Port and county‑backed study vendor to begin Point Roberts economic-development strategy; community engagement planned

Elliot Smith, a Point Roberts resident who said he also works for the Port of Bellingham as a real‑estate director, briefed the committee on a county/port grant opportunity and selection of a consultant to prepare an economic‑development strategy for Point Roberts.

Smith said the grant pool originally discussed was roughly in the low‑to‑mid tens of thousands (participants referenced figures around $72,000 and 15% match), and that the county and Port would provide additional resources to execute a study. He said the contract was awarded to the consulting team named in the proposal materials and that the firm will collect local data, interview community stakeholders (chamber, taxpayers association, fire chief, local businesses), and deliver a one‑year road map of actionable priorities for water, sewer, sanitation, drainage, tourism, and business environment issues.

Members pressed about transparency and public involvement: one committee member asked whether the consultant would publish draft findings for comment; the presenter said he would ask and expects community interviews and local meetings during the roughly 11‑month effort, with data collection expected to start in early December.

The committee asked the presenter and liaison to post the request‑for‑proposals documents on the PRCAC page on the Whatcom County website and to distribute links to community groups. Smith also noted a recent staff resignation in the county economic‑development team and said the consultant and other county staff will lead outreach.