Fair and Livable Wages: Why Initiative #4 is Unsustainable for Local Business and Calls for Finding a Middle Ground Solution.
Dear Voters,
As business owners/operators and citizens of this city, the last few years have been hard, simply put. We have experienced along with our friends and employees the hardships that arise from unaffordable housing and Bellingham’s escalating cost of living. Boundary Bay has offered competitive wages, hazard pay, affordable housing, free mental health assistance and scheduled our team as directed by their own personal comfort levels given the pandemic atmosphere. As a business that has been largely focused on philanthropy for the past 26 years, these are issues we have addressed both prior to and during the pandemic. We appreciate the sentiment and intention of Initiative 4, and feel strongly that all citizens need a more systematic approach to general livability in Bellingham.
However, we stand in opposition alongside our Regional Chamber of Commerce and the other small locally owned businesses who have valid concerns regarding the implementation of this initiative.
We look forward to having a seat at the table with other community representatives, hourly employees, social workers and COB officials to rewrite this initiative in a sustainable way in order to make positive long-lasting change for the community of Bellingham we all hold so dear. Thank you for taking the time to hear our perspective. Please read further for a deeper understanding of our business model and how Initiative 4 will negatively impact us, and subsequently many of the organizations we partner with.
“When you choose Boundary, you choose Community” is more than just a statement - it’s our cultural North Star at the brewery.
From the very beginning, our founder Ed Bennett knew that he wanted a component of giving back to the community in his business - it was just a matter of determining how.
“It started with a pint night fundraiser for Amnesty International. Soon after, the phones just started ringing.”
Following our inaugural fundraiser, we started hearing from all sorts of organizations around town who were looking to collaborate with this new and exciting business. General Manager Janet Lightner chalks it up to being in the right place at the right time, and having a giving personality. Not only did she see an opportunity to make local philanthropy a focal point of Boundary Bay’s business model, but she was dead-set on making the act of philanthropy as enjoyable and collaborative as possible. It was this philosophy that led us to be awarded “Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business of Washington” in 2014.
“These are just sort of magical things that have happened here at Boundary - where we actually saw organizations and nonprofits be saved by the efforts of beer. It wasn't just writing checks. It was never like that at all. It's collaborative. The organizations come here and work with us. We get to know the executive directors and their mission. It becomes very relationship based - and I think that's what really took it to the next level as far as community went.” - Janet Lightner
It would be easy to attribute our business philosophy to something along the lines of “support local business”, but that only addresses the “what”, and it’s a lot deeper than that.
“Why?” A Positive Feedback Loop of Reciprocity:
Following their first fundraiser and the subsequent local fundraising opportunities that were presented to them, Ed and Janet began to make some serious philosophical connections. They saw the services provided by these nonprofits as integral to the quality of life of our community, and subsequently improving the well-being of Bellingham and its local economy.
A Feel Good Story
One of the earlier calls we received from a nonprofit was made by the Max Higbee Center - who provides community-based recreation programs for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. The circumstances of our first meeting with the Max Higbee Center were bleak, as they were experiencing difficulty in fundraising and felt they were approaching a dead end. In meeting with them, Janet only saw opportunity. Well aware that Bellingham had yet to establish a beer festival, she suggested they create one. Eager to take action, we assisted the Max Higbee Center in launching an annual beer festival that takes place in April, aptly named “April Brews Day”. To this date, it’s the largest beer festival in town, and it funds Max Higbee’s entire capital campaign year over year. Time and time again, we see these things come full circle. We are grateful for our ability to help important local organizations stay on their feet - and through events like April Brews Day - watching the community show up year after year to support them is the greatest reward.
“They have the slogan ‘When you choose Boundary, you choose Community’ and I’m quite proud of that slogan because I think we do have a reputation. It gets to a point where it’s challenging to support as many institutions, charities and organizations that we do, but we do the best we can. We really are focused on giving back. I mean, we’re fortunate. We have a product - a very good product - and we can give that back, being part of events, and being generous with what we have. I think that’s really helped as far as supporting the community the way we can.” -Ed Bennett
Our Bottom Line is Generosity - And We Want to Keep Giving.
While we align with the sentiment proposed by Initiative 4, we feel that a sustainable middle ground can be found once businesses, workers, nonprofits, schools, COB officials, and the like can all have a seat at the table on this discussion. Through collaboration and inclusion we will find a way to give all workers a sustainable living without risking the livelihood of those businesses in which so many are currently employed.
