Soundings (2/25/20)

Flag Salute & Invocation by Inga Drechsel
 
Guests:  Tyler Schroeder (Deputy Whatcom County Executive)
 
Visting Rotarians: Debbie vanSteenwyk, Kevin Nichols (Everett RC).
 
Announcements by President Brad
 
Brewers update by Brad. We need to find a large project to support, and promote it at Brewers. Ideas?
 
RYLA applications: need one more applicant.
 
 
Upcoming District Conference April 30-May 3 at Harrison Hot Springs https://district5050.org/sitepage/district-conference-1/
 
Rotary Leadership Institute May 7-8 in Mount Vernon https://www.district5050.org/Event/rli-weekend
 
Incoming Board Slate for 2020-21
Past President            Brad Cornwell
President                    Mike Bates
President Elect            Lance Calloway
Vice President            Lesa Ferguson
Treasurer                    Carlye Gillespie
Secretary                     Tresha Dutton
 
Directors
Tony Freeland            Year 1 of 2
Ericka Buse                 Year 1 of 2
 
Directors 
Ian McCurdy               Year 2 of 2
Steve Berringer           Year 2 of 2    
Sean Stimac                Year 2 of 2
 
At the last meeting, all 28 attending members voted to approve this slate.
Bucks in the Bay
  • Brad Cornwell attended really fun Bluegrass music event at the new Beth Israel Synagogue;
  • Rod Bring went to AZ, fun to see the baseball training;
  • Tim Krell was in Eastern WA for his 26th wedding anniversary, some hockey news, and wonderful meatloaf by his wife;
  • Lance was hacked, and some skiing;
  • Steve Kimberly for trip to HI for wife’s birthday;
  • Inga for son’s 10th birthday;
  • John Purdie attended Bridget Collins auction, bid on and won a Flo BBQ dinner!
  • Michael Tilley busy with the business move to the Irongate facility;
  • Eddie taking kids this afternoon to see some BPD bomb squad exercises at his old house on Britten Road!
Sergeant at Arms by Curtis Dye 
Fines for Mardi Gras trivia;
Program:
Lance Calloway introduced Don Goldberg, Director of Economic Development at the Port of Bellingham. Don has over 25 years experience with commercial RE, non-profit and government work. Most recently he was Director of Economic Development at the Port of Portland. He is also a trained chef, who enjoys sailing. Don was hired into this new position two years ago. Don talked about how the EDC now is rebranded as the Whatcom County REP (Regional Economic Partnership) - not membership-based, but is a tri-funded public agency (POB, COB and the County, plus WA Dept of Commerce).
 
The REP’s goal:
To retain and attract livable wage jobs and to assist businesses, entrepreneurs, and local organizations to thrive. The REP can assist with financing, planning, and technology to help businesspeople start, develop, or grow their companies.  
 
What the REP does:
  • Promote Whatcom County as a great place to live, work and do business. 
  • Connect businesses with economic development services and skilled workforce resources.  
  • Assist businesses with the creation of Federal Trade Zones (FTZ), site identification and selection. 
  • Work with our partners in Canada to help enhance and grow cross border trade opportunities. 
  • Work collaboratively with our local and regional partners to create a vibrant community of higher education learning, prosperous agricultural lands, high tech businesses, marine manufacturing, and local food processing.  
REP areas of activity:
  • Opportunity Zones (there are three in Whatcom County);
  • Rural broadband foundation build expected construction in 2020, funded by WA Dept of Commerce;
  • Cherry Point market assessment and recommendations;
  • Developing airport land for industrial and commercial projects;
  • Infrastructure and utilities development in the county;
  • Business resiliency (disaster recovery plans);
  • Western Crossing: POB+WWU, team up to develop education opportunities in the New Waterfront Neighborhood;
  • “Development Beyond Borders”: partnering with the other cities of the Pac NW.
Some recent recruitment successes:
  1. Family Care Network (new facility in Blaine);
  2. Silfab expansion on the waterfront;
  3. Tidal Vision Expansion
  4. 360 Modular (worker housing possibilities);
  5. No Meat Factory (building a processing factory);
Raffle won by Erika.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot