Why Does the Community Need this Project?
Building the future the community wants to see
The Whatcom Community Foundation’s vision is that everyone who lives here thrives.
We know that money alone won’t move people out of poverty — all humans need the dignity that comes from having power over their lives and being valued by their community.¹ People need strong relationships and good, accessible educational opportunities.
We’re not there yet. Too many Whatcom County residents face daunting barriers to achieving the meaningful, stable lives and livelihoods needed to thrive. Not only do all members of our community deserve to prosper and build wealth, but people often furthest from opportunity have much to contribute: knowledge, skills, talent, experience, ideas and labor. Strong economies need the diversity of communities and the assets they bring to achieve lasting social and economic success.
- Communities across Whatcom County face acute housing and childcare shortages that make safe and stable housing and childcare unattainable for many, and an outsize cost burden for many others.
- As baby boomers step away from business ownership, the region risks substantial job and revenue losses.
- Ours is a mostly rural community that prizes local food, loves its agricultural roots and needs to fortify them or watch them further erode.
On the plus side, the county boasts a vital local food and beverage culture. There is untapped entrepreneurial potential on the sidelines, and the prospect for synergies that lead to opportunities and growth. And Bellingham, Whatcom County’s largest city, boasts a spectacular, underused, publicly owned waterfront site.
“By nestling this project in the context of an inclusive economy – which just means an economy that works for everyone, we are providing more opportunities for more of our neighbors to prosper than a conventional mixed-use project could offer.”
– Lucas Gutierrez-Senger, Board Member, Whatcom Community Foundation
