants will decorate an umbrella as an artistic farewell to rain gear. The entries will be displayed at businesses throughout downtown from May 17 to June 2.

For more information on “Explore Downtown Bellingham: Urban Trek 2002,” call the Downtown Renaissance Network, 527-8710.

Plumbing Business Opens in Lynden

A man with three plumbing businesses in California has moved to Lynden and launched Plumb-Rite, Inc.

Bill Zaiss owns Ideal Plumbing, which has locations in Sacramento, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. He moved to Lynden in February and opened Plumb-Rite in early April.

“I have technology that nobody has up here,” Zaiss says, although he declined to elaborate at this time.

Plumb-Rite services, repairs and installs equipment. Its work ranges from main sewer and water lines to toilets and faucets. Zaiss says his clients come from residential, commercial, agricultural and military sectors.

For more information, call Plumb-Rite, 354-4500.

Salon Makes Donation to Youth Organization

Studio 310 Salon in downtown Bellingham donated proceeds from all haircuts given on April 18 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington.

“My friends and I are entering a team in the Bowl for Kids’ Sake event (conducted April 20) and I thought this would be a great way to raise pledges,” says Studio 310 Salon owner Dana Rasmussen.

More than 70 businesses are sponsoring this year’s Bowl for Kids Sake, donating nearly $30,000.

Recomp Will Move Composting Facility

A mushroom composting operation in Ferndale will be moved within two years, according to a settlement reached in April.

The Recomp of Washington facility, operated by IMS, is located at the southern edge of Ferndale on Slater Road. Neighbors have complained about odors from the operation, which has been fined several times by the Northwest Air Pollution Authority for violations of state air quality regulations.

The City of Ferndale, Whatcom County, Recomp and IMS agreed to the legally binding consent decree, according to a city press release. The companies have 18 months to relocate the mushroom composting operation, but will be given an additional six months if property for a new site has been purchased and the permitting process for that site has begun. Until the facility is relocated, IMS must take “reasonable measures” to reduce its odors in accordance with a plan of operation that was entered with the consent decree.

Plasma Collection Center Opens

BioLife Plasma Services, a subsidiary of Baxter Healthcare Corp., opened in April a plasma collection facility at 655 Stuart Road in Bellingham’s Cordata Business Park.

The center collects plasma, the liquid portion of the blood. Baxter produces biological products from plasma that are used to treat hemophiliacs, burn victims and transplant patients, among others.

Jeff Hunsaker is manager of the center, which has a staff of 24. Dr. Michael Hughes is the medical director.

Plasma donors are compensated for their time. The procedure takes about 90 minutes.

The parent company is Baxter International, a global biotechnology and medical products/services corporation. Based in Deerfield, Ill., Baxter recorded sales of $7.66 billion in 2001. Its Baxter BioScience unit accounted for 37 percent of that total and operates more than 100 BioLife Plasma Services collection centers in the United States and Europe.

Bank Makes Donation to Kulshan Land Trust

KeyBank has contributed $5,000 to Bellingham-based Kulshan Community Land Trust in support of the nonprofit organization’s efforts to offer affordable homeownership solutions.

Kulshan CLT is targeting local businesses whose employees may be eligible for its HomeBuyer Drive Program. The downpayment assistance program is designed to close the gap between housing costs and the amount of mortgage plus downpayment that a family can afford. St. Joseph Hospital and The Opportunity Council plan to make the program available to their employees.

“Smart businesses have been very receptive to Kulshan CLT’s ideas,” says Pual Schissler, executive director of the organization. “Not surprising, really, since employees make great homeowners and vice versa.”

For more information about KCLT, call 671-5600 or send e-mail to info@kclt.org.

Walley’s Water Expands Product Line

Walley’s Water, Inc., of Bellingham has expanded its line of custom-labeled water bottles with the addition of six-packs.

President Richard Walley says his products are used for advertising, marketing, fundraisers and celebration of special events.

Walley’s Water was founded in July 2000. For more information, call 223-3839 or visit www.walleyswater.com.

 

State Allows Online Filing of Documents

Electronic filings from businesses soon will be accepted by the Washington Secretary of State’s Office.

The state Legislature passed a bill this spring that was signed by Gov. Gary Locke to allow the office to accept legally required documents filed online. Individuals, charities, law firms and professional-service companies are among those that file documents with the state. Approximately 35,000 new businesses incorporate each year and more than 250,000 file annual reports that are required by law.

“In most cases, this legislation will cut what’s typically a week-long process down to a virtually instantaneous transaction,” says Secretary of State Sam Reed.

The Secretary of State’s Office plans to have the new legislation implemented by this fall.

Businesses Support Housing Organization

Rebuilding Together Whatcom County has received grants from VoiceStream Wireless and Home Depot.

VoiceStream Wireless donated $3,000 and agreed to sponsor a house, which includes many hours of volunteer time in the rehabilitation of a local home. Home Depot awarded $1,000 in the form of an in-store credit

Rebuilding Together Whatcom County expects to rehabilitate at least two homes this year. The grants allow the organization to buy supplies, equipment and materials for the work. Additional funds and in-kind donations are welcome and will help Rebuilding Together Whatcom County rehabilitate more local homes.

Rebuilding Together Whatcom County is affiliated with Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April. For more information, call Marion Bogarards of the local affiliate, 224-3930, send e-mail to rtwhatcom@yahoo.com or visit www.rebuildingtogether.com.

KVOS Changes Newscast Time

KVOS TV in Bellingham has changed the time of its locally produced “NewsView” from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays.

“We think that more Whatcom and Skagit County residents will be able to take advantage of ‘NewsView’s’ coverage and information features in this 7 a.m. period,” says Dave Reid, KVOS TV president and general manager.

First broadcast in 1990, “NewsView” focuses on community news, issues and events of interest to residents of Whatcom and Skagit counties. The half-hour show switches places with 30 minutes of CNN Headline News, which now airs at 6:30 a.m. and includes weather information for northwest Washington and British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

Highland Cattlemen Heading to Mt. Vernon

The American Highland Cattle Association will conduct its 51st annual national convention June 20-22 in Mount Vernon.

The convention will include seminars and tours for Highland producers and those interested in the breed.

For more information on the convention or the breed, call (303) 292-9102 or visit www.highlandcattle.org.

Forest Landowners Using New Form

Forest landowners began in late March using the state’s new Forest Practices Application/Notification form.

The new form has been simplified to cover a wide variety of forest operations and reflects new forest practices rules.

The revised and updated form is available at the state Department of Natural Resources region offices or can be downloaded and printed from the agency’s Web site at www.wa.gov/dnr/htdoca/fp/div/div.html. Completed applications then can be mailed or delivered via e-mail to the DNR region office where the application will be conducting businesses.

DNR administers and enforces all state forest practices rules and processes forest practices applications and notifications. Forest practices include logging, thinning, road construction, brush control, fertilization and land conversions, among other activities related to the growing and harvesting of timber.

For more information, visit the Web site or call (800) 527-3305 to reach forest practices staff at the appropriate DNR region office.

New Business Focuses on Radiant Heating

Stacey and Jennifer Davis have opened Apex Radiant Heating, serving clients in Whatcom and Skagit counties from an office in Mount Vernon.

Stacey Davis has 14 years of experience in the heating industry, including seven years in boiler and radiant floor heating. He has installed hundreds of systems in projects ranging from a small addition to a 60,000-square-foot commercial building. Davis previously was an installer of radiant floor heating for Barron Heating.

Davis offers design and installation of radiant heating. For more information, call (360) 336-1924.

Lynden Restaurant Features Hot Dogs

Tim and Angie Wrzesinski have opened Taste of Chicago, a restaurant offering hot dogs, salads, soup and chili, in a Lynden shopping center.

Taste of Chicago opened March 18 in Lynden Towne Plaza, 8174 Guide Meridian. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The restaurant features Vienna beef hot dogs with a variety of toppings, including mustard, relish, chopped onions, cucumbers, sliced ripe tomatoes, kosher pickles and peppers. Italian beef sandwiches and Polish sausages also are available.

Taste of Chicago provides free delivery to businesses between noon and 1 p.m. weekdays.

For more information, call 318-8775.

Dawson Construction Begins Projects

Dawson Construction has begun work on two major projects in Washington and one in Alaska.

The company recently began construction of a 100,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center for Western Washington University in Bellingham. The $17 million facility, due to open in fall 2003, will include a weight and fitness room, a three-court gymnasium, an elevated jogging track, a six-lane swimming pool, aerobic studios and multipurpose rooms. Don Lindsay is the project manager, Dave Parker is the assistant project manager and Dick O’Bryan is the project superintendent.

Dawson Construction also is building additions and making renovations to Valley General Hospital in Monroe and making improvements to a Coast Guard helicopter hangar in Sitka, Alaska.

Dawson Construction has offices in Bellingham and Ketchikan, Alaska.

Spinnaker Renting Darkroom by Hour

Spinnaker Photo Imaging Center in Bellingham has begun offering hourly darkroom rentals to photographers with darkroom knowledge.

The darkroom includes enlargers, lenses, focusers, paper cutter and various tools. Photographers are responsible for their own supplies and are required to schedule an orientation session with Spinnaker’s personnel.

Spinnaker Photo Imaging Center is located at 1059 N. State St. For more information, call 734-4668.

Express Personnel Owners Honored

Mark and Sandy Hagen, owners of the Bellingham and Mount Vernon franchises of Express Personnel Services, were honored for being among the top 10 producing franchisees of Express Services in 2001.

The Hagens received the Chairman’s Club award during the international staffing firm’s conference in Atlanta.

The Bellingham Express franchise began operation in 1989. It provides temporary and full-time employees for office services and industrial, data-processing and accounting/finance positions.

Little Caesars Pizza Expands to Everson

Brothers Ray Caldwell and Bob Nevitt have opened a Little Caesars Pizza restaurant in Everson, giving them eight in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

The newest restaurant opened in March in the Everson Shopping Center, behind a Peoples Bank branch. It is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Bran Danke is the manager.

For more information about the Everson restaurant, call 966-0909.

Dream Pix Design Adds Web Hosting Features

Dream Pix Design of Bellingham recently expanded its Web hosting facilities through a colocation arrangement with FiberCloud Data Center, also in Bellingham.

Dream Pix Design now offers clients superior bandwidth and Class A data center security and redundancy through this arrangement.

Founded by Kris DeBruine in 1999, Dream Pix Design specializes in creating Web sites for small- and medium-sized businesses. DeBruine has a bachelor’s degree in fine art, with an emphasis on graphic design and photography, from Western Washington University. For more information, call 715-9878 or visit www.dreampix.net.

Bike to Work Day Planned May 17

Whatcom County employers for the fifth year will participate May 17 in Bike to Work and School Day.

The national event promotes bicycle commuting for personal, community and environmental health. About 50 county businesses and organizations and 1,000 cyclists participated in the event last year. Employers are encouraged to post signs about the event, offer incentives to participants and provide food and beverages to them. Stations throughout Bellingham, as well as at Blaine and Lynden high schools, will be open from 6:30 to 10 a.m. and offer snacks, prizes and information.

Local sponsors of the event include the Community Food Co-op, REI, Kona Bicycles, Mt. Baker Bicycle Club, Dudley Foundation, City of Bellingham and Whatcom County Health and Human Services.

For more information, call 650-0515 or send e-mail to Ota4@hotmail.com.

SBDC Roundtable Program Growing

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center now has seven BusinessLINC roundtables meeting each month.

Two roundtables specific to the services industry started in late April. The others are focused on manufacturers, downtown Bellingham retailers, construction and the high-tech industry.

The SBDC also has a roundtable for the Lummi Nation, with discussions about the unique problems and opportunities faced by Native American business owners.

Each roundtable consists of 12 noncompeting business owners. Participants meet monthly to discuss their businesses, share problems and solutions with one another and hear how other business owners in their industry deal with various aspects of running a business. In addition, the roundtables usually involve a presentation by an expert on a business topic chosen by the group at the previous month’s session.

If there is sufficient interest, other roundtables may be formed. Any business owners who would like to be involved should contact Kate Clark at the SBDC, 733-4014, or Kate.Clark@wwu.edu for more information or an application form. Forms may be downloaded from the SBDC Web site at www.cbe.wwu.edu/sbdc.

Fundraising Event Focuses on Doghouses

The Whatcom Literacy Council has announced a new fundraising event, Literacy Unleashed.

The event on Nov. 8 at Northwood Hall in Bellingham will climax in the auction of doghouses with a literary theme. Builders, architectural firms and hobbyists are encouraged to design, build and donate unique doghouses for the auction. The evening, sponsored by the Doggie Café and KAFE Radio, both in Bellingham, also will include a silent auction, food, wine and live music.

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor, building a doghouse or receiving an invitation to the event may call the Whatcom Literacy Council at 647-3264 by May 30.

The Whatcom Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization helping adults to read or use English as a second language. For more information, visit ww.whatcomliteracy.org.

May Events Planned at WorkSource Center

Two events aimed at helping current and prospective business owners are scheduled this month by the WorkSource Center in Bellingham.

The WorkSource employer panel meets from 10 to 11:45 a.m. May 16 at Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central St. The panel allows local companies to provide information and market open positions to a diverse pool of 80 to 100 job seekers.

A workshop, “Starting and Managing Your Own Business,” will be presented from 10 a.m. to noon May 28th at the WorkSource Center, 101 Prospect St. This workshop provides information to help participants determine if their business idea is feasible and discover the pros and cons of starting their own business.

For more information about either event, call 676-3250.

Allstate Offering Banking Services

Allstate Corp. has become the second major insurance company in Washington to offer banking servings.

Allstate Bank, a subsidiary of the insurance and financial services company, announced in early April that it’s begun offering products and services in the state. State Farm began offering banking services in the state in March.

Allstate Bank offers banking by mail, telephone, the Internet and automated teller machines. Agents can provide information and help customers sign up but can’t accept deposits.

Allstate has about eight agents in Bellingham.

Author’s Visit Helps Whatcom Watch

Village Books in Fairhaven has donated nearly $720 to Whatcom Watch with ticket proceeds from the April 4 appearance of activist and author Julia Butterfly Hill.

Whatcom Watch is a monthly environmental newspaper and information network dedicated to the preservation of Whatcom County’s quality of life.

All West/Select Sires Plans Record Payout

All West/Select Sires cooperative members will receive a total of $615,000 on Sept. 15 in the form of patronage checks.

The cash disbursement from the Burlington-based co-op amounts to 50 percent of its 2001 profits. The remaining 50 percent will be sent to qualifying members on a five-year rotation. The total of $1.23 million that will be returned to members based on their 2001 purchases is the most in the co-op’s 60-year history.

All West/Select Sires provides the livestock industry in northwest Washington with artificial insemination genetics, products and services. For more information, call (800) 426-2697 or visit www.allwestselectsires.com.

Revenue Department Seeks Voluntary Disclosures

The Washington Department of Revenue has placed information about its Voluntary Disclosure Program on its Web site for businesses that aren’t registered or paying state taxes.

The site includes benefits, qualifications, a sample agreement and contact information for the program. Visitors can use the information to determine if they qualify for a voluntary disclosure agreement. Qualified companies can either apply on their own or through representatives such as accountants or attorneys. Applicants may remain anonymous until negotiations are completed.

The Voluntary Disclosure Program isn’t available to businesses that previously have been contacted by the department or currently are under investigation. Eligible businesses must not have engaged in evasion or misrepresentation with respect to reporting tax liabilities or other tax requirements and can’t be listed with the department as registered and reporting.

One advantage to coming forward voluntarily is that the department may partially or fully waive penalties, although taxpayers will be expected to pay back taxes plus interest. Another benefit is that the look-back period will be limited to the previous four years rather than seven years.

The Legislature recently provided funding to hire additional Department of Revenue auditors, tax discovery officers and other compliance agents.

Georgia-Pacific Donates Computers

Georgia-Pacific recently donated computers to the Lynden School District and Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon.

The Lynden School District received 50 desktop computers from the company’s pulp-processing facility in Bellingham that closed last year. Some went to libraries in two elementary schools and others replaced six-year-old computers in the high school’s computer lab, enabling students to access the Internet and work on more programs.

Skagit Valley College received five personal computers with monitors and other support hardware for its diesel power technology program. The college is using the computers in a newly created computer lab so students can search the Internet for online technical and repair information. It also is using computers in its rolling diagnostic cabinets for troubleshooting engines and other related electronic concerns.

Grocery Stores Support Literacy Council

Brown & Cole Stores is conducting a fundraiser this month at its Whatcom County stores for the Whatcom Literacy Council.

Tear-off donation slips of $2 apiece will be available at checkout stands in all of the county’s Cost Cutter stores, plus Everson Red Apple and Lynden Food Pavilion. Participating shoppers who hand a slip to a clerk will have the donation added to their grocery bill.

All proceeds go directly to the Whatcom Literacy Council to help adults learn to read or use English as a second language. For more information, call the Whatcom Literacy Council, 647-3264 or visit www.whatcomliteracy.org.

WWiB Will Learn about Home Issues

Issues involving community growth and home-building costs will be discussed during the May 28 meeting of Whatcom Women in Business.

Guest speakers from the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County will be Gary Reid, president, and Bill Quehrn, executive vice president.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Cascade Pizza in Bellingham.

WWiB is a nonprofit organization established in 1978 by business owners and executives searching for a means to provide mutual business support and education. It meets twice each month for lunch or dinner to discuss specific issues of concern to members. For more information, contact Susan Radonski-Anglada, WWiB vice president, at 714-8805.

Festival Supports Harbor Restoration

The first Shuckin’ on the Spit Festival, a nonprofit event to support the Drayton Harbor Restoration Project, was conducted May 4 at Resort Semiahmoo in Blaine.

The project aims to increase regional public and private awareness of the array of shellfish resources in Drayton Harbor. It also seeks to begin harvesting oysters there in May 2004. Proceeds from the festival benefited the Drayton Harbor Restoration Fund.

“This year we’ll be eating shellfish from other growing areas but, if we do our job and control pollution, we should be feasting on Drayton Harbor oysters by 2004,” says Betsy Peabody, Puget Sound Restoration Fund spokesperson.

In response to the close of shellfish harvesting in the harbor in 1999, the Drayton Harbor Community Oyster Farm organized in 2001 and volunteers planted oyster seeds. The oyster farm and the festival are supported by numerous businesses and local and state governmental agencies.

Flattery, GoGo Design Consolidate Offices

Flattery Co. and GoGo Design have consolidated their offices, moving to the Bellingham Hardware Building at 215 W. Holly St., Suite B-28.

Flattery Co. is a marketing and copywriting firm owned by Julie Flattery. It has collaborated with GoGo Design, a graphic-design firm owned by Heidi Dikeman, on projects over the last two years. They recently worked on a new identity package for Impero Contracting Co. and their clients include Ross McClure Cornwell Architects, Blythe Plumbing & Heating, Downtown Renaissance Network and Whatcom Museum.

The pair say a downtown location was important. Both are active in downtown development projects.

Local Teacher Receives Toyota Grant

Bellingham Toyota dealer Rick Wilson announced that Harlan Kredit, a Lynden Christian High School science teacher, has been granted a $2,500 Toyota Tapestry grant.

The grant was awarded for Kredit’s innovative classroom project, “Salmon Habitat and Wetlands Restoration for Young Salmon Smolts.”

Sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, and administered by the National Science Teachers Association, Tapestry is the largest grant program in the country for science teachers in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit www.nasta.org/programs/tapestry.

Businesses Support Campus Coalition

Owners of Bellingham bars, taverns, restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores have signed a pledge committing them to responsible alcohol serving and selling practices.

The businesses joined leaders of the Bellingham-Western Washington University Campus and Community Coalition in signing a community covenant. The pledge-signing business owners belong to the Hospitality Resource Alliance, an integral part of the coalition. The group also includes students, neighborhood association members, landlords, Bellingham and WWU police, judicial officers, state Liquor Control Board representatives, elected officials and other campus-community leaders. They meet regularly to discuss issues and collaborate on projects that promote healthy lifestyles of WWU students as community members.

Businesses signing the pledge include Billy McHale’s, Brown & Cole Stores, Christo’s Restaurant & Casino, Fairhaven Pub & Martini Bar, Haggen, Inc., Red Robin, Rumors, Starvin’ Sam’s, Yorky’s, The Shell Smart Stop, The Wild Buffalo, The Quarterback Pub, The Royal, Grand Ave. Ale House, La Pinata, The Beaver, The Calumet, The Up & Up, Slo Pitch Pub & Casino and the Lakeway Liquor Store.

For more information about the coalition’s efforts, contact Pat Fabiano, director of prevention and wellness at WWU, 650-3074.

Soroptimists Present Awards to Students

Soroptimist International of Bellingham recently presented awards to Holly Sipes of Bellingham and Kathleen Camfield of Lynden.

Sipes received the $1,500 Women’s Opportunity Award, which will assist her with costs for tuition and related educational expenses. Sipes is a part-time student at Whatcom Community College and plans to transfer to Western Washington University and enter its human resource management program. She now is eligible for another award from the Soroptimist Northwest Region.

Camfield was presented the Violet Richardson Award, which honors young women for volunteerism in their community. Camfield volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Whatcom County in the School Buddies Program. The mentoring program pairs an older student with a younger one to assist with schoolwork and recreational activities. After participating in the program one year, Camfield helped in recruiting 30 new volunteers, some of who could meet the needs of minority students by speaking Spanish, Korean and Punjabi.

In conjunction with the award, Soroptimists donated $100 to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Camfield also is eligible for further recognition from the Northwest Region.

Founded in 1931, Soroptimist International of Bellingham is a part of Soroptimist International of Americas, a volunteer service organization for women in business, management and the professions. For more information about the local chapter, call Gayle Helgoe, 676-6860.

SCORE Workshops Scheduled in Seattle

Three workshops designed for those launching or operating a small business will be presented this month by the Seattle chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

The workshops are:

• “Starting a New Business, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 9. Learn how to start your business with the right legal, insurance and accounting advice and develop your planning, finance and marketing programs.

• “Building a Business Plan, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 15. Discover how your business plan will help you succeed where others have failed.

• “Money: How to Raise and Use It,” 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22. Learn the ins and outs of borrowing and obtaining equity. Discover cash-flow management and understand bankers and how to write a loan proposal.

Each of the workshops costs $60 and includes lunch. The Seattle chapter also periodically offers workshops on “Marketing & Sales Techniques,” “E-Business” and “E-Commerce (Selling Online).” The workshops are presented at the SBA/SCORE Business Enterprise Center, Park Place Building, 1200 Sixth Ave. (intersection of Sixth and University), downtown Seattle. To register or obtain more information, call (877) SEA-SCOR or visit www.seattlescore.org.

Local Health Consortium Gains $1.9 Million Grant

The Whatcom Community Health Improvement Consortium, in collaboration with St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, is one of seven healthcare organizations in the country chosen to receive a $1.9 million grant.

The Family Care Network, SeaMar Community Health Center, North Cascade Cardiology and St. Joseph Hospital’s Center for Senior Health are members of the local consortium. During the next two years, they will work with adults with diabetes and/or congestive heart failure to improve access to care, improve communication across healthcare organizations and support patients in being full members of the care team. The intent of the project is to reduce the need for admissions and re-admissions to hospitals through innovative chronic care services focused on strengthening the ability of patients to manage their own care and to create a more effective healthcare system.

The grants are part of the second stage of an initiative led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Gigi’s Sandwiches & Donuts Opens

Gottfried “Ted” Klement and wife Gisela Klement have opened Gigi’s Sandwiches & Donuts in northeast Bellingham.

The restaurant opened in April in Hannegan Plaza at 4073-B Hannegan Road, a quarter-mile south of East Bakerview Road. Its hours are 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.

Klement says he operated a restaurant in Southern California for 11 years and moved here to retire with his wife. However, last year’s downturn in the stock market led him to open Gigi’s. Klement says the location is ideal for serving the industrial area of northeast Bellingham and benefits from a high traffic count on Hannegan Road.

To place orders or gain more information, call the restaurant, 738-8096.

CVB Presenting Awards, Board Members

The Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention & Visitors Bureau will present awards and new board members at its annual dinner May 15.

The winners of the Priscilla Sabin Award and the Tourism Business of the Year will be announced at the dinner, being presented at the American Museum of Radio in downtown Bellingham. The Priscilla Sabin Award recognizes outstanding creativity, efforts and community contributions by a touris worker on the front line of the industry within the last year. The Tourism Business of the Year award honors a Whatcom County business that has made a significant contribution to tourism or has made outstanding strides in growth and/or development within the last year.

CVB members were presented the following slate of board members for approval: Kris Abbott, Hesselgrave International; Diana Bakkom, WesternWashington University; Janet Corrick, Val U Inn, John Aemmer, Red Robin; Brad Burdick, Mount Baker Theatre; Mike Gommi, Best Western Heritage Inn; Steve Brenk, Best Western Lakeway Inn; Ken Imus, Jacaranda Corp.; and Art George, Nooksack Tribe.

For more information about the CVB or to make dinner reservations, call 671-3990 or visit www.bellingham.org.

County’s Job Outlook Improves in March

Whatcom County’s unemployment rate fell 0.7 percent in March to 6.7 percent.

The number of people employed in the county rose by 700 to 75,400 while the number of unemployed residents declined by 500 to 5,400, according to the state Employment Security Department. April’s figures may be even better because of better weather for construction and the openings of the Silver Reef Casino near Bellingham and a Safeway supermarket in Lynden.

In March 2001, Whatcom County had a jobless rate of 6.9 percent with 74,500 employed and 5,500 unemployed.

The statewide rate also dropped 0.7 percent in March to 7.3 percent.

The March jobless rates for other northwest Washington counties were: Skagit, 7.7 percent; Snohomish, 7.5 percent; Island, 5.6 percent; and San Juan, 5.3 percent.

Tax Reference Manual Placed on Web Site

The facts, figures and history of various state and local taxes have been placed on the state Department of Revenue’s Web site.

The 2002 edition of the Tax Reference Manual is now posted at dor.wa.gov/reports. It cites the statutory authority of each of 120 state and local taxes, lists rate changes over the years and indicates how much each tax has yielded over the past decade.

The report also summarizes tax collections for the 2001 fiscal year. The sales tax generated $5.5 billion in state taxes, 46.5 percent of all taxes. The business and occupation tax was second, generating just over $2 billion or 17 percent. The state school levy ranked third at $1.4 billion and 11.5 percent, followed by the motor vehicle fuel tax ($611.8 million or 5.2 percent) and the real estate excise tax ($435.1 million or 3.7 percent).