Bornstein Seafoods has donated $100,000 to Bellingham Technical College’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences program’s new building campaign, according to BTC’s Foundation.
The hatchery portion of the new building in Bellingham’s Maritime Heritage Park, called the Perry Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, will be named in the company’s honor as The Bornstein Hatchery dedicated to Myer J. Bornstein.
“Naming the hatchery of this building for Bornstein Seafoods honors the Bornstein family and specifically Jay’s significant contributions to Bellingham’s waterfront and fishing industry, and to the national seafood business,” Patricia McKeown, BTC’s president, said in a press release. “BTC is very appreciative of the Bornstein’s generous gift and proud to have a permanent reflection of the Bornstein’s involvement with our college and programs at the Perry Center.”
BTC’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences program has operated successfully for 34 years in Maritime Heritage Park, providing an educational path for students with an interest in becoming stewards of the environment, enhancing and protecting fisheries and aquaculture resources, and learning and applying science to the field.
Due to severe structural issues, the building that housed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences program was no longer operational, so BTC launched a capital campaign to raise funds to build a new building in the existing location. In addition to a $2 million matching state allocation, funding has also come from contributions from local businesses, individuals, civic groups, BTC staff, and public/private foundations and college funds.
The new building should be completed and ready for classes by September.
Bornstein Seafoods has been processing seafood for more than 79 years on the shores of Bellingham Bay. Myer J. Bornstein took the helm of the company in 1980 from his father, who founded the firm in 1934. He expanded Bornstein Seafoods further into Washington, Oregon, northern California and Canada.
Today, the company is run by Myer J. Bornstein’s three sons, Kyle, Colin and Andrew Bornstein.
