It’s shaping up to be a busy summer of events at Port of Skagit properties.  The Port is involved with hosting and sponsoring several new and time-honored events this summer.

The 4^th of July Hometown Celebration in La Conner will kick off summer events, with food trucks, beer garden and live music on the lawn at the La Conner Marina.  Musical acts included openers Steve Johnson, Bluesfish and headliner Mama Dirty Skirt.  Festivities begin at 5pm and end with a fireworks show sponsored by the Town of La Conner at dusk.

On July 25^th, the Skagit County Historical Museum is hosting Northern State Hospital Public History Day at the Port’s SWIFT Center.  The event begins at 9:30am and includes a speaker series, walking tours, information booths and an inside peek at the historic Hub building, which was built in 1916 and used as an assembly hall, gathering space and chapel during the hospital’s operation.

Following NSH Public History Day, the Port of Skagit will be hosting its first of three Music in the Park @ SWIFT summer outdoor concerts on the historic property.  July 25^th will feature local country band Nonstop to Nashville, along with food trucks, beer garden, facepainting for the kids and an amazing setting to enjoy the music.  Two more Music in the Park @ SWIFT events will be held this summer, including August 22^nd featuring North Sound Soul and a very special outdoor performance by the Skagit Symphony on September 12^th.  For more details, visit www.portofskagit.com/music

Back at the La Conner Marina at the end of summer, will by the Tidewater Boil on September 24^th and Skagit Farm to Pint FEST on September 26^th both organized and hosted by Genuine Skagit Valley.  Both events sell-out each year, so be sure to get your tickets soon by visiting https://genuineskagitvalley.com/ .

One of the Port’s most successful events last year, the 2025 Skagit Skies Airshow, will be returning next summer, in 2027.   Building upon the success of the 2025 event, which had 10,000 visitors and amazing aerobatic performances, planning is already underway for the 2027 event to ensure another great show and guest experience for everyone.

For additional information on how to participate, support or sponsor any of these events, please reach out to our Port team!

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On Thursday, March 26, the two ports held a joint commission meeting, bringing together the Port of Anacortes’ five commissioners and the Port of Skagit’s three commissioners. Together, they heard a presentation on each port’s respective strengths and challenges, emerging opportunities, and the 2024–2029 Skagit County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS is a county-wide plan that includes a section focused on the ports’ roles in supporting its implementation.

The CEDS identifies the Port of Skagit’s key roles as growing industries—including advanced manufacturing, maritime manufacturing, and value added agriculture—and fostering an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Port of Anacortes, on the other hand, is targeted with promoting bulk cargo trade through its deep water port, supporting aviation and aerospace sectors, advancing decarbonization and clean technology strategies, and for its strong role in tourism and quality of life in Skagit County.

A Complementary Partnership

The two port districts were established nearly forty years apart, each with a distinct mandate. As Port of Skagit Commission President Melanie Mankamyer explained: “the Port of Anacortes was formed to utilize their deep-water access and working waterfront, and the Port of Skagit was formed to build a manufacturing base for a more diversified economy in the county. Formalizing our Ports’ partnership through an interlocal agreement is a logical and effective action to further align our efforts, capitalize on our respective strengths and resources, and pursue new opportunities together that will support our thriving and diverse industries.”

That complementary structure is central to the vision behind the potential ILA. Port of Anacortes Commission President Kathy Pittis described the opportunity as creating “a stronger, more connected framework that links our deep-water terminal capabilities with valuable upland development opportunities.” This positions both ports to attract new investment and support long-term job creation across the region.

Through an ILA, the ports see opportunities to:

• Develop a unified approach to the CEDS and implementation within the Port-led strategies.
• Explore the creation of a Port Economic Development Committee/Council to monitor progress toward shared strategies.
• Support coordinated economic development efforts with shared FTE or contractors.
• Strengthen industrial and large commercial focused tenant recruitment through aligned planning and outreach.
• Utilize port assets and infrastructure more effectively.

Building on Years of Collaboration

The potential ILA, made possible by Revised Code of Washington 39.34, would build on a long-time collaboration with deep roots. The two ports established joint ownership of Skagit Regional Airport in 1964, and Port of Skagit purchased the airport in 1975. In 2008, the ports entered into a formal ILA, committing to work cooperatively and proactively on services, resources, and issues of mutual concern. Though that agreement expired in 2018, the spirit of collaboration it embodies has continued.

The ILA would pick up that thread with renewed focus. “I think a strong and consistent partnership between Port of Skagit and Port of Anacortes would deliver additional energy towards economic growth and job creation, which is truly the core mission of Ports,” said Port of Anacortes Executive Director John Dumas. “We are eager to get underway and engage our complementary strengths to create regional economic benefits for Skagit County.”

A Shared Regional Vision

The agreement would be designed to complement the work already being done by regional economic development organizations like the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC). By formalizing their partnership, the ports would signal a commitment to coordinated, strategic investment in Skagit County’s economic future.

Port of Skagit Executive Director Sara Young emphasized the value of that coordination: “Each of our ports brings talented, dedicated staff and strong elected leadership to the table. By formalizing this partnership and investing in a shared regional vision, we are demonstrating a thoughtful and efficient use of public resources that will deliver lasting economic benefits to Skagit County.”

Together, the two ports are positioning Skagit County to compete for new investment, support existing industries, and create durable economic opportunity as a collaborative regional force.

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Stepping away from their regular roles last Friday morning, more than a dozen Port of Skagit staff members donned rain gear and picked up shovels as part of a planting work party to restore some of the natural habitat along the trail system that runs through and around the Port’s SWIFT Center property.

The plantings were added to the new Winfield and Quarry Trails at the SWIFT Center.  SWIFT Center facilities staff prepped the planting sites in the weeks leading up to the event, including the removal of invasive plants to make room for native species.  Port staff from Skagit Regional Airport, La Conner Marina, SWIFT Center, and the Administrative Office planted nearly 200 trees and shrubs, ranging from Western Red Cedar and Big Leaf Maple, to Oceanspray and Red Flowering Currant, with a coordinated plan to place more flowering shrubs near benches and viewpoints for trail users to enjoy.

The planting work party was a team effort that provided additional labor to the project as well as a great team-building opportunity for Port staff.  This event also provided a head start on plantings in the high-profile areas of the new trail system before the larger scale riparian restoration work begins in 2027 with the support of a Washington State Department of Ecology grant, in partnership with Skagit County.

The Port of Skagit has a long history of environmental stewardship work, including the responsible management of wetlands and forested lands, and creating 10+ miles of nature trails, in lieu of curbs and sidewalks, during the development of Bayview Business Park in Burlington, to better complement and support the natural landscape of the forested business park.

About:  The Port of Skagit took ownership of the SWIFT Center, the former Northern State Hospital campus in Sedro-Woolley, in 2018.  Since then, the Port continues to work with partners to restore and enhance public access to the grounds as part of its overall vision of revitalizing the campus.  The vision for the SWIFT Center is to redevelop this property into a destination mixed use campus accommodating education, research and development, manufacturing, hospitality, and commercial venues, all within the historic character and great public spaces of the Center.

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The event was postponed due to flooding and the flood response work by the Port in December.  The Port of Skagit played a key role in the local flood response, including supporting the 300 National Guard staff housed at Skagit Regional Airport; providing airfield support for Search & Rescue, Air Force, Coast Guard and Dept of Natural Resources teams; supplying hundreds of wooden pallets for sandbag distribution; coordinating the relocation of more than 2,000 cars from local auto dealerships to the airport and higher ground parking for school busses in La Conner; and helping stand up an animal feed and hay distribution site with volunteers.  Skagit Regional Airport, owned and operated by the Port of Skagit, is designated as an essential public facility by Skagit County, and is often used in emergency and/or disaster response efforts.

The flood response was just one noteworthy element in a list of accomplishments by the Port of Skagit in 2025.  Additional highlights included the expansion of the Port’s Granary facility in support of local agriculture, new trail construction at SWIFT Center with Skagit Trail Builders, preparation for dock replacement in the South Basin at La Conner Marina, the first major building renovation at SWIFT Center to establish the NW Innovation Resource Center’s IRC Lab-SWIFT, acquisition of three buildings at Skagit Regional Airport and Bayview Business Park, installation of major utility infrastructure at Watershed Business Park to prepare property for development, continuing to build broadband infrastructure into our rural communities, and public access improvements at La Conner Marina. The Port also hosted several community events in 2025 including a world-class airshow and establishing the first music in the park event at the SWIFT Center.

“Our team delivered an extraordinary year,” said Sara Young, Executive Director of the Port of Skagit. “They advanced major, complex projects across our properties while keeping daily operations running smoothly and finding new ways to deliver value to our community. That level of focus, professionalism, and teamwork is impressive, and I couldn’t be prouder of this staff.”

Several Port staff members were recognized for their contributions throughout the year.  The Port was happy to recognize and thank the following staff members for their achievements:  Nick Bitto for Exemplary Service, Joe Hayes for Notable Achievements, Jesse McCarty for Outstanding Safety, David Millenaar for Spirit of the Culture and Laura Schumacher as Brand Champion.

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Audra brings a vast amount of experience in strategic financial planning and leadership to the Port of Skagit, as well as a deep connection to the community.  Audra most recently served as the Director of Finance and Administration at the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) for eight years, where she successfully updated systems and processes across the organization to optimize effectiveness and efficiencies, as well as led strategic business programs and initiatives.

Through her work in the Skagit Valley, Audra has built a strong professional network while working closely with a variety of agencies, organizations, and non-profits.  “I’m thrilled to continue to work on behalf of the Skagit community,” Audra stated.  “This is an opportunity to further that work.”

Audra sees this role as a way to continue her community engagement and use that lens when considering how best to optimize the Port’s assets to better the community, the place where she calls home.  Audra has lived in the Skagit Valley for 30 years and is proud to contribute to the quality of life here through this new role.

As the Port’s Chief Financial Officer, Audra will be responsible for long-range financial planning for capital projects at the different Port properties, including La Conner Marina, Bayview Business Park, Skagit Regional Airport, SWIFT Center and the emerging Watershed Business Park.  Additionally, Audra will be a key member of the Port’s leadership team responsible for strategic direction, planning and oversight of the Port’s financial, risk management and audit functions.

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This family-friendly event will be held at the SWIFT Center, the former Northern State Hospital campus, in a picturesque outdoor setting so guests can enjoy the natural beauty and rich history of the property. The event is highlighted by two amazing local musicians Benny Sidelinger and Friends for the Ghost.

It’s a goal of the Port of Skagit to create events that bring light and life to the property and invite the community to enjoy the historic campus.

“This first ever music event is an opportunity to welcome the community to this property for an evening of entertainment and reach a new audience of folks who aren’t yet familiar with this amazing place and the potential it holds,” stated District 3 Port Commissioner Mahlon Hull.  “We are excited to have the community gather here, further engage with the property, and simply enjoy this tremendous public asset.”

The Port of Skagit took over the former Northern State Hospital campus in 2018 from the State of Washington after a multi-year effort to transfer the property to local public ownership.  The Port restored public access to the campus in 2019, and great progress has been made by Skagit Trail Builders to restore and build trails in and around the property that connect to the Northern State Recreation Area (NSRA), which is owned and operated by Skagit County.

The July 26^th event will begin at 5:30pm and will take place in a grassy area on the east end of the campus off Thompson Drive.  Guests should use the Fruitdale Road entrance to the SWIFT Center campus, go to Thompson Drive and follow the signs for parking.  Admission is free. The event will feature food and drink offerings from True North Bakery as well as a beer garden area operated by the Tipsy Trailer featuring beverages from Chuckanut Brewery and Garden Path Fermentation.  The Music in the Park @ SWIFT event follows the 4^th Annual NSH Public History Day hosted by Skagit County Historical Museum earlier that same day.

To view the event video with our featured musicians, click HERE.  

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The Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) honored the Port of Skagit with the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award for the Vessel Turn-in Program the Port hosted at the La Conner Marina last summer.  The Port partnered with several different agencies to coordinate and host the event including Dept of Natural Resources, Dept of Ecology, Skagit County, Swinomish Tribe, NW Straits and others.  Through this program, 49 derelict vessels and more than 109 tons of materials were safely deconstructed and recycled at La Conner Maritime Services and are no longer a threat to the safety or health of our environment, waterways or marine habitat.

In addition, the Washington Airport Management Association (WAMA) recognized the Port with the 2025 WAMA Project of the Year award for several major construction projects at Skagit Regional Airport.  The rehabilitation of Runway 04/22 on the crosswind side of the airfield, along with the rehabilitation of Taxiway A and the main apron were among the major projects completed by the Port last summer.

“Receiving awards from two esteemed organizations like WPPA and WAMA is both an honor and a confirmation that the Port of Skagit is performing important work within our community,” stated Port of Skagit Commissioner Melanie Mankamyer.  “Not only are these projects helping to deliver the Port’s mission, they are investments in two very important areas of our work:  environmental stewardship and developing economic opportunities in the Skagit Valley.”

The mission of the Port of Skagit is “Working Together for the Greater Good of the Skagit Valley.”  The Port focusses much of its efforts on public infrastructure that supports job creation and economic opportunities at each of its five main properties: Skagit Regional Airport, Bayview Business Park, La Conner Marina, SWIFT Center and the soon-to-be developed Watershed Business Park.

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True North Bakery will offer grab-and-go breakfast and lunch, with plenty of pastries and treats to go with your coffee.  Owner Mia Peterson hopes that this style of food service will work well to attract people who work at the airport and adjacent Bayview Business Park on their lunch breaks and for business meetings, as well as the local community, visitors and pilots.  Indoor seating is available for anyone who wishes to dine in and enjoy the sights of the airport activity through the windows overlooking the airfield.

“It gives us such pride and joy to have a place to welcome you to visit, try all the new ideas we come up with,” said Peterson.  “We enjoy working with local community and small businesses. This new exciting venture wouldn’t be possible without these connections we’ve made.”

Hours of operation for True North Bakery, located at 15426 Airport Drive in Burlington, will be Monday through Friday 6:30am—3pm, and Saturdays 8am—3pm.  Breakfast offerings include challah French toast, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos and biscuits & gravy.  For lunch, customers can enjoy a variety of soups, sandwiches, pizza and salads.  A pastry case filled with croissants, bars, cookies and other delicious pastries rounds out the offerings.

Visit their website at Truenorthbakery.com to learn more about their story, their delicious menu items, and the wholesale and catering services they offer.

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Melanie Mankamyer is a newly retired Professional Engineer and former partner in Wilson Engineering.  Her 28 years of experience as a civil engineer provided her with vast experience in public works projects, developing long-term capital improvement plans, conceptual project plans and budgets, all of which are relevant and significant to the work of the Port of Skagit.

“The level of interest and the caliber of talented applicants were impressive, and the Commission is grateful for such a robust response to the vacancy,” stated Port Commission President Mahlon Hull.  “Melanie Mankamyer is a critical thinker who is well qualified for this role, based on her experience with land development, capital planning, and public projects, as well as her community involvement.  She is very well suited for this governance role as Port Commissioner for District 2.”

Mankamyer’s appointment represents a historic moment for the Port of Skagit, as she will be the first female Commissioner to serve for the port district in its 60-year history.

“My interest in becoming a Port Commissioner stems from my long admiration of the work the Port has accomplished in creating jobs and business opportunities for our community,” stated Mankamyer.

Mankamyer will be sworn into office at the Port Commission Meeting on Tuesday, November 12th.  She will serve out the remainer of the current term until the next general election, in November 2025, at which time she will run for election to the office.  The candidate elected in the general election in 2025 will serve out the remainder of the current term through 2029.

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Since relocating to the Skagit Valley, Shaun has worked closely with a variety of agencies and organizations in our community and has connected with local businesses to support economic development needs in the area. Shaun is eager to learn more about the Port of Skagit’s lines of business and connect with Port tenants to build upon positive relationships while supporting business growth.

As the Port’s Real Estate Manager, Shaun will be responsible for leading the development and management of the Port’s real estate portfolio, helping to define the highest and best use of properties, and identifying target markets and industry sectors that align well with the Port’s strategic plan and priorities.  Additionally, Shaun will help support the diverse, long-range work being done at the different Port properties, including La Conner Marina, Bayview Business Park, Skagit Regional Airport, SWIFT Center and the emerging Watershed Business Park.

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