The City requires all businesses providing services within the Blaine city limits to have a Blaine Business License.  Business License Application

There are several excellent organizations that serve businesses in Whatcom County and businesses looking to relocate or expand in the area. The organizations described below not only have outstanding track records for helping businesses succeed, but they also work together in an integrated way to save owners time and money. We encourage you to explore the services offered by these outstanding programs.

Rural Economic Development Revolving Loan Program (R.E.D)

Bellingham-Whatcom Economic Development Council
Nancy Jordan, Executive Director
115 Unity Street, Suite 101
P.O. Box 2803
Bellingham, WA 98227-2803
1-800-810-4255



The Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council (EDC) is a non-profit association of public and private entities organized to provide economic development leadership and programs to sustain and enhance the economic vitality of Whatcom County.

The EDC encourages existing industrial and commercial businesses to expand and work to attract new industrial and commercial businesses to Whatcom County that can provide quality employment and augment the county’s economic base.

Center for Economic Vitality – Western Washington University

 

Blaine Contact:

 

CJ Seitz, MBA

Certified Business Advisor

Center for Economic Vitality

(360) 733-4014 Ext. 122

 

Tom Dorr, Director

119 North Commercial, Suite 195

Bellingham, WA 98225

(360) 733-4014 Ext. 123

 

The Center for Economic Vitality offers no-cost, one-to-one confidential customized business counseling and technical assistance to businesses in Whatcom County.  Utilizing formal business education and years of practical business experience, each certified business advisory understands what it takes to successfully manage a business in today’s competitive world.  The Center offers assistance in developing business and marketing plans; cost/financial analysis, market research and strategies and a number of other areas of counseling and technical assistance.

 

The Center also offers secondary research to help companies plan for the future, adjust to changes in the marketplace and/or identify business problem areas.

Northwest Workforce Development Council
101 Prospect Street
P.O. Box 2009
Bellingham, WA 98227
360-676-3206
www.nwboard.org

The Northwest Workforce Development Council assists employers prepare a skilled, successful workforce that is aligned with specific needs of a business or industry. A primary goal is to be a One-Stop career center system which integrates and streamlines education, employment and graining services for youth and adults.

SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business
SCORE Chapter 591
101 East Holly Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-3307

SCORE, the Service Corp of Retired Executives Association, is a volunteer program sponsored by the U.S. Small business Administration (SBA). SCORE volunteer counselors are members of locally organized and self administered chapters. They work in their home community to provide management counseling and training to small businesses or to those thinking about going into business. Counseling is confidential and person-to-person.

Other Useful Links:

Center for Economics and Business Research
Western Washington University
College of Business and Economics
Hart Hodges, Director
360-650-3909
www.cbe.wwu.edu

Bellingham Technical College
3028 Lindbergh Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-752-7000
www.btc.ctc.edu

Whatcom Community College
237 West Kellogg Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
360-676-2170
www.whatcom.ctc.edu

Port of Bellingham
1801 Roeder Avenue
P.O. Box 1677
Bellingham, WA 98227-1677
360-676-2500
www.portofbellingham.com