Alpha Technologies Closing + Port of Bellingham Lands $23.5M

Happy Monday, Bellingham. It is July 6 and real summer has arrived. We have some heavy local news to start the week, a major economic win for the port, and a big community meeting coming up before August. Here is what you need to know.

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Today’s Weather: Sunny skies today with a high near 80. Wind stays calm this morning before shifting west southwest around 5 mph this afternoon. Tonight brings partly cloudy skies with a low around 56. Full forecast and extended outlook at National Weather Service Bellingham.

Safety

Squalicum High Grad Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver in Sedro-Woolley on July 4

A 19-year-old Bellingham-area woman was killed on the afternoon of July 4 after a driver allegedly struck her while speeding under the influence in Sedro-Woolley. Anahi Rose Mendoza, a 2025 graduate of Squalicum High School, was hit near the intersection of Moore Street (SR 20) and Township Street (SR 9) just after 2 p.m.

Sedro-Woolley officers responded and found the suspect near SR 20 and Ball Street after he fled the scene westbound. He showed signs of impairment and was booked into Skagit County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, drunk driving, and driving on a suspended license.

Mendoza had planned to attend Bellingham Technical College this fall to pursue a career in radiation technology. Full coverage from Cascadia Daily News (subscriber content).

Economy

Port of Bellingham Lands $23.5 Million Federal Grant to Rebuild North Pier

The Port of Bellingham has secured $23.5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the BUILD grant program, the funding needed to rebuild its aging North Pier shipping terminal. Rep. Rick Larsen announced the award on July 1.

Phase 2 of the North Pier Rehabilitation project will rebuild the pier, double its load capacity, and upgrade the mooring system. Port Commission President Michael Shepard called it "a major milestone in our long-term effort to modernize the Bellingham Shipping Terminal."

The upgraded pier is expected to create work for 48 extra longshore workers per shift and generate an estimated $12 million in annual economic impact for Whatcom County. Bellingham is one of only 11 deep-water ports in Washington state. Full details on the project here.

Economy

Alpha Technologies Closing Its Bellingham Facility This Fall, 75 Workers Affected

Alpha Technologies Services, Inc., a Bellingham power systems manufacturer with roots going back to 1975, will permanently close its Alpha Way facility by October 2026. A WARN notice filed with the Washington State Employment Security Department shows 75 workers let go beginning August 31, with full closure by October 15.

The company was acquired by EnerSys in 2018. A December 2025 survey by Western Washington University's Center for Economic and Business Research counted 216 permanent full-time employees at the site.

Workers displaced by this closure may be eligible for retraining and job placement assistance through WorkSource Washington. More background on the closure here.

Safety + Services

Ferndale's Busiest Fire Station Is Now Staffed Around the Clock

Ferndale residents now have a stronger safety net. Whatcom Fire District 7 has activated 24/7 staffing at Station 41, its busiest location, with a crew of at least three full-time firefighters on duty at all hours.

Fire Chief Ben Boyko says the change means faster EMS response times in the downtown core and near Interstate 5. Station 41 sits on Washington Street between Ferndale High School and Main Street and is now the fifth fully-staffed station within District 7. Ferndale voters funded this change by approving a levy lid lift last November. More information on the upgrade here.

Civic

Whatcom County Deputies Lock In 6% Raises While County Faces Budget Shortfall

Whatcom County Sheriff's deputies have secured a 6% raise through their union contract, even as the county looks at potential layoffs and service cuts to address a looming budget shortfall in other departments.

The Sheriff's Office already takes nearly a quarter of the county's entire payroll at $28.5 million, the most of any department. The office has grown from 194 to 225 full-time employees over the past decade. Overtime costs have nearly doubled since 2019, rising from $995,000 to roughly $2 million in 2025 and accounting for 73% of the county's total overtime bill.

Sheriff Donnell Tanksley, who took office in 2024, has not requested additional full-time employees since taking the position. Full analysis from Cascadia Daily News (subscriber content).

Civic

Last Chance to Weigh In: Whatcom County Jail Meeting on July 22 Before August Decision

Whatcom County residents have one more public opportunity to weigh in on the proposed new jail facility before the county finalizes its decision on size and scope in mid-August.

The third community engagement workshop is set for Wednesday, July 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Squalicum Boathouse. Attendees can learn about the proposed jail size, facility features, a behavioral health center, and other components of the county's Justice Project.

Mark your calendar. This is the last known public input session before August. Full details and event info here.

Road + Transit

Road Closures Across Whatcom County This Week, Plus Lummi Island Ferry Outage Today

Heads up if you're driving around Whatcom County this week. Overnight work and chip sealing are scheduled at multiple locations, so plan extra time or alternate routes for evening and early morning travel.

Lummi Island Ferry riders: there is a midday service outage scheduled for today, July 6. Check the county's service notice before heading out to the ferry.

For the full list of roads affected by closures and chip sealing work, see the complete road closure summary here.

Home Sweet Bellingham

Office Space Sits Empty in Bellingham While Downtown Retail Holds Its Ground

If you have noticed a few empty offices in Bellingham lately, you are not imagining it. Office vacancies in Bellingham continued to climb in the second quarter of 2026. Retail tells a different story: downtown retail vacancies dipped slightly in Q2, a sign that local shops are finding their footing even as the broader commercial market cools.

For anyone watching the Bellingham market, a soft office sector can sometimes signal opportunity ahead for adaptive reuse, live-work conversion, and mixed-use development. More on the Q2 commercial market report here.

On the lifestyle side: the unofficial start of Bellingham summer kicked off this weekend. Clayton Beach, Chuckanut Drive, and the waterfront are drawing crowds, and today's forecast (sunny, near 80) is exactly the kind of day they were made for. With July officially underway, this week is as good a time as any to get outside.

Sponsored

Summer Reset: 40% Off Your First Deep Clean for New Recurring Clients

The holiday weekend is behind us and real summer is here. If you have been putting off getting your home back in order, Cascade Home Cleaning is making it easy this week. New clients who sign up for recurring service get 40% off their first deep clean. Book by end of the week to lock in the offer.

Cascade Home Cleaning is a locally owned Whatcom County business serving Bellingham and the surrounding area. Book your clean at cascadehomecleaning.com.

The Upcoming Week