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Whatcom County Economic Development Investment (EDI) Board Meeting

May 8, 2025 · Whatcom, WA
Source: Meeting minutes 2025-05-08 (PDF, 9 pp)
Retrieved April 14, 2026 from www.whatcomcounty.us ↗
Confidence: 95%
High

Attendees

✓ Satpal Singh Sidhu (Whatcom County Executive (Chair))
✓ Andrew Calkins (Bellingham/Whatcom Housing Authority (New Member))
✓ Atul Deshmane (Public Utility District #1)
✓ Dan Dunne (Whatcom County Business and Commerce Committee)
✓ Drew Smith (People's Bank (New Member))
✓ Guy Occhiogrosso (Bellingham Whatcom Chamber of Commerce)
✓ Kayla Schott-Bresler (Whatcom County Deputy Executive)
✓ Ken Bell (Port of Bellingham Commissioner (represented by Mike Hogan))
✓ Kevin Hester (Small Cities Caucus Representative (Nooksack))
✓ Kim Lund (Mayor of Bellingham (represented by Tara Sundin))
✓ Marcus Warolin (Whatcom Community Foundation (New Member))
✓ Mark Stremler (Whatcom County Council)
✓ Scott Korthius (Small Cities Caucus Representative (Lynden))
✓ Tyler Schroeder (Associate Development Organization Representative)
✓ Jake Logan (Clerk of the Board, Executive's Office)
✓ Jill Boudreau (Senior Policy & Project Manager, Executive's Office)
✓ Tawni Helms (Office Administrator, Executive’s Office)
✓ Chris Benedict (WSU Extension)
✓ Henry Bierlink (Washington Red Raspberry Commission)
✓ Trevor Holman (American Family Insurance)
✓ John Mayberry (Whatcom Food and Farming Station Board)
✓ Paul Schissler (Madrona Community Development)
✓ Eric Chambers (Whatcom County Health Department)
✓ Present: 23/23

Decisions

#1

UNANIMOUS

#2

UNANIMOUS

#3

UNANIMOUS

Agenda Items

#1

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS, NEW MEMBERS

Introduction of new members and welcome to the meeting
#2

PUBLIC COMMENT

Public comment on the EDI fund and its impact
#3

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

Discussion on the new administrative organization for the EDI program
#4

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Presentation of the financial update and target allocations for the 2026 funding cycle
#5

ANNUAL CALENDAR UPDATE

Presentation of the proposed annual calendar and request to open the application period
#6

EDI APPLICATION FOR WHATCOM AG RESEARCH STATION

Presentation and approval of the application for the Whatcom Ag Research Station
#7

MINUTES REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Review and approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

Public Comments

1 speaker
Paul Schissler · Topic: EDI fund and its impact

Commented on the milestone of the EDI fund being larger than the Bellingham Home Fund and the importance of aligning the EDI funding calendar with state application deadlines