When we tell the origin story of Chuckanut Builders we often wish we could say that we founded the company because we saw a need in Bellingham for builders who wanted to make a positive impact on the environment by building and remodeling high performance homes. The truth is, Ian and Forest were builders who loved the trade and were working for a company that had just shut its doors. In the aftermath of this change, a handful of us sat around a table at Boundary Bay Brewery to figure out what was next; Chuckanut Builders was next.

Since that day in 2010 a lot has happened. The need for high quality, high performance builders still exists in Whatcom County and we’re helping to fill it. But we’re also aiming for something a bit loftier. In 2023 we became a B Corporation. We believe that business can, and should, be a force for good and are now part of a community of 4,000 companies around the world who prioritize people, plant and profit as equals.

Our focus is on building a resilient, sustainable community by bolstering the local economy and embracing innovation. We do this by creating permanent, livable-wage employment in Whatcom County; by working almost exclusively with local manufacturers and vendors; by collaborating with small local businesses through peer groups; by serving as board members on local non-profits and by relentlessly pursuing the science and art of building higher quality buildings.

We hope that our daily actions, both large and small, help to prove the adage that you get what you give. The community supported us in the early days, and still does, but more and more we’re able to step up and support the community. We’re green builders. We’re also community builders, and our community is Bellingham.