FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 23, 2006
Contact: Ann Grimm
Port of Bellingham
(360) 676-2500
Port Renews Partnership with Western Washington University
Small Business Development Center Outreach Program Approved
[Bellingham, Wash.] In a recent Port of Bellingham Commission meeting, the Commission approved an agreement which will continue to help boost economic development in Whatcom County.
The Commission approved an agreement with Western Washington University to provide funding for the WWU’s Small Business Development Center Rural Business Outreach Program. This program will provide business counseling services to the small cities and rural areas of the county for three years.
2006 is the fourth year the Port has funded a full-time Business Development Specialist and other SBDC programs.
“As one of our goals in providing economic development assistance in Whatcom County, this effort provides one-on-one counseling for business expansion and retention services,” Commission President Jim Jorgensen said. “The SBDC program has demonstrated that it can continue to provide small business development resources for entrepreneurs and businesses that could otherwise not get counseling assistance.”
Tom Dorr, Director of the SBDC, reported that in 2005 it counseled over 180 rural businesses and created or retained over 140 jobs. These results brought in close to $5 million in new investment in rural Whatcom County.
The Port will provide $80,000 a year and the updated agreement extends through December 31, 2006.
The Port of Bellingham operates Whatcom County’s major transportation terminals including the Bellingham Airport, Fairhaven Transportation Station and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The Port also serves about 2,000 moorage customers in its Blaine and Squalicum Harbors.
In addition, about 300 businesses operate on Port properties, which are managed by the Port Real Estate Division. The Port of Bellingham is a countywide independent special purpose government.
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