Published October 2002

Marine, wood-products sectors strong in Skagit

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

Skagit County’s economy shares the state’s business slowdown, but there are bright spots here, too — from new businesses relocating to the area to increased employment in many industries.

“We’ve been having a pretty good year, particularly with small businesses, wood-products firms and the boat building industry,” said Don Wick, executive director of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County.

“The marine industry — particularly yachts and boat building — has been huge for us. We have a cluster of marine-related industries, particularly in Anacortes,” Wick said, adding that the county is focusing on serving that industry by working with Skagit Valley College and work-force development agencies to provide highly trained workers.

One of the association’s biggest current projects, he said, is working with Westport Shipyard to establish a new, $12.7 million Anacortes facility to build 164-foot, $30 million super yachts, bringing a work force of some 200 people to Skagit County with an annual payroll of $8.1 million. The company already builds 98-, 112- and 130-foot yachts.

Wood products is another growth area for the county, Wick said, noting that Washington Alder is a new business with 100 employees who produce products for the furniture industry and exporting, while Pacific Woodtech Corp. in Burlington is a new, 125-employee company producing laminated veneer lumber products, including some for exporting.

Not all of the economic news has been good, Wick said, recalling National Frozen Foods’ consolidation of facilities in Eastern Washington, which took “a lot of our pea acreage out of production.” Twin City Foods of Stanwood, however, continues to grow a large portion of its crop of peas and other vegetables in Skagit County.

“This is a county with rich soil. The agriculture industry is big here, and we strongly support it,” Wick said.

Another major economic development resource is the Port of Skagit County, which has jurisdiction over the La Conner Marina, the Skagit Regional Airport and two versatile business parks: Bayview Business and Industrial Park and the Hopper Road Business Park.

Economic developments in Skagit County over the past 18 months include:

• Independent Marketing Services, an outbound call center serving financial and insurance clients, moved to downtown Mount Vernon from Redmond.
• The eTech Campus opened in Mount Vernon, providing space for new technology businesses and proximity to Skagit Valley’s new high-speed fiber-optic telecommunications loop in Mount Vernon.
• Acquist Inc., a technology consulting company that provides business solutions for businesses in Skagit County and the greater Puget Sound area, opened in the eTech Campus.
• West Air II, a manufacturer of cable assemblies for aerospace, electronics and related industries, will relocate to Skagit County, employing 15 to 20 people initially at its Burlington location.
• Northern Marine Inc., an Anacortes boat manufacturer, announced plans for an expansion of its business.
• Dimensional Communications Inc. of Mount Vernon designed and built the massive $1.7 million communications system for Seattle’s new Seahawks football stadium, linking 841 television sets, 260 speakers, 80 plasma monitors, four large stadium display screens and the giant screen on the north tower. Previously, the firm provided sound systems for Husky Stadium, the Microsoft Digital Home and Seattle’s Benaroya Hall.
• Valley Electric in Mount Vernon won the bid to install ice-rink cooling and arena heating systems for the new Everett events facility, now under construction. Prior projects include Safeco Field in Seattle, KeyArena, the Harborview Medical Center Expansion and the renovated Everett Memorial Stadium.
• The Skagit County Economic Development Public Facility Fund has provided more than $9 million in public investment, leveraging more than $20 million in private investment for infrastructure in the county. Another $21 million is expected to be provided for infrastructure development by the state’s Community Economic Revitalization Board.

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