‘Tis the season to replace the smell of hand sanitizer with that of a freshly cut tree.
Business News
The vast majority of Skagit County businesses are complying with emergency rules to curb the spread of COVID-19. A few have been cited and fined for violations.
MOUNT VERNON — Shoppers turned out Saturday to support local shops in a year that has been especially tough on small businesses.
Small businesses impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for state grants starting early next week.
In Skagit County, the number of residents filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose 105% last week, the most first-time claims that have been filed in a week since June.
The ungrounding of the Boeing 737 Max is expected to have a positive impact on the aerospace industry in the region, including for some Skagit County companies that supply parts to Boeing and service airplanes.
As a new shutdown hurts businesses and workers, much of the financial assistance that helped them earlier in the year has been depleted or is expiring at year’s end.
Outdoor dining is less than ideal during Pacific Northwest winters, but now it may be the only hope for restaurants.
Outdoor/nautical store opens in Anacortes
Businesses in Skagit County braced Monday for the arrival of new restrictions issued by Gov. Jay Inslee to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Thirty-six more small businesses in Skagit County have received COVID-19 relief funds to help them keep their doors open and staff employed during the pandemic.
With the holiday season getting started, small retailers in Skagit County are taking measures to keep shoppers safe while keeping a close eye on climbing COVID-19 cases.
The Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) in Mount Vernon will coordinate an 11-county food distribution project throughout the Puget Sound region aimed at supporting farmers, food hubs and increasing access to locally-grown foods.
Topics from restoring soil health and envisioning a new model for sustainable agriculture to helping farmers deal with stress were shared at a two-day online agriculture conference.
CONCRETE — The grocery store down the road from Concrete’s iconic silos recently came under new ownership as the Frank brothers, who inherited the store from their father, Albert, moved into retirement.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit tourism hard. But the town of La Conner — whose businesses thrive when tourists stroll its boardwalks and buy in its shops — is trying something to mitigate the impact of the disease.
A program that began last year to provide more education and resources to the Latino business community now has 90 participants and has hosted about a dozen educational sessions, according to the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, which runs the program.
MOUNT VERNON — With construction underway on a 7-Eleven off Kincaid Street in Mount Vernon, city staff are looking at what other businesses could be coming to the new business park.
Pinecone Inc. opens showroom
At a meeting Thursday, the Burlington City Council discussed a draft 2021 budget that would continue a trend of low funding for street maintenance.
SEDRO-WOOLLEY — It may be All Hallows’ Eve, but it’s never too early to start talking about Christmas.
Mount Vernon continued a trend of higher-than-anticipated sales tax revenue, despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on businesses.
The state Department of Agriculture is offering COVID-19 relief grants to small-scale meat processors to help them cover costs of boosting capacity during the pandemic.
On Saturday morning, a caravan of trucks loaded with hay, feed and other donations left Skagit County for Okanogan County.
Skagit County farms are exploring online sales as a way to adapt to business challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and some have reported a surge in online sales this year.
Proposals to mine rock from three sites in Skagit County have neighbors of the sites on edge.
BURLINGTON — The city of Burlington is offering businesses free installation to connect to its high-speed fiber optic network.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began and people retreated inside their 九游会官网网页版_j9.com真homes, many stocked up and began to cook and bake more, leading to a flour shortage at grocery stores.
Ranchers and farmers in Skagit County have seen an increase in sales this year of locally raised and processed meats.
On a Wednesday in early September, a team of five was busy at the Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative warehouse packing boxes of fresh produce grown by area farmers.
COA Mexican Eatery in new MV location
A large warehouse described as a package transfer station and distribution facility is planned for west of Burlington near Skagit Regional Airport.
After being closed for seven months, some movie theaters in Skagit County plan to welcome back audiences as early as Friday.
MOUNT VERNON — U.S. Bank is permanently closing its Second Street branch in downtown Mount Vernon.
With the COVID-19 pandemic driving up the demand for food assistance, Skagit Valley Food Co-op members donated $10,000 to support operations at the Skagit Food Distribution Center.
The town of La Conner has teamed up with the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County to award up to $20,000 in grants to local businesses.
Eaglemont Golf Course, which closed permanently in April, is for sale for $6.5 million, according to a Mount Vernon real estate agent who is listing the property.
The unemployment rate in Skagit County dropped from 12% in July to 9.7% in August, according to non-seasonally adjusted numbers released Tuesday by the state Employment Security Department (ESD).
Virtual business training available
MOUNT VERNON — Banner Bank will permanently close its downtown Mount Vernon branch on Dec. 11, the company announced to customers.
BURLINGTON — Skagit Regional Airport has received a $1.95 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for the expansion of its existing apron.
MOUNT VERNON — Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, two new breweries have opened their doors, a media company has expanded into a downtown storefront, and a new flooring and cabinetry showroom is getting ready to open.
Anacortes chamber director resigns
Nursing 九游会官网网页版_j9.com真homes were hit earliest and hardest by COVID-19, as the coronavirus swept through facilities and killed many.
Many farm stands in Skagit County are reporting a busier than usual season, and some attribute it to a desire to avoid crowded grocery stores and a stronger interest in purchasing directly from local farmers.
n The Burlington City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, by telephone, for a workshop on the 2021 city budget. Call 1-774-777-4255, conference ID 589-8786.
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners gave approval Monday for $809,000 in grants to help local businesses and nonprofits survive as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Snow Goose Produce earns recognition
It’s been nearly five months since the state’s theaters and performing arts venues were ordered to shut their doors to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Bowling alleys may be forced to close permanently if the state doesn’t adjust COVID-19 restrictions to allow them to reopen, say those involved in the industry.
Farmstrong Brewing adds food truck
As they await more statewide COVID-19 restrictions, the owners of gyms and fitness centers in Skagit County are taking things day by day.
New limits on restaurants and bars that began Thursday include a 10 p.m. cut-off for alcoholic drinks and no dining inside with nonhousehold members.
SEDRO-WOOLLEY — The Sedro-Woolley branch of Wells Fargo bank will close its doors permanently Oct. 21.
After thousands suddenly lost their jobs in early spring, employment in Skagit County is increasing, but experts caution the situation is precarious as rising numbers of COVID-19 cases could bring new restrictions and shutdowns, and school closures and a child care shortage complicate return…
