Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

As the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) weighs its options to decide the best home for NOAA's Marine Operations Center Pacific, our community is united in making the case for Bellingham.

Bellingham offers a ready-to-go location for NOAA's fleet, a skilled labor pool and thriving marine trades industry, partnership opportunities with Whatcom County's institutions of higher learning and a strong commitment to NOAA's mission and future.

When the Port of Bellingham launched the "Get NOAA" campaign in November 2007, our community stood united. Environmentalists, business owners, leaders from the marine trades industry, education leaders and elected officials stood hand-in-hand, eager to welcome NOAA's premier research fleet to Bellingham.

Why is community support for NOAA so strong? NOAA's mission - "to understand and predict changes in Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and environmental needs" - is a natural fit for our community's values, goals and vision.

Furthermore, NOAA would make a tremendous economic contribution to Bellingham's continued prosperity, generating $19 million for our local economy and creating 188 living-wage jobs.

These new family-wage jobs would have a ripple effect, bringing new business to all sectors of our local economy. A Bellingham-based Marine Operations Center Pacific would create economic, research and education opportunities throughout our region.

When the Georgia-Pacific plant closed this year, Bellingham lost jobs that NOAA would help replace. NOAA would be an economic engine for Bellingham's economy, not just another tenant in a city too big to notice.

NOAA has much to offer Bellingham, but what does Bellingham offer NOAA? The best new homeport for the Marine Operations Center Pacific.

The Port of Bellingham offers a location that is ready to meet NOAA's current and future needs. Our 220-acre waterfront offers facilities that are ready to go, piers that can be improved and expanded in the future, and a location that can't be beat. Direct access to the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca will enhance NOAA's research mission and save fuel costs and other expenses.

Whatcom County's thriving marine trades industry will provide NOAA's vessel operations with the skilled labor needed to keep their fleet strong. Our local marine trades industry already serves as a vital partner for NOAA's Pacific operations, delivering ships for NOAA's research fleet and doing repairs and maintenance on NOAA vessels.

Bellingham offers a strong connection to education and research at our institutions of higher learning, which currently partner with NOAA on a number of research projects. A Bellingham-based NOAA facility would build on these partnerships and take advantage of research and education opportunities offered by Western Washington University and other area schools.

Finally, the city and Port of Bellingham are committed to NOAA's success. The city of Bellingham is ready to help NOAA successfully transition its research vessels to our community by supporting and enhancing existing facilities, infrastructure and services. The Port of Bellingham will be a dedicated and reliable partner for NOAA. Port and city, together with our education partners, marine trades industry and local leaders, are committed to encouraging a thriving waterfront and supporting our marine trade industry with education and training investments.

NOAA will be making a formal request for proposals by the end of the year. As NOAA officials move forward with their selection process, we stand ready to enthusiastically welcome NOAA's premier research fleet to Bellingham.

NOAA has a blank slate to make their decision. Cities from around the region will be throwing their hats in the ring. Bellingham has a strong case to make, but we will also have a lot of competition. Bringing NOAA to Bellingham will require teamwork and strong, ongoing support from the community. We are confident the Bellingham community is up to the task.
 
Rick Larsen is U.S. Representative for Washington's 2nd District. Doug Smith is president of the Port of Bellingham commission. Dan Pike is mayor of Bellingham.