Year in Review 2017: Blaine Chamber of Commerce

By Carroll Solomon

We’re celebrating our 126th year! The Blaine Chamber of Commerce ended the year with 84 members including 14 new members.

Our business of the year was the Blaine Senior Center and our featured members of the month were: Baker Septic, Inn at Lynden, Birch Bay Square, Billy Brown Real Estate, Apple Mountain LLC, Mobile Exchange Inc., Pastime Bar, Transworld Business Advisors, Semiahmoo Resort, Golf & Spa, Umpqua Bank, Blaine Bouquet Floral & Gifts and Birch Bay Tax & Accounting.

Our board members in 2017 were: Ray Maxon (Ace Hardware), Michael Ebert (Fortiphi Insurance), Carroll Solomon (Blaine Visitor Center), Kimberli Shea (Umpqua Bank), Bob Boule (Smugglers Inn B&B), Louise Mugar (The Northern Light), Laura Hedges (Blaine Healing Arts) and Heidi Holmes (Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation).

The chamber was pleased to sponsor many of Blaine’s festivals and events which brought thousands of visitors to our downtown and harbor resulting in increased sales for local businesses. The chamber also partnered with organizations supporting other events and activities in Blaine including the up and coming Downtown Business Association. In addition, we sponsored two business workshops that were free to the public.

This year brought some changes to our business community. Peace Arch City Café took over the larger Pastime Bar building, The Vault Wine Bar & Event Center opened in the old Bank of America Building and Rawganique purchased the downtown Subway building.

We look forward to great things for our business community in 2018, including a new building for the visitor center and chamber office to be opened in the spring.