Northwest Innovation Resource Center opens lab at Swift Center; local startup launches mobility pilot

Sedro‑Woolley — The Northwest Innovation Resource Center told the City Council it has opened an Innovation Center at the Swift Center and is hosting entrepreneurs in prototyping, media and co‑working spaces, while a local founder described a new mobility app that aims to fill transportation gaps for residents who lack reliable rides.

"We opened the Innovation Center at Swift Center in late October," said Diane Kimianca, executive director of the Northwest Innovation Resource Center, who outlined features including a 3‑D printing room, a manufacturing test area and a padded media room for webinars and recorded content. Kimianca said the center serves Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island and San Juan counties and that federal, state, county and port partners contributed funds for renovations.

The center will host recurring events and industry sessions, Kimianca said, including a March session on sustainable aviation fuel and a May event about fusion supply‑chain jobs paired with Job Corps programming. "Entrepreneurs come here from outside of the area," she said, and the space provides mentors and connection with regional partners.

Brenda, an entrepreneur introduced at the meeting as the founder of Andiamo, described a mobility app the company says targets people who have trouble reaching services even where Uber and Lyft operate. "Our goal is to help nonprofits, health care providers and government agencies get clients to services," she said, announcing a pilot partnership with Family Promise of Skagit County. Andiamo will allow providers to pre‑load funds for client rides and enable community members to add small donations (called "helper credits" or "love beams") that pay for rides in real time, the presenter said.

Councilmembers asked how the center supports startups; Brenda said NWIRC offers flexible tiers for workspace, introductions to advisors and room for meetings that let entrepreneurs scale from idea stage to more established operations. Councilmembers also discussed whether the app could partner with Skagit Transit to better use underused bus runs for service trips.

The center’s leadership and the Andiamo founder invited councilmembers to visit the Swift Center and to participate in upcoming events. Mayor Johnson and councilmembers praised the renovation, noting the center’s potential role in local economic development.

The council recorded the presentation and moved on to a packed agenda that included public comment, property authorizations and a first read of a county interlocal amendment on senior services. The council did not take formal action on the presentation beyond thanks and outreach invitations.