What is the Millworks?

The Millworks is a fusion of community and economic development that demonstrates what is possible when using a community benefit development model.

The two-phase real estate development project is designed to generate maximum economic and community development benefits for the people of Whatcom County, including ~200 units of attainable housing, 150+ jobs, early learning and childcare for nearly 100 children, and more.

Phase 1, completed in March 2024 and fully occupied within a few months, includes 83 units of permanently affordable family housing and a six-classroom early learning and childcare center. The residential units serve households earning up to 60% of area median income and are owned and operated by Mercy Housing NW. The childcare center is managed by the Whatcom Family YMCA.

Phase 2, currently in design development, is anchored by a local food campus, and includes collaborative office space for local nonprofits, space for community gatherings, an elevated public plaza and multiple floors of workforce housing, which will serve households earning 80-120% of the area median income – health care workers, small business owners, mechanics and others who help keep our communities going and often struggle to afford a mortgage or rent.

Phase 2

Coming Soon!

  • Kitchens @ Millworks

    The local food campus – incubator kitchens, shared commercial kitchen, a demonstration kitchen with classroom space, retail space, all supported with business incubation and technical assistance programming.

The Kitchens @ Millworks will:

  • Support small business owners like value-added producers, catering services and food entrepreneurs.
  • Forge strategic connections between food production organizations.
  • Support local farm connections to food campus users.
  • Increase the amount of food that is locally produced and consumed.
  • Promote health equity and showcase the county’s abundance of local food production.

  • Good Works Lab

    Dedicated workplaces for a wide range of tenants that include the Western Washington University Small Business Development Center, the new statewide Washington Center for Employee Ownership, the Whatcom Community Foundation and more, plus shared meeting and hoteling spaces.

The Good Works Lab will:

  • Create opportunities for organizations to work together to better serve and support Whatcom County neighbors through idea exchange, increased collaboration and shared learning.
  • Offer shared spaces with cost efficiencies and workplace flexibility.
  • Provide possible synergies with the Local Food Campus users and its small and growing food-based businesses.

  • Outdoor Gathering Space

    Intimate street-level gathering space and a planned large elevated public plaza with views to the downtown core and Waterfront District.

Outdoor Gathering Spaces will:

  • Invite residents, food campus users and Good Works Lab tenants as well as the general public a chance to gather, interact, share food, relax and enjoy the beautiful Bellingham waterfront area.
  • Encourage lingering, community interaction, and a connection to place, sustainability and resilience.
  • Feature interpretive signage designed to illuminate the areas past, present, and potential.
  • Raised plaza offers views of the islands and water as well as territorial views of the Waterfront District and a strolling area up off the street level.

  • 100+ Units of Attainable Workforce Housing

    When complete, the Millworks Phases 1 and 2 will account for over 10% of the annual housing units needed to meet the County’s goal of 34,000 units by 2044.

Workforce Housing will:

  • Offer attainable housing close to jobs as well as the services and amenities in the downtown and waterfront districts.
  • Provide an enriching living environment with a wide range of neighbors with housing units sized from efficient studios on up to 3-bedroom/2-bathroom apartments.

“This community-led project is an amazing vision for Bellingham’s downtown waterfront. It adds much needed affordable housing with an early-learning center and a food campus… [and will] make Bellingham an increasingly vibrant and interesting place to live and visit.”

Ken Bell – Commissioner, Port of Bellingham