County unemployment rates rise

Unemployment rates for Whatcom and Skagit counties have hit their highest levels since last September, though they appear to be following an annual pattern of a winter peak. Data from the state Employment Security Department put preliminary non-seasonally adjusted February rates at 5.5% for Whatcom and 5.9% for Skagit, up from 4.8% and 5.3% respectively in January. In September 2024, Whatcom’s rate was 3.9% and Skagit’s was 4.1%. A year ago, revised Whatcom and Skagit rates were even higher in February, at 5.6% and 6.2%.

Apparently not yet reflected: the impact of federal government layoffs. ESD said in a news release while federal employee claims are up, they have taken longer to process due to “extended response times from federal agencies to verify employment and wages.” A state labor economist said she doesn’t expect federal layoff numbers to show up until the March report. State numbers listed Whatcom as eighth in the top 10 Washington counties with federal workers, at 1,581. 

Regional job fair set

The Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County will hold its spring NW Regional Job Fair on Thursday, April 24 at the Northwest Career & Technical Academy in Mount Vernon. The event, which is free for job seekers, runs from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with military veterans getting priority access for the first half hour. EDASC said reservations for the 50 recruiting booths, while they’re available, are $100 each for businesses. The nearly two-dozen employers signed up as of early April included All American Marine, Silfab Solar and WECU.

Bella Ciao, Nacho Problems close

Adjacent downtown Bellingham eateries/bars Bella Ciao Pizza Tavern and Nacho Problems closed their doors at the end of March. The two — at 1425 and 1427 Railroad Ave. — opened a year earlier and shared ownership with The Admiralty Lounge nearby, which will remain open. Co-owner Jabriel Donohue said Bella Ciao had been developing a solid base of regulars, but closed “largely due to just not getting enough consistent business throughout the week.” Donohue said among the challenges were that independent bars and restaurants have become more expensive to operate over the last two years with the rising costs of goods, insurance and labor. 

Full Steam Coffee Co. opened in late March at the former spot of Little Dog Coffee Co. in Bellingham’s Irongate neighborhood at the intersection of Bakerview and Hannegan Roads. (Photo courtesy of Frank Catalano)

Full Steam Coffee, Whidbey Coffee open

Bellinghamsters mourning the December closing of Little Dog Coffee Co. at Hannegan and Bakerview Roads in the Irongate neighborhood may perk up at this: Full Steam Coffee Co. moved into the renovated drive-thru spot on March 24. Full Steam, which also operates a for-hire mobile coffee trailer, has a variety of caffeinated and other beverages, as well as breakfast sandwiches and baked goods.

In Mount Vernon, Whidbey Coffee opened a new location at 1701 Continental Place at College Way in March. The drive-thru joins a dozen other outposts of the Clinton-based company. 

Bellingham Club Pilates to open

Fitness chain Club Pilates will open a studio in Bellingham’s Barkley Village this summer, according to Village management, likely in early July. The new studio will be located at 2945 Newmarket St., suite 107, the former space of Statement Apparel, a clothing boutique that closed in August 2024. An announcement noted that local franchise owner Mahvish Gazipura was a Western Washington University alum and that the studio would blend “expert instruction with state-of-the-art equipment in a welcoming, boutique-style environment.”

Whatcom Business Alliance honors leaders

Whatcom Business Alliance handed out its 38th annual Whatcom Business Awards on March 27 at Hotel Bellwether. Among those honored by the membership organization in front of 350 guests were Create It Studio (Start-Up Business of the Year), Avenue Bread (Small Business of the Year), Hardware Sales’ Ty McClellan (Business Person of the Year) and RAM Construction’s Mike Hammes (Whatcom Lifetime Achievement Award). Finalists were profiled in the March/April edition of WBA’s Business Pulse magazine and selected by WBA’s board from public nominations.