For Immediate Release
January 13, 2010
For More Information Contact:
Carolyn Casey, Port of Bellingham 360-676-2500
Two New Members Join Waterfront Advisory Group
Officials from Housing Authority and Western Will Add New Insights
[Bellingham, Wash.]When the Bellingham Waterfront Advisory Group meets tonight, it will include two new members.
John Harmon, Executive Director and CEO of the Bellingham Whatcom County Housing Authority, and Steve Swan, Vice President for University Relations at Western Washington University, were appointed by the Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners earlier this month.
The Waterfront Advisory Group serves as an advisory group to the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham, regarding waterfront redevelopment in Bellingham. The port and city formed this group to ensure that the vision and goals of the community-led Waterfront Futures Group continue to be a part of all waterfront redevelopment planning. The port and city each choose half of the members of the Waterfront Advisory Group.
The Port Commissioners, as well as current members of the advisory group, expressed enthusiasm for the insights and knowledge that Harmon and Swan will add.
Harmon, through his role as the CEO for the Housing Authority, has met with the port several times to discuss opportunities for affordable housing in The Waterfront District. He has overseen the development of 1,047 housing units in 27 developments in Whatcom County. He has experience in using tax-exempt bond financing, tax credits and other non-conventional ways of financing new housing development for a variety of income levels.
Swan is beginning his second year serving as Vice President for University Relations at Western. He oversees Internal and External Marketing and Communications, Government Relations and Printing and Copy Services. Representatives from Western have been continually involved in waterfront planning since the creation of the original Waterfront Futures Group. In his former job at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Swan was the leader of the University's $29 million capital campaign.
The Waterfront Advisory Group typically meets monthly and its January meeting will begin at 6 p.m. tonight in the Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue. All meetings are open to the public and all include opportunities for public comment.
The January meeting includes updates on the 2010 project planning and implementation goals and the status of the supplemental environmental impact analysis.
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Photos Available Upon Request: carolyncportofbellingham.com
