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Washington Retail Association Webinar:  Safe Re-opening Tips and Best PracticesThursday, May 28, 10:00AM (PT) 60 minutesRegister HERE today! For retailers who are about to enter Phase II (Limited In-Store) opening, this webinar is an opportunity to learn tips and best practices from safety experts and a retailer who has had two months of practical operating experience. You will gain insights into ...read more

The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive will be open and offering curbside service starting on Friday, May 22. It will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and will be offering their lunch menu to-go. Call (360) 766-6185 to order. 

Peoples Bank has awarded a $25,000 grant to local United Ways to support communities across the state impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In Skagit County, the donation will be used to support the Skagit Valley Disaster Relief Fund, which helps sustain nonprofit organizations and agencies as they work to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the Skagit Valley. The Peoples Bank grant ...read more

Gov. Jay Inslee today issued guidance for resuming pet grooming operations in Phase 2. Through the Washington "Safe Start" plan, more businesses and activities will re-open in phases, with adequate safety and health standards in place. Each phase will be at least three weeks. Additionally, counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not had a new case of COVID-19 in the past three ...read more

Gov. Jay Inslee today issued guidance for construction, golf and photography in Phase 2. Through the Washington "Safe Start" plan, more businesses and activities will re-open in phases, with adequate safety and health standards in place. Each phase will be at least three weeks. Additionally, counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not had a new case of COVID-19 in the past ...read more

The SBA, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The SBA will soon issue regulations ...read more

Responding to the urgent demand for emergency funding to support small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, Peoples Bank has helped over 1,600 businesses obtain $219 million in Small Business Administration (SBA)-authorized Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. A majority of these loans have been funded, with the remaining loans to be disbursed in the coming days.  A preferred SBA ...read more

Today, May 13, 2020, Skagit County Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Leibrand issued a statement reminding and strongly encouraging individuals to wear fabric face coverings or masks in all public situations, including workplaces, at parks and during essential trips to the grocery store or doctor’s office. Exceptions to this recommendation would include children, people with disabilities, deaf ...read more

Today, Skagit County Public Health announced that its study on the Skagit Chorale COVID-19 outbreak has been published in the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The study emphasizes the high-transmissibility of COVID-19 and explains new findings about the outbreak event.   MMWR, often called ‘the voice of the CDC,’ is a series of scientific ...read more

Specific Impacts to 2020 Recreation Events, Tournaments, and Facility and Playfield Rentals in BurlingtonBURLINGTON, WA—May 12, 2020   The City of Burlington announces cancellation of the following spring and summer 2020 Burlington Recreation events and programs:  Community Events | Spring & Summer 2020All-Comers Track MeetsBurlington Summer NightsCommunity Gear SwapKids Giant Garage SaleNight ...read more

NEW! As of Spring of 2020, the Burlington-Edison Youth Soccer Club has passed the torch and registration and league play will now be managed by the City of Burlington's Recreation Staff.  We would like to offer a big welcome to first time participants & parents and, for those returning, we hope this transition will feel seamless!   Burlington Recreation Staff will endeavor to provide the same ...read more

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced members of Safe Start advisory groups with focus on health systems and public health, social supports and economic readiness. “These groups include a diverse group of voices, from community leaders in labor, business, government and nonprofit organizations,” Inslee said during a press conference Tuesday. “They represent a broad cross-section of Washingtonians ...read more

2020 Skagit County Fair Cancelled    Today, Skagit County Parks, Recreation & Fair made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Skagit County Fair, originally scheduled for August 12- 15, 2020. This decision comes following Dr. Howard Leibrand’s recommendation that all large scale events be cancelled or postponed through the summer. “Our hearts go out to all those who depend on the Fair ...read more

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash., May 5, 2020– As Skagit County communities continue to focus on social distancing, handwashing and masking to flatten the curve, PeaceHealth United General Medical Center is beginning to plan for the future with a focus on safely returning to care and reopening services. While the medical center and clinics are not easing current practices related to safety and security that ...read more

Camp Murray, WA --- Visitors to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 homepage may notice a change starting today, May 3– a link to improved data visualizations. Clicking the “See Dashboard” link will reveal the same data and data sets previously offered, with improved usability and accessibility. Improvementsto support access for blind and visually impaired users include tab-key navigation, ...read more

Building community partners: As the Governor has permitted “low risk” new construction to proceed, we look forward to working with you on your projects again. With the new requirements for COVID-19 safety, to support your COVID plans, we will be asking for the name and contact information of your COVID-19 site supervisor to document in our job files. We will check in with this person when on ...read more

Nordic Temperature Control aims to boost funds for local food bank in the Skagit Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Burlington, Washington – Nordic Temperature Control, a leading HVAC company in the Puget Sound region, recently announced its plan to help boost funds for a local food bank in the Skagit Valley.  Nordic plans to donate 50% of their Commercial and Residential HVAC ...read more

CITY OF BURLINGTON WELCOMES ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEFSteve Riggs joins Burlington’s ranks,brings three decades of fire service experience  BURLINGTON, WA—April 30, 2020   The City of Burlington welcomes Steve Riggs as Assistant Fire Chief for the Burlington Fire Department.   “With 34 years in fire service, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge to the City of Burlington,” says Burlington Mayor Steve ...read more

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Washington Businesses and Residents Affected by the Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides  SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Washington businesses and residents affected by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred Jan. 20 ‑ Feb. 10, 2020, announced Administrator Jovita Carranza of the ...read more

Monday, April 27, 2020, the Skagit County Board of Health appointed a new member: Dr. Connie Davis. In December 2019, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance to adopt Skagit County Code Chapter 12.01, expanding the size of the Board of Health from three to five members.   Dr. Davis, who joined Skagit Regional Health as the Chief Medical Officer in 2012, has more than 30 ...read more

On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a plan to allow current construction projects to be completed. Today, the governor clarified the initial guidance memo and issued a guide to frequently asked questions about construction activities.The guidance is an addendum to his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” proclamation, the construction requirements that apply to all previously and newly authorized ...read more

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has partnered with the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) to offer a new version of the EDC’s highly successful ScaleUp program aimed at helping small business owners move forward through the COVID-19 crisis. EDASC, which hosted the ScaleUp program last year, has also partnered with EDC to offer the program to Skagitonians at no ...read more

Skagit Auto Licensing at 327 S. Burlington Blvd. is happy to announce that on Monday, May 4th, it will reopen the drive-up window and the lobby. The lobby will be accessible for two people at a time. They have installed Plexiglas in front of all the customer windows along with a table to allow for 6' of distance. The drive-up also has a Plexiglas barrier. They are trying to keep both the public ...read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in Washington following President Trump’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance as a result of severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred Jan. 20 – Feb. 10, 2020, announced Administrator Jovita Carranza of the U.S. Small Business Administration. ...read more