Business News

James opens new photo studio

Peter James Photo Art recently opened in the Fine Arts Building. James offers both traditional photography and digital imaging, including enhanced portraits. James takes regular photos and blends them with background images. He also offers virtual reality animations, a popular service with businesses. The animations allow companies to feature three dimensional views of their products.

 

Lynden jewelry store expands

Originals by Chad doubled the size of his Front Street jewelry store last fall. Chad Shoemaker opened the store five years ago and offers a range of custom designed jewelry. He makes upwards of 90 percent of the items available in his store. He has more than 15 years of experience making jewelry.

Keith Blanchard, a Swiss-trained watchmaker, joined the Originals by Chad staff in November. He brings 25 years of experience in making custom designed watches. He’ll perform repair, maintenance and design in the shop.

 

Georgia-Pacific declares dividend, appoints officer

Georgia-Pacific Corp. paid a quarterly dividend on company stock last month. Each share earned a dividend of 12.5 cents.

The company board elected Russ McCollister senior vice president of manufacturing at the company’s Green Bay operation. McCollister joined the company in 1976 at their Camas, Wash. facility and became vice president in Camas in 1994.

The company also reported improved earnings in the third quarter this year. Net income during the third quarter of 2003 was $189 million compared with a net income of $66 million during the same period of 2002. Sales were down to $5.3 billion in the third quarter from $6.2 billion in the third quarter of 2002. The decline was in part the result of Georgia-Pacific separating their Unisource paper distribution business.

 

Bellingham company expands Rhode Island marina

Bellingham Marine recently installed a Unifloat wave attenuator and dock system at the Greenwich Bay Marina in Warwick, Rhode Island. The dock complements extensive upland improvements of the marina, which overlooks Narragansett Bay.

The project was designed and built by Bellingham Marine’s northeast division.

The marina has 500 slips and features a restaurant, pool and lounge.

 

Elvis comes to Bellingham

Lickety Split ice cream and deli is the new shop on Northwest with a life-sized statue of Elvis out front. Corey Lincoln opened the shop and hopes to evoke the atmosphere of nostalgic ice cream parlors of days gone by. “I opened Licketry Split with thoughts of the old fashioned ice cream parlors where we went after school or after the movies or shopping,” Lincoln said in a release.

The restaurant features hard ice cream, sodas, and fountain concoctions, including the Scoop de Ville, a six-scoop sundae. Lickety Split also serves sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and espresso drinks.

 

Conerly to address Chamber

William B. Conerly is keynote speaker at Forecast 2004, an annual event sponsored by the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12 at the Best Western Lakeway Inn and is sponsored by Banner Bank.

Conerly is coauthor of “Thinking Economics,” a high school textbook, and is chair of the Cascade Policy Institute and a senior fellow at National Center for Policy Analysis.

In addition to Conerly’s presentation the event features local manufacturing, tourism, and real estate professionals talking about the year ahead.

 

New store opens for historical gamers

Games and Things is a new store featuring historical miniatures, detailed soldier, vehicles and equipment used by strategy game enthusiasts. According to Larry Newland, proprietor, his store is the only such game store in Northwest Washington.

He carries miniatures from a variety of conflicts including World War II, Vietnam, the Korean War, ancient wars and fantasy lines such as Lord of the Rings and Mech Warrior.

Games and Things also carries family board games and jigsaw puzzles.

Newland is a former teacher and school administrator. He said some of his products are especially popular with families that home school their children.

He also invites historical game enthusiasts to set up in his store’s game room on Friday and Saturday evenings.

 

Agriculture Department offers help to salmon fishers

The US Department of Agriculture is now allowing salmon fishers in Washington State to apply for trade adjustment assistance.

The assistance is for producers in industries where increased imports have contributed to price declines. The USDA found that increased frozen salmon imports contributed to a nearly 33 percent price decline for Pacific fishers last year.

Fishers may receive 5.6 cents per pound caught in 2002. The deadline for application is January 20, 2004. For more information contact the Farm Service Agency.

 

Nature’s Path opens new headquarters

Nature’s Path Foods, with production facilities in Blaine, moved to a new head office in Richmond last fall. The new facility is five times larger than their old home office in Delta, BC. Kevin Greenwood, marketing manager, said the company outgrew the old location as a result of a nearly 30 percent sales increase over the past three years and their successful entry into the lucrative US cereal bar market.

In 2002, Nature’s Path nearly doubled their Blaine production facility and installed equipment to manufacture the cereal bars.

Nature’s Path is North America’s best-selling brand of organic cereal in natural food markets.

 

University joins library consortium

Western Washington University is now part of the Orbis Cascade Alliance, a combined catalog system serving colleges and universities in Washington and Oregon.

Last summer the library systems in Oregon and Washington, which previously operated independently, joined into a single system and launched a web-based catalog called Summit.

Libraries that belong to the consortium also coordinate their purchasing programs to avoid duplication.

 

Key Bank gives to community alliance

Key Bank pledged just over $1 billion to the State of Washington’s Community Reinvestment Act. The program is designed to offer small business loans, economic development money, and mortgage loans in low and moderate income communities.

In 1992, the bank negotiated a 10 year agreement with the Washington Reinvestment Alliance. The new agreement continues commitments begun under the earlier agreement.

Over the next three years, Key Bank will provide:

• $900 million in small business, small farm and economic development lending;

• $45 million in multi-family affordable housing development;

• $9 million in low income housing tax credits;

• $75 million in community home buyer programs.

 

Tennis club installs new lighting

Bellingham Tennis Club installed new lighting throughout the club. They switched from halogen to fluorescent lights to save energy.

The conversion was undertaken with a grant from Puget Sound Energy.

 

International Absorbents announces results, financing

International Absorbents, Bellingham based manufacturer of pet care and industrial products, announced a third quarter sales increase of 32 percent. Sales during the third quarter were a company record, amounting to more than $5.6 million. Net income for the period increased by 35 percent over the same quarter last year.

So far this year International Absorbents is on pace for a record year in sales, posting a 30 percent increase over the first nine months of 2002. The company also began construction on a new facility in Georgia, designed to make it easier to serve its east coast markets. The company is building an 86,000 square foot multi-use facility in Jesup, Georgia. Initial work on the site began in December.

 

Auto dealer acquires updated system

Bruce Cox Imports recently implemented the Volvo after sales diagnostic information system. The system enables repair facilities to communicate with Volvos made from 1999 to the present thereby reading vehicle diagnostics, seeing information on vehicle systems and downloading replacement software to the car. Technicians also have access to an online parts catalog and can identify parts needing replacement right in the repair bay.

 

Architecture firm on the move

Professional Building Design recently moved to a larger facility on Harbor Mall. David Verret and Todd Fuller own the firm. They have more than 15 years of experience designing buildings in Northwest Washington.

 

US Bank sharply increases small business loans

US Bank increased the volume of their small business administration loans by 47 percent. That equals an 11 percent in dollar volume.

US Bank loaned almost $536 million to just under 1800 small businesses around the United States.

Nationally US Bank ranks second among lenders making SBA guaranteed loans.

 

Moses moves law practice

Gene R. Moses recently relocated his law office to the Barkley District. Moses specializes in business law, specifically representing international companies wishing to expand into the United States.

He graduated from Western Washington State College in 1971 and earned his law degree in 1975 at Gonzaga University.

 

Contractors’ association office relocates

Associated General Contractors of Washington moved their northern district office to Railroad Avenue in Bellingham. AGC remains the oldest commercial construction industry group in the state, having been open for 80 years.

 

Workers comp rates on the rise

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries announced workers compensation premiums would increase by 9.8 percent at the beginning of 2004.

In September the department proposed an increase of nearly 20 percent. However after a series of public hearings state officials backed off from the large increase.

Given the lower increase the department claims they may have to dip into their contingency reserve.

Gov. Gary Locke will appoint a panel of business and labor officials to investigate changes in Washington’s worker compensation system.

Reaction to the increase from business industry groups was swift and unfavorable.

The Building Industry Association of Washington called the increase insane.

“This is a typical government solution – first they break your leg then they hand you a crutch and expect you to appreciate it,” said Randy Gold, BIAW president. Gold further accused the Labor and Industries Department of basing increases on political expediency rather than actuarial analysis.

The Washington chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business said they are happy the agency backed off of their initial 20 percent proposed increase but are disappointed the rates are increasing at all. “The next session of the Washington legislature must make workers compensation reform its top priority,” said Carolyn Logue, state director of the NFIB/Washington.

The business federation said the increase was not necessary and suggested Labor and Industries maintains an unnecessarily large contingency fund.

 

Bellingham store named contest finalist

Town and Country Jewelers in Bellingham’s Bellwether complex was named one of America’s coolest stores by “Instore,” a magazine aimed at jewelry store owners.

Gary and Sallie Deitz own the shop, which was designed by Carlson Architects in Seattle.

The magazine’s judging panel enthused about the store’s padded benches and ottomans, as well as the store’s layout, which they praised for making the most out of the store’s setting. One judge described the store as simple and elegant.

 

Schork opens insurance office

Lisa Schork opened her LTC Capstone office in Bellingham. She will specialize in long term care and home health care insurance plans and in capital preservation.

Schork is a senior partner in LTC Capstone which also has an office located in Seattle.

“Nothing else will cover [long term care] expenses – not Medicare, Medicaid or health insurance,” Schork said. “I can help preserve assets and independence while giving access to quality care.” Schork specialized in long term care insurance for 13 years.

 

WTA reports ridership record

Whatcom Transportation Authority buses carried more passengers in October 2003 than any other month ever. Almost 25 percent of the increase was the result of their expanded evening and Sunday service. In addition ridership in east county has also gone up substantially.

The authority’s vehicles carry 31.5 passengers per hour on average making WTA the third most productive transit agency in Washington State. Eight routes average more than 50 passengers each hour and in October one route averaged 100 passengers per hour.

 

SE2 awaits ruling

Backers of the Sumas Energy 2 proposal are in a holding pattern waiting for Canada’s National Energy Board to rule. The Canadian agency must allow the plant to link to the BC Hydro grid near Abbotsford, BC.

Hearings regarding the proposal lasted three months and only wrapped up in September. The NEB will forward its recommendation to the Canadian government some time this spring.

 

Rehab center changes hands

The facility formerly known as the Cordata Health Care and Rehabilitation Center was sold and renamed the Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center. Evergreen is a health care company headquartered in Washington State. The new owners are smaller and more focused on developing properties they have rather than adding properties to their chain, said Willy Straub, director of admissions and marketing.

The rehab center is offering new services to mark the ownership change.

They built a transitional suite so patients can practice caring for themselves after being discharged from the hospital but before heading home. They also offer a surgical recovery program, which allows people contemplating surgeries to choose a room and have a treatment protocol worked out before entering the hospital.

The Evergreen center is a 122 bed skilled nursing facility, offering physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

 

Fuego 542 for sale

Fuego 542, Travis Holland’s unique restaurant in Maple Falls, closed temporarily last month and is potentially on the market. Holland plans to reopen the restaurant in February with a redesigned interior if a buyer cannot be found.

“It is clear to me that our product offering and menu mix in Maple Falls has not penetrated the market sufficiently,” said Holland in a press release. “We will resume operations in February with a new theme and menu designed to meet the needs of the local marketplace.”

 

Bellharbor opens at Squalicum

Bellharbor Yacht Sales is a new yacht brokerage open at Squalicum Harbor. The business, owned by Curt Bagley, will deal exclusively in pre-owned yachts. Currently sales of used boats outpace new boat sales by a margin of 8 to 1.

Bagley has 25 years of experience in boat sales and in the last six years has sold more than $17 million in power yachts.

Bellharbor will focus on selling 32-foot to 60-foot yachts.

 

Executives anticipate stable first quarter hiring

A survey of chief financial officers finds 88 percent anticipate no change in their workforce. Seven percent plan to hire in the first quarter while only five percent plan to reduce their staff.

The survey, conducted by Robert Half International, polled 1400 chief financial officers from a stratified random sample of US companies with 20 or more employees.

 

Executive reveal unusual gifts

According to a survey commissioned by the Creative Group, business executives have received some unusual gifts.

When asked, “What is the wackiest or most unusual gift you or a colleague has received from a business associate?” some unique answers included a gold tooth, a pickaxe, a ketchup bottle, and a dancing statue of Hank Williams, Jr.

Other outlandish gifts mentioned in the survey include a box filled with other empty boxes, a screeching monkey, a pair of shoes with a hole in the bottom and a turtle.

The Creative Group surveyed 250 executives from advertising and marketing firms.

 

Samson Rope consolidates jobs in Ferndale

Samson Rope Technologies will add 40 production jobs in Ferndale by the end of May by closing their plant in Richmond, BC. All production equipment will be moved to Ferndale.

“We have determined that we have sufficient space and manufacturing capacity to support current and future customer requirements from two facilities – Ferndale and Lafayette, Louisiana,” said Steve Swiackey, president of Samson Rope.

 

Zervas Group wins design award

Bellingham based architects, Zervas Group, won a Citation Award from the Masonry Institute of Washington for their design of Western Washington University’s Campus Services Facility. The award is part of the Masonry Excellence Awards Program, which is intended to recognize outstanding achievement in masonry design.

All Masonry in Everson was also recognized as contractor on the project.

 

Port approves Wood Stone expansion

The Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners approved a 20-year lease with the Wood Stone Corporation in November. The nearly $5 million project will double the size of the company’s manufacturing facility and is expected to generate 40 new family-wage jobs.

Currently the company occupies the former ice arena at the Airport Industrial Park.

Wood Stone builds high-end wood and gas fired hearth ovens for both commercial and residential clients. To date their ovens have been installed in almost 50 countries.

“This company is a true local success story,” said Jim Darling, executive director of the port.

Financing for the project will come from the port, Whatcom County, and Washington State. Wood Stone will repay project costs through their lease payments and plan to add $500,000 in equipment to the new facility.

Construction begins this year and will be complete in 2005.

 

Weathers Sauce a success

Weathers 1897 marinade, which hit the market in September, showed a 500 percent increase in accounts through the end of the year. Demetree Weathers Robinson markets the sauce based on her grandfather’s recipe. The sauce is also now available at outlets in Skagit County.

 

Women’s group moves to new Web site

The Women’s Professional Network launched its new Web site last month. The site features listings of upcoming meetings and members only event. It’s located at http://www.wpnbellingham.org. The Women’s Professional Network is designed to encourage educational and leadership training, strengthen business relationships, encourage mentoring, and provide exposure to community issues and business trends.

 

Fairhaven publisher releases novel

Albedo Books of Ferndale recently published “Life’s Vagabondage,” a novel by Northwest author David Sterling.

The book is a Christian fantasy tale in the vein of “Pilgrim’s Progress.”