business backgrounder | industry
Fueling the Northwest Economy
Industry at Cherry Point plays an important role
in fueling the regional economy.
Richard S. Davis
An unprecedented challenge to established industries in Cherry Point, Whatcom County, has thrust the area into national
prominence. Outside environmental interests poured money into local council races to thwart further economic development.
The targeted industries, firms with a global reach, provide the foundation for much of the Northwest Washington economy.
Business leaders fear a sustained deindustrialization effort with significant consequences for the future of manufacturing.
The Cherry Point Industrial Zone is home to 2,200 jobs paying an average wage of $114,000 a year, but these important jobs are ensnared
in a concerted effort to limit or reduce manufacturing in the industrial zone.
at a glance
Cherry Point industries face
unprecedented challenges from
environmental groups opposed
to industrial development. This
new deindustrialization effort
has ramifications far beyond the
Whatcom County line.
44 association of washington business
A patch of land along the Strait of Georgia on the north end of the Puget Sound has
spawned Whatcom County controversies reverberating across the state and nation. The
Cherry Point Industrial Zone is home to some of the state’s premier manufacturers. It now
is also the scene of a renewed battle between environmental activists and proponents of
increased trade and economic activity.
While the polarity is neither perfect nor necessary — you can certainly protect the
environment while boosting economic growth — the tension in the county is palpable.
Business leaders warn of deindustrialization efforts that threaten industries that fuel the
Northwest economy.
The numbers tell the story. A recent employment impact analysis, “Employment at
Cherry Point,” by economists Hart Hodges, Western Washington University, and Bill
Beyers, University of Washington, demonstrates the significance of Cherry Point industries
to the region.