Your business success

Starts here

  • No. 15 Forbes’ Best Place for Small Businesses and Careers

    Be within 15 minutes of a deepwater port, an international airport, I-5, and railway access.

  • Top 16 Best Adventure Towns by Outside Magazine

    Enjoy year-round activities like hiking, cycling, boating, and more.

  • 7 Million People live within 90 Miles

    Centrally located between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC.

Key industries

Manufacturing

With more than 300 manufacturing companies, Whatcom County produces everything from sheet metal, to solar panels, to breakfast cookies. With affordable real estate and skilled labor, we’re the ideal place to grow or start your manufacturing business.

food & beverage

We’re not just an “eat local first” community—we’re a “drink local first” community, too. From breweries, to wineries, to farm-to-table restaurants—we offer a truly supportive culinary community and a truly ravenous group of local customers.

technology

Home to the world’s largest Bible software company and a hotbed for tech startups, Whatcom County has the talent, coworking spaces, and supportive tech community you need to launch or grow your tech company.

recreation

Voted as one of National Geographic’s best adventure towns, Whatcom County is a hub for outdoor recreation innovation. From cycling, to mountaineering, to rock climbing—we are the premiere location for reaching outdoor enthusiasts.

health & wellness

Ranked as one of America’s healthiest places, Whatcom County’s top industry is health, employing more than 10,000 workers. We’re also home to a myriad of nationally- recognized health and wellness brands, like Barlean’s Organic Oils, Flora, and Omega Nutrition.

agriculture

Whatcom County has more than 100,000 acres of fertile farmland and brings in $360 million in annual agricultural revenue. As America’s #1 raspberry producer and one of the most productive farming communities in the country, Whatcom County has a centuries-long tradition of agricultural success.

maritime

Perfectly situated between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, Whatcom County offers a gateway to the global market and has housed a thriving maritime economy for nearly a century. We offer a deepwater port, skilled labor, easy trucking and railway access, plenty of piers and storage, and much more.

In the news

Whatcom County Businesses Impacted by November Floods Can Now Apply for Grant Assistance April 25, 2022

Grant funding for Whatcom County small businesses impacted by last November’s historic flooding is now available. Funding comes from the Whatcom Community Foundation (Foundation) in partnership with Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Port of Bellingham (Port) and in coordination with the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG). Qualified businesses can Read More »

Whatcom Disaster Survivors Can Apply for FEMA Assistance January 13, 2022

Per the January 12, 2022 FEMA news release: Residents of Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom counties and members of the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe or the Quileute Tribe who were affected by the Nov. 13-15, 2021 floods and mudslides can apply to FEMA for help with temporary housing expenses, basic home repairs or other essential Read More »

Port of Bellingham Economic Development Division Awarded Broadband Grant November 28, 2018

PORT OF BELLINGHAM—On November 15, 2018, the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) approved a $50,000 grant to the Port of Bellingham for the Rural Broadband Feasibility Study. This planning program project consists of a feasibility study to identify which areas in Whatcom County are unserved or underserved by broadband, and to identify the most feasible Read More »

One of the great things about doing business in Bellingham is the lifestyle. You have short commutes, your employees are spending their time in the office or with their family and enriching their lives instead of being stuck in traffic. Bob Pritchett Faithlife 300 Employees
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