Waterfront Wednesday News

Jan 17, 2024

Cascadia Daily News Features M/V David B, Local Fishermen

(M/V David B in SE Alaska. Photo courtesy Northwest Navigation)

Cascadia Daily News recently published the next article in their on-going series, "Working Waterfronts", with a feature on the M/V David B and our local fishermen.

Northwest Navigation and the M/V David B, owned and operated by Christine and Jeffrey Smith, long-time Coalition members, operates in Alaska during the summer, providing guided excursions to the rugged wildnerness of the South East Alaskan coasts. Also operating in Alaska are several local fisherman that Hailey Hoffman of Cascadia Daily News interviewed for the 'Working Waterfronts' series currently being published.

The ongoing series "Working Waterfronts" seeks to tell the stories of our working waterfronts and how all the businesses and individuals are part of an interconnected web that relies upon local support for our maritime trades.

You can read the articles via the link below:

Bellingham to Host Wild Seafood Connection

The  annual Wild Seafood Connection Conference returns to Bellingham, Thursday, February 29th at Holiday Inn & Suites.

Sponsored by the Port of Bellingham, Washington Sea Grant, and many others, this conference convenes harvesters, suppliers, processors, restaurants and buyers. 

From the Conference's website:
WILD SEAFOOD CONNECTION is a one-day conference aimed at the independent commercial fisherman who wants to learn about direct marketing to restaurants, retailers, brokers, and seafood buyers.

• Hear from restaurants and retailers, brokers and seafood buyers about what they need from you.
• Hear from your colleagues about successful business models through small business case studies.
• Processing and Distribution: Learn how to get your high-quality product to market.
• Learn about funding sources for business operations, new equipment, vessel repowers and new construction. State and federal sources, as well as private lending will be discussed.
• Valuable one-on-one round-table discussions with vendors, direct marketers, funding experts and colleagues.

Register and learn more about the event via the link below:

Sustainable Connections Hosts Eat Local First Trade Meeting

Formerly the Farm-to-Table Trade Meeting, the Eat Local First Trade Meeting is NW Washington’s premier food and farm business conference. Sustainable Connections brings together 180+ farmers, commercial fishermen, chefs, grocery buyers, food artisans, processors, and distributors for one day filled with valuable networking and connection opportunities, a vibrant trade show, inspiring business panels, one-on-one Meet the Buyer consultations, and the ever-delicious locally sourced lunch.Tickets are available now!

Want extra exposure? Sign up to participate in our Trade Show. Trade Show booths give businesses a special opportunity to showcase their products and services. Trade Show tickets include 1 conference ticket. Additional trade show conference tickets can be purchased at a reduced rate. Booths are limited - so act quickly if you’d like to participate!

Join us for local drinks, snacks, and music at the Trade Meeting After Hours event from 4:00pm6:00pm! Add on this ticket when you register for additional networking and fun!

Are you a commercial fisherman in Bellingham? Sustainable Connections wants to hear from you at the event. Reach out to Jess below for more information.

Please reach out to Jess at jessicam@sustainableconnections.org if you have any questions.

Learn more and purchase tickets via the link below:

Seafeast KISS to Kick Off New Year at Dockside Market

Speaking of eating local - Bellingham Seafeast is launching their 2024 season of KISS - Keep It Simple Seafood - cooking demonstrations at Dockside Market this Saturday, January 20th. Join Ficus Chan and Kevin Coleman for a great recipe and follow KISS throughout the year to learn more ways to taste the most out of your local seafood! 

Paper Whale Brings Fire & Story to Bellingham Waterfront

Paper Whale is hosting a new festival for Bellingham coming up tomorrow, Thursday, Jan 18 thru 20 - 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM between the Granary Building and the Pump Track, down near the water.

From Paper Whale's Website:
Join Paper Whale around a collection of artistically designed sculptural fire pits dispersed across Bellingham's Waterfront. These fires illuminate a stage for poets, authors, performance artists, Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribal members, cirque, fire dancing, comedy, live blacksmithing, glass sculpting, puppets, acoustic musicians and so much more! A gathering of light and warmth during the darkest days of the year.

As residents of the Pacific Northwest, we are equipped to embrace the elements of the outdoors - this is what we do. This is an opportunity to express yourself in layers, rain gear, muck boots and the umbrella you never use. Visitors attending can expect a free family event with a variety of folk, light, lore and more. Please join us for a unique first-year illuminated gathering experience.

Paper Whale presents Fire & Story as an event dedicated to scaling art that enhances our community by promoting visual diversity, and aesthetic integrity. 

To learn more about this unique festival, follow the link below:

Port Releases Economic Development Report

Port of Bellingham Press Release:

The Port of Bellingham is pleased to announce the release of its annual Whatcom County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) progress report. The report highlights the accomplishments of community stakeholders and economic development partnerships across Whatcom County, aligned with the goals outlined in the 2022-2026 CEDS strategy. To review this report, please visit the Port's CEDS Page. CEDS highlights will be featured on the Port’s Facebook and Instagram pages throughout 2024.

“This progress report describes the most important economic development initiatives and partnerships in Whatcom County and details how they are advancing growth and sustainability throughout our region,” said Port Commission President Ken Bell. “The Port’s mission is to promote sustainable economic development and the CEDS annual report highlights how the Port and its partners are fostering innovation and driving positive change.”

The Port is the Associate Development Organization (ADO) responsible for economic development for all of Whatcom County and operates in a collaborative effort with the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County to generate a programmatic approach on behalf of the Washington State Department of Commerce. The goal of this effort is to ensure a resilient regional economy that has a dynamic and inclusive business community, a commitment to living wage jobs and equity, and the physical, social, and economic infrastructure to support it. The 2022-2026 CEDS is an overarching countywide economic development plan, created with input from multiple stakeholders. Representatives providing input included, but were not limited to, higher education institutions, business and workforce advisories and councils, the incorporated seven cities, Tribes, local chambers, municipalities, and local area service providers.

The CEDS progress report details stakeholders’ accomplishments by year-end 2023. Each accomplishment aligns with the six sub-goals within the CEDS: building and strengthening Whatcom County’s economic base, developing and enhancing critical infrastructure, developing a skilled workforce and enhancing educational attainment, creating dynamic cross-border and regional relationships, cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supporting countywide economic resiliency and recovery efforts.

The Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition is a proud partner in the CEDS goals. You can read more about the Economic Development Report via the link below:

Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship Program Attends
WA State Apprenticeship and Training Council Meeting

(Apprentices work with Subject Matter Experts at the Working Waterfront Foundation's workshop space in Squalicum Harbor. Photo: Sierra Oliver)

Representatives of the Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship, a four-year registered apprenticeship training Marine Service Technicians will be attending the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (WSATC) quarterly meeting this week in Olympia, WA. The WSATC is the Labor and Industries governing body, recognizing Washington State apprenticeship programs. 

Newly registered apprenticeship programs are granted "provisional" approval until an apprentice has been involved in the program for a minimum of a year. The Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship, launched in Fall of 2022, has reached this requirement. Program Director, Sierra Oliver, and Outreach Coordinator, Deb Granger wait in anticipation for the Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship to be officially promoted from "provisional" to "permanent" status. Oliver states, "This will be a big deal and a major step for workforce training development on the waterfronts of Whatcom County. We [the apprenticeship] are looking forward to the opportunities this status will open for us."

The Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship is a program of the Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation located at 708 Coho Way. The community is welcome to stop in anytime or reach out at our website, https://www.waterfrontfoundation.org/, for more information about education and enhancement in Whatcom County.

Coalition Launches New Website / Job Board

(Squalicum Harbor and waterways. Photo courtesy Steve Hardin)

The Coalition has grown over the last several years and our website is growing also. New features, information, and links are now available on a newly-launched website that celebrates and highlights our working waterfronts.

The website also features a brand-new Job Board. Are you a business or vessel operator looking to hire staff, crew, or employees? Are you a prospective waterfront worker looking for your next gig? Our job board is here to facilitate those connections. With an easy-to-fill-out form, you can submit a job and have it show up on the site in 15 minutes, with no need to contact us. If you need to advertise for crew quickly,  our  online job board is tailor-made for you.

Also featured on our website - Love Your Waterfront - the new radio program on KMRE 88.3 featuring Kevin Coleman and Dan Tucker. The program, airing monthly, tells the stories of the places and individuals that make our waterfronts a vibrant and working part of our culture.

Seattle Boat Show Floats into Town

The annual Seattle Boat Show is happening next month, Feb 2-10 at Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle. This year features a special panel presentation of The Boys In The Boat, hosted by UW Rowing Historian Eric Cohen. First a book, and most recently a feature film, The Boys in the Boat tells the story of UW Rowing and their endeavor to win the 1936 Berlin Olympics Gold Medal. Don't miss this special panel presentation!

Tickets and admission, more information on the festival and a list of all the other special features of the show are available via the link below:

Upcoming Waterfront & Coalition Events