🌱 How a $23.5 million pier upgrade could reshape Bellingham’s waterfront jobs.
Bellingham, Washington Patch AM: a 4 min readHey there, Bellingham! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a $23.5 million pier upgrade could reshape Bellingham’s waterfront jobs.
- Why Bellingham’s offices are emptier while industrial space is vanishing fast.
- Two Bellingham closures and a cooling housing market—what it means now.
Also on today's calendar: PAVILION - Stars, Stripes and Spokes Community Bike Parade and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: What has more lives than a cat? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 68 and low of 55 degrees.
- Saturday: Low clouds, then some sun, temps: high: 67, low: 51.
- Sunday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 72 and low of 50 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Port of Bellingham lands $23.5 million to rebuild shipping terminal (kpug1170.com) — The Port of Bellingham is getting $23.5 million in federal funding to rebuild and strengthen the Bellingham Shipping Terminal’s North Pier, doubling its load capacity and upgrading mooring. Local leaders say the project will fully activate the terminal, add work for longshore crews, and generate millions in annual economic impact for Whatcom County families. 
2. Office vacancies climb in Bellingham as retail market holds steady in Q2 (kpug1170.com) — Bellingham’s commercial market is sending mixed signals: retail vacancies dipped slightly and overall retail availability held steady at 5.8%, even as asking rents hit record highs. Office vacancies nudged up to 5%, especially downtown, while industrial space remains extremely tight with vacancies below 1%, signaling strong demand for warehouses and production space.
3. Briefs: Alpha Technologies closing in Bellingham, Whatcom median home price flat in Q2 (cascadiadaily.com) — Bellingham will lose 75 jobs when Alpha Technologies closes its local facility this October, while downtown’s Welcome Road Wine & Coffee is set to shut its doors July 18. At the same time, new data show Bellingham’s housing market cooling slightly, with homes taking longer to sell and the city’s median sale price dipping just below last year’s level.
4. Search for Missing Canadian Climber in the North Cascades (tetongravity.com) — Local rescuers from Bellingham Mountain Rescue and Whatcom County Search and Rescue are scouring the Twin Sisters Range near Mount Baker for a missing Canadian climber whose truck was found on Middle Fork Road. Authorities are urging anyone who was recently in the area and may have seen the climber or his route to contact 911 immediately.
📸 Around Bellingham
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Bellingham
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Wild Things - July at Boulevard Park — Wild Whatcom →
Wild Whatcom, 1015 Girard St, Bellingham
9:30 am
Saturday July 4
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration
Blaine Chamber of Commerce 119 N Commercial St #110, Bellingham, WA 98225 -
PAVILION - Stars, Stripes and Spokes Community Bike Parade →
Pioneer Pavilion Community Center, 2007 Cherry St, Ferndale
10:00 am -
Things to Do in Bellingham — Meet People at Fairhaven Coffee →
Fairhaven Coffee, 401 Harris Ave, Bellingham
11:00 am -
Writing Sketch Comedy →
The Upfront Theatre, 203 Prospect St Ste 102, Bellingham
12:00 pm -
The Peoples 4th of July Spectacular! →
Zuanich Point Park, 2600 N Harbor Loop Dr, Bellingham
4:00 pm -
Reminder Day Event at Community Boating Center — Bellingham Queer Collective →
Community Boating Center, 555 Harris Ave, Bellingham
5:00 pm -
Queer Writes! — Bellingham Queer Collective →
Bellingham Queer Collective - BQC Center, 310 W Champion St, Bellingham
10:00 am
Saturday July 4
Sunday July 5
📣 Bellingham Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration
Blaine Chamber of Commerce 119 N Commercial St #110, Bellingham, WA 98225 -
The Naughty Blokes →
Skylarks Cafe, 1308 11th St, Bellingham
1:00 pm -
MANDINGO LOS CAMINANTES HN Y LA MIGRA →
El Rey Nightclub and Restaurant, 5225 Industrial Pl, Ferndale
4:00 pm -
Kevin McDonald Tells stories of the Kids in the Hall →
New Prospect Theatre, 207 Prospect St #100, Bellingham
7:30 pm
Saturday July 4
Sunday July 5
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Teddy Bear Cove was peaceful and beautiful this evening, first sunset of July 2026.
And the kind of "fireworks" that a lot of people prefer to light up the sky. (Nextdoor Sehome) - Missing cat: Lost 6/30 in Cordata/ Meridian neighborhood.
Aries or “Kitty”. I miss her so much. I hope she’s safe. (Nextdoor York)
- Disabledperson, Inc posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate at Walmart in Bellingham, Washington in Bellingham. Apply here.
- Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Stocker in Bellingham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bellingham here.
Ok Bellingham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A frog. Its croaks all day (Thank you Janice W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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