Contact: Dodd Snodgrass

Port of Bellingham

(360) 676-2500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7, 2005

PORT INVITES COMMUNITY TO DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION SEMINAR
Focus on Small Towns and Unincorporated Areas at Free Seminar

[Bellingham, Wash.] In an effort to assist with economic development throughout Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham through its Partnership for a Sustainable Economy is bringing in experts from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program for a free seminar.

The Downtown Revitalization Seminar is from 6-10 p.m., Thursday, July 28 at the Homestead Farms Convention Center in Lynden. There is no charge to participants and refreshments will be available.

The one-evening program is aimed at downtown business owners, local leaders and people interested in community enhancement. The topics to be addressed include: creating a vision for downtown, identifying elements of a successful downtown redevelopment strategy, developing a downtown management program, raising project money, working with property owners and creating a building and business inventory. The speakers also will share before and after examples in other downtown areas that followed the Main Street approach.

The Main Street Approach is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts. The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of commun ity.

More information about the Main Street program is available at its website: www.mainstreet.org.

The Port of Bellingham works through the Partnership for a Sustainable Community to assist small cities and unincorporated areas of Whatcom County in reaching their economic development and sustainable business goals. In addition to providing this seminar, the Port provides ongoing support to these communities, offers matching funds for economic development efforts and assists them with grant writing.

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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