Vol. 23 No. 5
May 2015 The future is here for a real estate brokerage with a virtual office [Page 14]
The Buzz Kona Bikes to open Bellingham retail shop A Ferndale-based bicycle company is preparing to open a full-service shop and showcase for its 75 models of bikes. The State Street shop should open in June. KONA, PAGE 12
Whatcom County unemployment rate hits a 6-year low
Farmers market sales dip
In March, the official unemployment rate dropped below six percent for the first time since December 2008.
Small farmers have more outlets for locally grown food
JOBS, PAGE 12
Your money matters How to save money for retirement when it seems like you can’t.
STORY ON PAGE 10 Jen Paulson, with Terra Verde Farm of Everson, weighs mixed greens for a customer at the Bellingham Farmers Market. [OLIVER LAZENBY PHOTO | THE BBJ]
What’s behind the drop in passengers at BLI? Potential 35% drop in airport traffic due to low Canadian dollar and changing industry BY OLIVER LAZENBY The Bellingham Business Journal Traffic at Bellingham International Airport dropped for the first time in more than a decade last year and could fall even further this summer. An airport consultant expects a 35 percent year-over-year decline in traffic this June. In 2012 and 2013, the Bellingham International Airport was one of the fastest growing airports in the country. In 2014, airlines cancelled some routes and reduced others to
seasonal service, resulting in a 9.6 percent decrease in passenger traffic out of the airport. The traffic decline came at the same time as a weakening Canadian dollar, as about 55 percent of airport passengers are Canadian. But the coming drop in traffic has more factors than the falling loonie, which lost nearly 20 cents compared to the U.S. dollar in the last two years, said Ben Munson, vice president of Forecast, an airport consulting firm.
FINANCES, PAGE 21
Business toolkit Recognize the signs of paralysis by negative emotions. MIKE COOK, PAGE 22
Munson explained the situation to Port of Bellingham commissioners at an April 21 meeting. The Port has paid Munson’s firm $50,750 since 2013 to attract new airlines and
Airport, PAGE 6
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