Whatcom coronavirus business updates: Business Journal ends, Airporter Shuttle on hold
Business Journal halts publication
A longtime local business publication is closing and will print its last edition in April.
Citing a sudden loss in advertising revenue during the new coronavirus pandemic, The Bellingham Business Journal announced on its website BBJToday that it has made the difficult decision to discontinue publishing.
“As Whatcom County has seemingly shut down overnight with the spreading coronavirus pandemic, our local business community has acutely felt the loss of its customers and its community,” said Josh O’Connor, president/publisher of Sound Publishing Inc. “It’s no secret that journalism faces the same economic pressures because we too, are a local business that relies on local retail revenue from thriving businesses on main street.”
The monthly publication was started in 1992 by Al Raines of Raines Publishing. For many years it was mailed directly to Whatcom County business owners and managers but was also available by subscription. The publication was focused on the happenings of the local business community and the economy.
It was purchased in 2007 by Sound Publishing.
Airporter Shuttle temporarily halts service
With travel plans practically halted, Bellair Airporter Shuttle announced it will suspend operations effective Monday, March 30.
“These are unprecedented times,” said Bellair President Richard Johnson in a news release. “In response to the governor’s stay-at-home mandate as well as our commitment to the health of Bellair riders and staff members, Bellair Airporter Shuttle will be closed until it is deemed safe and advisable to return to normal operations.”
During the closure, reservations for travel from April 16 and beyond continue to be taken. Beginning Sunday, March 29, reservations agents are available daily at 866-235-5247 between 9 a.m. and noon, and again between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. All voicemails will be returned as quickly as possible. Online reservations are also available 24/7 at Airporter.com.
During the closure, the Bellair detailing team and additional staff will continue to deep clean and sanitize each vehicle.
More information about Bellair Airporter Shuttle services to Sea-Tac Airport and Paine Field can be found at airporter.com.
Nature’s Path hiring, giving bonuses
Nature’s Path, a cereal and food manufacturer with a facility in Blaine, is increasing its workforce and providing bonuses to current employees in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The company, which has had more than 250 hires since 2017, is hiring production and supervisor positions in Blaine.
Nature’s Path is also offering hourly employees increased pay and a bonus of $250. Employee referral bonuses will also be increased to $1,000.
The company is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia. Details can be found at naturespath.com.
Grocery stores adjusting
Whatcom County grocery stores continue to take steps to try and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Sneeze guards have been installed at cash registers in local grocery stores, including Safeway, Haggen and the Community Food Co-op.
The Co-op has instituted a few other measures this week, including sanitizing shopping carts after every use, limiting the number of customers in the store at one time and temporarily closing the scoop portion of the bulk foods section, said Laura Steiger, publications coordinator.
Haggen announced on Facebook that it is taking some additional steps as well for its stores. They include adjusting hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. as well as making fresh made and baked items available in pre-packaged, ready-to-go containers.
C Shop still making chocolate bunnies
While The C Shop in Birch Bay is closed during this coronavirus outbreak, they are still making the traditional chocolate bunnies for Easter.
The chocolate bunnies are among the Easter-related products available in The C Shop’s online store.
Help from credit unions
The Northwest Credit Union Association is letting residents know that there are financial options available for those being impacted by the coronavirus.
In a news release, the association said credit unions in Washington are offering a variety of ways to help, including loan modifications to make payments more affordable, options to skip mortgage payments for as long as 90 days and emergency low-interest to zero-interest loans.
Details about credit unions can be found at yourmoneyfurther.com.
State allows liquor to-go
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has made some changes to how liquor can be bought and sold during the coronavirus pandemic.
The state will temporarily allow restaurant license holders to sell closed, manufacturer-sealed, bottles or cans of beer, wine and spirits — in combination with the sale of to-go food or by delivery, according to a Tuesday, March 24, news release.
For curbside service, beer must be in growlers, kegs, or factory-sealed bottles and cans. Wine and spirits must be in factory-sealed bottles.
Makerspace making medical products
Bellingham Makerspace, which recently moved to a space near Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Bellis Fair mall, is working closely with local officials to make medical equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
The facility is also serving as a drop-off location for donations, which will then be brought to the Whatcom Unified Command Center daily. Makerspace is currently using equipment such as 3D printers and sewing machines to make protective equipment, including face shields and respiration masks.
Medical offices and hospitals are in need of globes, masks and gowns and several groups have now organized to make those products.
For details and how you can help, email manager@bellinghammakerspace.
State changes benefit requirements
Washington state has made a change to its unemployment benefits requirements to make it easier for those who lost a job to access it.
The state announced on Tuesday, March 24 that it is making the job search requirement optional as residents deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Jay Inslee will sign a proclamation, which will then allow the Employment Security Department to put in place an emergency rule. This measure will be retroactive to Sunday, March 8, according to a news release.
“Our top priorities in this crisis are to get benefits out to eligible Washingtonians as quickly as possible, help more people become eligible and help employers who are hiring get the staff they need right now,” said Employment Security Department Commissioner, Suzi LeVine. “Waiving the job search requirement helps make it easier for people to use the benefit. However, by emphasizing that job searches are optional, we hope to encourage those recently laid off to pursue the many jobs we so deeply need filled in our state right now..”
Everson distillery making sanitizer
Probably Shouldn’t Distillery, which is based in Everson, has also begun manufacturing hand sanitizer to help with the coronavirus outbreak.
The company is expected to start distributing its hand sanitizer on Tuesday, March 24. It will distribute the sanitizer to a variety of agencies, including the Lighthouse Mission, Whatcom County Search and Rescue, nearby school districts and Catholic Community Services.
Probably Shouldn’t joins Bellewood Farms and Chuckanut Bay Distillery in making hand sanitizer locally.
The Everson distillery was founded by Shawn and Mariah Butenschoen. They can be reached by email at psdistillery@gmail.com or by calling 360-410-1632.
Local refineries donate
The Phillips 66 and BP Cherry Point refineries have each donated $60,000 to Whatcom County’s Emergency Operations Center to help during the coronavirus pandemic.
The $120,000 will help provide computer software and training for the center’s volunteers. The funding is also helping establish a website to centrally house all Whatcom COVID-19 Unified Command information for the public, according to a news release from the city of Bellingham.
“It is important to Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery to support this critical work,” said Tim Johnson, director of public and government affairs for Phillips 66 Ferndale. “We are all in this together.”
Fred Meyer workers get bonus
Kroger, which owns a variety of grocery stores including Fred Meyer, announced over the weekend that it will provide a one-time bonus to every hourly frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing and customer service worker.
The bonus amount is $300 for every full-time worker and $150 for every part-time worker.
“Grocery workers are on the frontlines, ensuring Americans have access to the food and products they need during this unprecedented pandemic,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, in a news release. “Our associates are working around the clock to keep our stores open for our customers. I am incredibly grateful for all they are doing. The true heroes in this story are our associates, and we want to provide them with additional resources and support to help them continue their remarkable effort.”
Superfeet offers help
The Ferndale shoe and insole manufacturer Superfeet is making its equipment available to help shore up short-term medical supply demand.
The company announced in a news release that its 3D printer is available and it is setting up a manufacturing line for life-saving medical equipment.
Superfeet is asking anyone in need of supplies to combat COVID-19 to reach out by email to covidresponse@superfeet.com to determine if they can be of assistance.
“The men and women who are our first line of defense when it comes to fighting COVID-19 are facing shortages of the protective gear necessary to keep them safe. We immediately looked at our machines and our team and knew we could do more to help,” says John Rauvola, CEO and president at Superfeet in the news release.
Superfeet is 100% employee-owned.
Two 2020 Cannabis stores are open
Two 2020 Cannabis Solutions stores in Bellingham reopened Monday, March 23, after implementing protocols to improve the safety of guests and team members.
The stores at 4770 Pacific Highway and 5655 Guide Meridia will be open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. The hour from 10-11 a.m. will be reserved for pre-orders from medical patients and others who may be more vulnerable to the coronavirus due to age and/or underlying medical conditions.
All three 2020 Cannabis Solutions stores in Bellingham had been closed since the evening of March 18 due to coronavirus concerns. The store at 2018 Iron St. in downtown Bellingham will remain closed until further notice.
Details can be found at 2020-solutions.com.
Harbor Freight donating masks
Harbor Freight Tools announced over the weekend that it is donating medical equipment to local emergency rooms.
The discount tool business, which has a store at Bellingham’s Sunset Square, is donating masks, face shields and gloves. Hospitals will need to fill out a form to get a voucher to pick up the items.
“We’ve chosen to focus our efforts on hospitals with a 24-hour emergency room with the hope that we can help as many people as possible right now,” said Eric Smidt, owner and founder of Harbor Freights in a news release.
State disaster aid
The U.S. Small Business Administration has amended its original disaster declaration to apply to all Washington small businesses, regardless of county, the Washington State Department of Commerce announced Sunday, March 22.
Low-interest loans for working capital are now available to any small businesses suffering economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. Customer service representatives are available to answer questions about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.
Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 since Jan. 31 may qualify for economic injury disaster loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses, which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Eligibility for economic injury disaster loans is based on the financial impact of the COVID-19. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for private non-profit organizations.
The Small Business Administration offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. — Lauren Kirschman, The News Tribune
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
COVID-19, the new coronavirus, is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.
The disease is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.
Although most of the cases have been mild, the disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
Click the drop-down icon in the upper right of this card for more information on symptoms and how to stop its spread.
What you can do
Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, according to the Whatcom County Health Department.
▪ Keep six feet between yourself and others when in public.
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
▪ Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with hands that haven’t been washed.
▪ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw the tissue in the trash and then wash your hands.
▪ Stay home if you feel sick. Avoid others who are sick.
▪ If your symptoms are severe and require medical care, call your doctor first.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 1:53 PM.
