Washington employers offering medical drops again
Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Finding a job right now can be tough, and finding one that comes with medical benefits is even tougher.
Washington employers offering medical insurance fell 1.6 percentage points in 2009, from 56.5 percent to 54.9 percent, according to an annual employee-benefits report released April 5 by the Employment Security Department. That’s following a [...]
Liquor control board adopts advertising restrictions
Posted on 01. Apr, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
On March 3, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) adopted revised alcohol advertising rules that will restrict the presence of outdoor alcohol advertising at licensed locations. The advertising restrictions will go into effect on April 3.
The revised rules are based on extensive public input requesting that the board [...]
Washington economy adds more green jobs in 2009
Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The number of private-sector “green jobs” in the state of Washington has risen by nearly a third over the last year, according to a new report by the state’s Employment Security Department (ESD).
“Leave it to the Evergreen State to grow green jobs in a tough economy,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire in a [...]
Washington’s jobless rate rose in February
Posted on 16. Mar, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
After posting the first job gains in more than a year in January, Washington’s economy dropped an estimated 8,300 jobs in February, according to the Employment Security Department.
Washington’s unemployment rate remained above 9 percent for the seventh straight month, rising up from January’s 9.3 percent to an estimated 9.5 percent in February. [...]
Proposed state small business tax credit may have caveat
Posted on 12. Mar, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The Washington state Senate passed Bill ESSB 5899 titled “Providing a business and occupation tax credit for qualified employment positions,” on March 10. The version of the bill it passed provides either a $4,000 or a $2,000 Business and Occupation (B&O) tax credit to employers, but the qualifications [...]
State posts first jobs gain since 2008
Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Washington’s economy picked up some steam in January, adding an estimated 12,400 jobs – the first monthly gain since November 2008. The gains, however, were not enough to combat the rising unemployment rate.
The state unemployment rate remained relatively flat, inching up to an estimated 9.3 percent from the December 2009 revised rate [...]
Video: Audio Visual Excellence outfitted Olympic security center
Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by Lance Henderson in Features
During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the eyes of federal, local and state agencies were vigilantly focused on the Canadian border from a former warehouse near the Bellingham International Airport. What most people don’t know is that the warehouse was outfitted with state-of-the-art technology by Bellingham-based Audio Visual Excellence.
New state rules require cranes and operators to be certified
Posted on 16. Feb, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
Out of an estimated 70,000 cranes in the state, only about 800 have been certified.
TARP funds could be used to help small banks
Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
By Lance Henderson
The Obama Administration has announced plans to create a new Small Business Lending Fund using capital investments from the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds and a bill has already been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a member of the U.S. Senate leadership, has introduced a bill called, the [...]
Credit union ranks swell in light of large bank failures
Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by Lance Henderson in News
In the aftermath of recent bank failures such as Washington Mutual and, more locally, Horizon Bank, customers are taking a long hard look at where they keep their money. Some are taking their finances into their own hands and walking them over to credit unions and locally owned community banks looking for better customer service and someone they can trust.
