President’s Report

Contracts vs Influence

Last month’s Business Pulse noted a comment from one of the guest columnists that he felt that the Chamber was “under the influence” of the City of Bellingham because the Chamber has a contract for services from the City. While this opinion might make for an interesting comment, it is far from the truth. Lets look at some facts to see what is really happening here.

The Chamber has a series of contracts for services with a number of governmental entities. These are contracts that require a series of actions and definable impacts.

The City of Bellingham: The City contracts with the Chamber to offer the Business Service Center. The Center works with existing, start up, and new to the area business. We act as the diagnostician for those first contacts referring people to the Small Business Development Center, the Economic Development Council, or right into the local economy – to our members. The groups we generally work with are small businesses in the service, retail, and professional service; home based business, and international traders. The Center had over 500 visits over the past year, and has assisted wide group of businesses into permanent locations in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and Whatcom County.

The City also supports the Ski to Sea Festival through an allocation from the Lodging Tax Fund, that must be expended to support tourism and tourism development.

Whatcom County: The County supports the Chamber Business Service Center too. We work with lots of small businesses that are growing up and looking to move from the home occupation into a real business location. The Chamber worked on the NAFTA Distressed Community Certification, and will continue to work on the potential benefits of that program.

The County also contributes to Ski to Sea and has been one of the staunch supporters of this great local event.

Washington State: The Chamber works for the Office of Trade & Economic Development’s International Trade Division. This contract supports the Business Service Center too. It is the sponsor of the Border Business Conference, supports the continued development of international trade, and assists in working with Canadian business that is interested in investments in Washington State, and obviously Whatcom County. This focus on international trade is an obvious support piece for a border community.

US Federal Government: The Chamber this last year worked for the US Department of Transpiration and the US Immigration & Naturalization Service and developed a marketing and promotional program for the PACE/CANPASS System. Obviously that went away on the 11th of September, and the Chamber immediately went to work on NEXUS. Our efforts that year have been to coordinate the implementation of NEXUS, and that work, along with many others who were also working on the project, enabled Whatcom County to be the 1st place in the United States for the program to be installed and operational.

Contracts for service ? Absolutely. Influenced ? Perhaps, but then who influenced who more and more effectively ? Results ? Definitely, with plenty of evidence that things are progressing.

 

Ski to Sea….More than just a Race..

Every year over the weekends around Memorial Day Whatcom County celebrates their heritage, families and youth, springtime, and the grand place that we live in. This celebration has occurred for well over 80 years and seemingly gets bigger every year. Ski to Sea is know in the trades as the “Granddaddy of them all” of the multi-venue sports events, and it’s known through out the region as a great time.

Ski to Sea is more than just a Race though. The festival has two parades, a kids race, and a whole series of events that support many of our important not for profits by providing them with their major fund raising revenues. But the Race is also a massive tool for the local tourism market, providing around $5,000,000 of economic impact to Whatcom County’s businesses.

If you take the event apart and look at the demographics you find some astounding facts. Tourism officials anywhere would give their left arm to have this group arrive in their town every year. Looking at the data you can clearly see that the demographics show that the typical racer is a college graduate, with an above average income level, who is staying at least one night in the County. Each team is composed of eight participants, so four hundred teams puts 3,200 people on the racecourse. We know that each team brings at least twenty-five people, including the racers so those same four hundred teams account for 10,000 in town. That group is made of friends, spouses, significant others, kids, and parents who eat, sleep, enjoy the festival and generally leave lots of money all across the County.

Ski to Sea produced, with the direct assistance of our local AT&T Studios, a half hour TV show that appears on Outdoor Life Network to a North American audience of over 34,000,000 households making this the largest single advertising package annually. This TV appearance has assisted us in attracting participants form 24 States and 5 countries. Ski to Sea is big business, and yet a very local product.

If your business is interested in attaching your name to the Ski to Sea Race, Junior Race, Junior Parade, or Grand Parade please contact the Chamber office for a detailed sponsorship package. You can tailor your sponsorship investment to a local, regional or national market and be a part of this grand tradition known as Ski to Sea.

 

Please accept this as your invitation to attend the Autumn Border Business Conference in Bellingham, Washington. This will be the ninth year that the Chamber has sponsored this semi-annual conference focusing on US/Canadian trade, border policy and practice. The Conference has been instrumental in the development of many changes in how business is done across the border.

In the past the Conference dealt with process and policy, and discussions covered PACE/CANPASS, NEXUS, and the realities of border security. This fall the conference will place a special focus on one of the issues affecting both the US and Canadian economies, softwood lumber. We will hear from a host of local Chambers of Commerce who will present the “View from the Stakeholders” and give us a solid grounding in local economic realities. We will also hear about the regional economy and the relationships important in driving our future economic futures. This will be a very important and informative event.

 

Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce
Border Business Conference

Friday, October 18th, 2002
Bellingham’s Best Western Lakeway Inn

 

7:30am Registration Opens

8:30am Opening Remarks

Michael Brennan, President, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce

8:45am A Conversation with the Stakeholders

Moderator:

Michael Brennan, President, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce

Panel Members:

Helen Socco, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce

Michael Broome, Anacortes Chamber of Commerce

Lynn Whitehouse, Langley Chamber of Commerce

Caldie Rogers, Marysville Chamber of Commerce

10:00am A Special Focus – Softwood Lumber

Moderator:

Stephan Jilk, Director, Port of Bellingham’s Partnership for a Sustainable Ecomony

Panel Members:

Brenda Plowman, Chairperson, B.C. Chamber of Commerce

Dave Haggard, President, Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada

Jack Louws, Louws Trusses

Robert Hamilton, Trade Specialist Washington State, OTED

11:00am Coffee Break

11:15am The Regional Economy and Its Important Relationships

Hart Hodges, WWU’s Center for Business & Economic Research

Don Alper, WWU’s Canadian Studies Program

12:30pm Lunch

The IMTC Report – A very successful project

2:00pm The View from the Other Washington

A report from the Washington State Congressional Delegation

2:45PM Closing Reflections

Michael Brennan, President, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce

 

Here are a few of the reasons you should join the largest business organization in Whatcom County.

• Networking Breakfast Event -Once a month event attracts well over 100 participants per event (27,720 leads exchanged every year)

• Business after Business (new location monthly – meet and network with many other business people).

• Put out your brochures and/or business cards at the Chamber office

• Chamber refers inquiries almost exclusively to Chamber members (thousands annually)

• Member listed on the chamber web site (www.bellingham.com) Thousands of hits annually on the best web address going

• Member to member discounts

• Notification of meetings and important events through our monthly newsletter and appropriate fax and email information.

• Group medical insurance plans, dental, vision, long term care, etc. for businesses employing 1 to 100 people.

• Ribbon Cutting with giant gold chamber scissors at your place of business for grand opening, expansion, etc. Picture and publicity in Chamber news letter

• Membership is 100% tax deductible

• Members have access to the chamber mailing list (1100 names)

• Business Service Center provides valuable one on one assistance to new and growing businesses in Bellingham and Whatcom County

 

Advocacy – The Chamber has a good working relationship with elected officials at all levels of government and represents members on a local, state and federal level.

Name and business referral listing in 12,000 business resource and relocation guides distributed annually.

Membership dues are very reasonable.

Membership Certificate certifying your membership for display at your business

An opportunity to market your product/service and invest into the community that supports you at chamber events and educational seminars.

Free float entrée in Ski to Sea Parade (($100 for non members)

 

For more information on how to increase your level of success, please call your Chamber office at 734-1330. We can provide you with a 5-minute CD in which you can actually see your chamber in action and/or chat about how we can be of benefit to you.

 

NETWORKING EVENTS SCHEDULED

The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce networking event is being held at Northwood Hall on Friday October 11th. The networking event is a great way to meet other business people in the community. It includes networking, breakfast and a chance to win wonderful prizes all for just $11. Reservations are required by calling 734-1330. Chamber Members and their guests are invited to attend. Non-members can attend twice prior to joining the Chamber.

This months Business after Business is being held at Varner Sytsma & Hernden 200 Rimland Drive Ste: 205 in Bellingham. Co-hosted by Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant. The Business after Business is generally held the third Thursday of every month. Chamber Members and their guests are welcome to participate in this monthly event.. Refreshments, networking, prizes and a nice time. Please join us on Thursday October 17th. Stop by for some great food and networking. 200 Rimland Drive Ste: 205

Thursday Oct 24th from 4 to 7 PM is the date for the Chamber’s October Fest at Bellewood Acres Apple Orchard Farm 231 Ten Mile Road. Visit one of Whactom County’s active agricultural gems. They will be harvesting apples, serving apple cider and a host of other delicacies that go with this Washington State delight. From Bellingham head north on Meridian to Ten Mile Road. Turn right on Ten Mile Road and look for the barn on the right. Bellewood Acres - Fun, education and prizes.

 

 

Chamber Membership Grows

The following businesses, individuals and organizations became members of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce in March:

 

Beacon Insurance Group, Inc

208 Third St. #2A

Lynden, WA 98264

360 354-3006

Insurance agency - Property & Casualty

 

Cafe HueHue

Edwin Martinez - Owner

Tara Sanford - Manager

427 Ohio St.

360 714-9100

Cafe. Morning coffee/pastries, lunch and custom roasted whole

bean coffee.

 

Hovenier Sales, Inc

Jack Hovenier - Owner

924 Kentucky Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

360 734-8798

Wholesale distribution of headwear.

 

Joan R. Wildfield, MA/LMHC

119 N. Commercial Ste: 1100

Bellingham, WA 98225

360 714-0830 x-3026

Counseling

 

Keller Williams Realty

Lydia Stone, PR Director

Marsha Lockhart, Broker

3800 Byron Ave. Ste: 148

Bellingham, WA 98229

360 738-7070

Working to be the real estate company of choice for a new generation.

 

Mindfly, Inc

John Raasch - Project Manager

1201 Cornwall Ave. Ste: 208

Bellingham, WA 98225

360 647-7470

Mindfly provides business web services, web development, web design, web hosting and web promotion.

 

Muljat Group

Troy Muljat

510 Lakeway Dr.

Bellingham, WA 98225

888 468-5578

Commercial real estate broker & appraiser specializing in investment property.

 

Old Country Buffet

Terri Blanchard, Community Rep

Dean Greenup, GM

#1 Bellis Fair Pkwy #714

Bellingham, WA 98226

360 715-8240

Full service buffet. Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner.

Breakfasts on Saturday & Sunday.

 

Rainbow Center

Rick Wiedman - Director

213 W. Champion St.

Bellingham, WA 98225

360 752-2577

Drop-in center for adults recovering from mental illness.

 

Judy Singer/Windermere Real Estate

515 W. Bakerview Rd.

Bellingham, WA 98226

360 734-7500

Real Estate Agent.

 

Renewing Members

Alternatives for Change Association

Bellewood Acres

Bellingham Bay Lodge #44

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham Theatre Guild

Chmelik, Sitkin & Davis, P.S.

Cingular Wireless

Day Wireless Systems

Elizabeth A. Bernstein, D.C., LAC

Environmental Pest Control

Favinger Plumbing, Inc

Fred Sexton/Windermere Real Estate

Georgia Pacific West, Inc

Grace Cafe

Haggen, Inc

Inside Passage

Metcalf, Hodges & Co., P.S.

Nooksack River Casino

Northwest Recycling, Inc

Pete Coy/ Muljat Group Realty

Red Robin

Seattle Seaplanes

Stampadoodle, Inc

TriCounty Office Interiors, Inc

US Bancorp/Piper Jaffray

Visitors Guide Publications

Walmart #2450

Whatcom Self-Help Homes