Tag: Snohomish County

  • Snohomish County Office Vacancy Drops to 10.7% in Q1 2026

    Snohomish County Office Vacancy Drops to 10.7% in Q1 2026

    Quick Answer: Snohomish County’s office market just posted its third straight quarter of positive net absorption, ending Q1 2026 at 10.7% vacancy with asking rents at $31.20 per square foot — a small but real signal that the office side of the Everett story is firming up while the housing side cools. The numbers come from Kidder Mathews’ Q1 2026 Seattle Office Market Report, and they matter because the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place build-out is planning 447,500 square feet of office on top of an apartment market that just turned soft. Office is the harder leasing story right now. The Q1 numbers say it is starting to turn.

    Most of the housing-market coverage in Everett right now is about the same story told three different ways: the rental market is down 2% year over year, the new-construction market closed exactly one home above list this month, and the condo market is actually outperforming single-family. Those are three pieces of one residential picture.

    The office market is a separate picture. And Kidder Mathews — the commercial brokerage that publishes the most-cited Seattle Office Market Report — just released its Q1 2026 numbers for Snohomish County. The headline is unflashy and important: vacancy ended the quarter at 10.7%, asking rents nudged up to $31.20 PSF, and the county posted its third straight quarter of positive net absorption. None of those numbers will trend on social media. All of them will show up in the leasing decisions that determine whether the next phase of Waterfront Place is a building full of offices or a building waiting for tenants.

    The Q1 2026 Numbers, Plain

    From Kidder Mathews’ Q1 2026 Seattle Office Market Report, here is the Snohomish County row:

    • Overall vacancy: 10.7% at the end of Q1 2026, down slightly from the prior quarter and a touch below the 10.8% rate at the close of Q1 2025.
    • Net absorption: Positive 37,931 square feet — the third straight positive quarter. Net absorption is leasing brokers’ favorite single number because it captures whether more space got filled than emptied during the period.
    • Total leasing activity: Slowed to 59,395 square feet during Q1 2026, including renewals.
    • Asking rent: $31.20 per square foot, a 0.8% improvement on the prior quarter’s $30.96 PSF.

    That is a market that is not setting records and is not falling apart. It is grinding up. For office, that is a normal story. For Snohomish County office in 2026, after a few years of soft national office demand, it is a meaningful story.

    Why 10.7% Is the Right Number to Watch

    Vacancy alone is a noisy number. A market can have 10% vacancy because nobody wants the space, or because half the inventory is old and the other half is brand new and leasing fast. What changes the read is the trend.

    Snohomish County office vacancy ended Q1 2025 at 10.8%, ended Q4 2025 a hair higher, and ended Q1 2026 at 10.7%. That is a four-quarter window in which vacancy has effectively moved sideways with a slight downward bias. Pair that with three straight quarters of positive net absorption and a 0.8% bump in asking rents, and you have the soft outline of a market floor. Not a recovery. Not a boom. A floor.

    That distinction matters for anyone watching Waterfront Place and the Millwright District. A floor is what you need to start signing leases on new product. A floor is what makes pre-leasing offices in a downtown waterfront development work as a financial pro forma.

    What This Means for Waterfront Place’s 447,500 SF of Office

    The Port of Everett’s master plan for Waterfront Place includes 447,500 square feet of office at full build-out, alongside the 660 housing units, the two hotels, and the 63,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The first major office product on the waterfront is the Millwright District Phase 2 office — covered earlier this month when we wrote about what 120,000 square feet of waterfront office space means for Everett.

    The Q1 numbers are the leasing context for that 120,000 square feet. If county-wide office had ended Q1 at 13% with three straight quarters of negative absorption, the Millwright pre-leasing pitch would be a hard one. Tenants would have leverage, asking rents would be soft, and the calendar from groundbreaking to stabilized occupancy would be longer than the financing model assumed.

    At 10.7% with a positive absorption trend and rents nudging up, the pitch is different. Waterfront-view office at $31-plus-PSF is a defensible play in a market where vacancy is not bleeding out. It does not guarantee anything. It just removes one of the legitimate reasons to be skeptical.

    What This Means for Downtown Office

    The other pressure point in Snohomish County office is the existing downtown Everett inventory — older Class B and Class C buildings along Colby, Hewitt, and Wetmore that have been competing with the move to remote and hybrid work for half a decade. Those buildings do not benefit from the same waterfront-view pitch.

    What they do benefit from is the absorption trend. If the county is filling 38,000 square feet net per quarter, some of that is going into existing downtown space. A market with positive net absorption broadly is a market in which downtown landlords have a chance to lease, even if the asking rents are well below the $31.20 county average and the deals require concessions that would have been unthinkable in 2019. The signal here is permission to underwrite, not a green light to raise rents.

    The Broader Puget Sound Comparison

    Snohomish County’s 10.7% vacancy compares to the broader Seattle/Puget Sound regional office vacancy, which ended Q3 2025 at 22.7% per the same Kidder Mathews series. That gap — 12 percentage points between the county and the regional average — is the structural advantage Snohomish County has been quietly building. Office demand drains out of the urban core when work-from-home becomes permanent. It does not drain out of the suburban Class A market in the same way, especially in a corridor with Boeing’s commercial aerospace anchor, the Naval Station Everett anchor, and a residential population that does not commute south to Seattle.

    The Waterfront Place office product is being designed to sit inside that gap. Class A finishes, water views, walking-distance restaurants, dedicated parking, and a corridor that has not been hollowed out by the urban-flight pattern that hit downtown Seattle. The Q1 2026 absorption number is a small piece of evidence that the gap is real and that the leasing thesis has a floor under it.

    What to Watch in Q2

    The next Kidder Mathews report will land in mid-July, capturing Q2 2026 absorption. Three things to watch:

    1. Whether net absorption stays positive. A fourth straight positive quarter would convert the floor read into a recovery read.
    2. Whether asking rents push past $31.50 PSF. That is the threshold above which Class A new product can be priced confidently.
    3. Whether leasing activity recovers from the 59,395 SF Q1 figure. Q1 leasing was slow. Q2 is the test of whether decision-makers are sitting on the sidelines or actually backing out of the market.

    What This Doesn’t Say

    It does not say office is back. It does not say the rest of 2026 is a guaranteed recovery. It does not address the suburban-to-suburban moves that are powering most of the absorption (companies giving up old space for newer space — net-positive county-wide, net-zero or worse for individual landlords). It does not isolate Everett from Bothell, Lynnwood, or Mill Creek inside the county number. And it does not predict whether tariffs, interest rates, or the broader macroeconomic story will rewrite the leasing calendar.

    What it does say, in the most boring possible language: the floor is holding, the absorption is positive, and the rents are nudging up. That is the leasing context the next phase of Waterfront Place is going to be pitched into. The Port has been building toward this moment for a decade. The Q1 numbers say the moment is plausible.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Snohomish County office vacancy rate in Q1 2026?

    10.7% per Kidder Mathews’ Q1 2026 Seattle Office Market Report, a slight decrease from 10.8% in Q1 2025 and a small improvement from the prior quarter.

    What were Snohomish County’s Q1 2026 office asking rents?

    $31.20 per square foot, up 0.8% from the prior quarter’s $30.96 PSF.

    What is net absorption?

    Net absorption is the change in occupied office space during a period — total square feet leased and moved into, minus total square feet vacated. Positive net absorption means more space got filled than emptied. Snohomish County posted 37,931 SF of positive net absorption in Q1 2026, its third straight positive quarter.

    How much office space is planned at Waterfront Place?

    The Port of Everett’s master plan calls for 447,500 square feet of office at full build-out. Millwright District Phase 2 includes 120,000 square feet of waterfront office in pre-leasing.

    How does Snohomish County compare to the broader Seattle office market?

    Snohomish County’s 10.7% vacancy is significantly tighter than the broader Seattle/Puget Sound regional vacancy, which Kidder Mathews reported at 22.7% in Q3 2025. Suburban Class A markets in Snohomish County have held up better than the urban Seattle core through the work-from-home shift.

    When is the next Kidder Mathews report?

    Q2 2026 data typically lands in mid-July.

    Is this a good time to lease office space in Everett?

    Tenants still hold meaningful leverage at 10.7% vacancy, especially in older Class B and Class C downtown product. Asking rents are firming but concessions remain available. The trend favors landlords gradually but has not flipped to a clear landlord market.

  • Aerospace Worker Shortage: Snohomish Supplier Strategy

    Aerospace Worker Shortage: Snohomish Supplier Strategy

    How is the aerospace worker shortage going to hit Snohomish County suppliers? Hard, and unevenly. Aerospace suppliers across Snohomish County are competing with Boeing, Blue Origin, and each other for the same skilled CNC machinists, composite fabricators, and quality inspectors. The suppliers feeling it most acutely are the small and mid-size shops that cannot match Boeing’s wage and benefit packages on price alone.

    This is the supplier-side companion to the aerospace worker shortage core guide. The core walks through the system; the worker-side guide walks through career moves; this one walks through what supplier owners and ops leaders need to be doing right now.

    Read your exposure first

    Not every supplier is exposed equally. Three signals tell you where you sit on the curve:

    1. What’s your skilled-labor mix? If your shop runs heavy on CNC, composite, or inspection — that is exactly where the pipeline shortfall concentrates. Assembly and general labor are easier to backfill from the WATR Manufacturing Assembly Mechanic pathway.
    2. What’s your overlap with the Boeing 777X rework? Boeing disclosed on its April 22, 2026 first-quarter results discussion pointed to a multi-year change-incorporation workload on already-built 777X widebodies parked at Paine Field before delivery. That work pulls on the same labor pool as new production. If you supply structural, electrical, or quality services into that effort, your demand is elevated and your competition for labor is doubly intense.
    3. What’s your wage gap to Boeing? Post-2024 Boeing factory wages stepped up materially. If your benefit, schedule, or wage package was already 15-20% behind Boeing’s pre-2024 numbers, the gap widened. The retention math has changed.

    The pipeline programs you should know by name

    Most suppliers in Snohomish County have a working relationship with at least one of these. If you do not, this is the year to start.

    Washington Aerospace Training & Research Center (WATR) — 3008 100th Street SW, Everett. Edmonds College–operated. Five 12-week certificate programs (Manufacturing Assembly Mechanic, Electrical Assembly Mechanic, Manufacturing Composites, Tooling Mechanic, Quality Assurance). Suppliers who build a hiring relationship with WATR see candidates first.

    Machinists Institute (IAM District 751) — 8729 Airport Road, Everett. Opened June 6, 2025. Built to train up to 700 machinists per year. The Boeing-direct pathway dominates, but the Institute also produces skilled CNC, painting, and inspection talent that flows to suppliers when Boeing’s seats are full.

    AJAC apprenticeships — Paid 10-week foundational program, then journeyman-track apprenticeship. AJAC is the lever for suppliers who want to grow workers from zero rather than poach.

    Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center — High school juniors and seniors. The pre-pipeline. Suppliers who sponsor cohorts or take interns build the long-game candidate funnel.

    Everett Community College Advanced Manufacturing — Welding, machining, composites, technical design at the associate’s-degree level. Higher-skill, longer-form than WATR.

    Three plays that work right now

    Play 1: Shorten your time-to-productive. The 12-week WATR cycle gives you a candidate who can step onto your floor in 3 months. If your onboarding-to-productive timeline is 6 months, you are losing twice — once on the wait and once on the candidates who took a faster offer elsewhere. Tighten your floor-readiness checklist and pair every WATR hire with a journeyman mentor in the first 90 days.

    Play 2: Compete on what Boeing cannot match. Boeing’s wage package is hard to beat. Suppliers win on schedule flexibility (4/10s versus rotating shifts), on tuition reimbursement (helps a worker who wants to step up to advanced credentials), on commute reduction (proximity to where your workers actually live), and on the I-can-talk-to-the-owner culture small shops naturally have. Inventory which of those you can credibly offer and lead with them.

    Play 3: Build a Sno-Isle TECH and AJAC pipeline now. Suppliers that started cohort sponsorships in 2022-2023 are seeing the candidates land in 2025-2026. The shops that wait until they’re short-staffed to start the relationship are 18-24 months behind. The fix takes time; start it this month.

    The signals worth watching

    Three numbers will tell you how the pipeline is closing the gap:

    • Machinists Institute annual enrollment versus the 700-per-year design capacity
    • WATR enrollment and graduate throughput (confirm current figures with the center; we no longer cite older placement percentages that are not on its live pages)
    • AJAC apprenticeship counts

    If those numbers tick up, the supplier labor market loosens through 2027. If they stay flat, the wage and benefit competition keeps escalating.

    The Boeing program signals worth watching

    The supplier ecosystem moves with Boeing’s program signals. Three to track right now:

    • The 737 North Line ramp in Everett — see the North Line worker’s guide for the program shape.
    • The 767 sundown and KC-46 transition — see the supplier-side 767 sundown guide from the April 22 run.
    • The 777X rework and first-delivery push — supplier exposure is heavy on structural, electrical, and inspection scopes.

    The supplier that reads all three as one story rather than three separate signals will allocate labor and capacity correctly through the cycle.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many aerospace suppliers operate in Snohomish County?

    The aerospace supplier base in Snohomish County is consistently described in industry reporting as 600-plus establishments, ranging from small precision-machining shops to large structural-assembly partners. The full ecosystem — including upstream services and adjacent manufacturing — is larger.

    How does the 777X rework affect supplier demand?

    Boeing disclosed on its April 22, 2026 first-quarter results discussion pointed to a multi-year change-incorporation workload on already-built 777X widebodies parked at Paine Field before delivery. That work pulls on the same skilled labor — particularly CNC, structural assembly, and quality inspection — as new production, elevating supplier demand on those services through the rework period.

    What’s the most effective hiring channel for a small supplier?

    For shops that need 1-3 hires per year, building a direct relationship with WATR placement staff and AJAC tends to outperform broad job-board posting. WATR’s 12-week cycle predictably puts candidates into the market every quarter; AJAC’s apprenticeship model lets suppliers grow workers rather than compete for finished talent.

    How do small suppliers compete with Boeing wages?

    Schedule flexibility (4/10s, predictable shifts), tuition reimbursement, proximity reducing commute time, and a closer worker-to-owner culture are the four levers small suppliers most reliably win on. The price-only competition is hard; the package competition is winnable.

    Where does Blue Origin fit in supplier labor competition?

    Blue Origin competes for the same skilled CNC, composite, and inspection talent as Boeing and Snohomish County suppliers, intensifying the labor squeeze. (Hard Blue Origin headcount figures are omitted without a live company primary.)

    Is the labor market expected to loosen?

    Pipeline expansion at WATR, the Machinists Institute, AJAC, Sno-Isle TECH, and EvCC is increasing throughput, but the demand from Boeing’s Washington hiring, the 777X rework, the 737 ramp, Blue Origin, and the supplier base is large enough that material loosening is a 2027-2028 timeline at the earliest, contingent on those programs hitting enrollment targets.


  • Aerospace Worker Shortage: Snohomish County Career Guide

    Aerospace Worker Shortage: Snohomish County Career Guide

    Should I make a career move into Snohomish County aerospace right now? If you have any of CNC machining, composite fabrication, quality inspection, electrical assembly, or tool-room experience — yes, the leverage in Snohomish County aerospace hiring is the strongest it has been in years. Boeing employs more than 65,000 teammates in Washington and says it is actively hiring for rate increases and the Everett 737 line, and the Machinists Institute and WATR programs at Paine Field are designed to move you from no certificate to first job in 12 weeks.

    This is the worker-side read of the Snohomish County aerospace worker shortage guide. The core article walks through the system and the training pipeline; this one walks through what that market means for your paycheck, your training time, and your next move.

    Where the actual leverage is

    The skilled-trades shortfall is not evenly distributed. Three roles carry most of it:

    • CNC machinists — 18 to 36 months to run complex jobs unsupervised; pipeline of new entrants has not kept up with retirements.
    • Composite fabricators — layup, autoclave, damage inspection; a discipline traditional metal-shop training does not cover. The 777X program at Paine Field runs on composite structures.
    • Quality inspectors — the slowest discipline to backfill because seniority matters. Boeing’s post-2024 quality push and the FAA’s tightened oversight made these roles the single most-demanded category in the factory.

    If you are already in any of those three lanes, your phone is going to keep ringing. If you are trying to get into them, the pipeline programs at Paine Field were built for exactly this moment.

    The 12-week WATR path

    Washington Aerospace Training & Research Center, on the Paine Field campus at 3008 100th Street SW, runs five 12-week certificate programs:

    • Manufacturing Assembly Mechanic
    • Electrical Assembly Mechanic
    • Manufacturing Composites
    • Tooling Mechanic
    • Quality Assurance

    The hybrid model — online coursework plus in-person lab on industry-standard equipment — was designed for working adults to complete the program in a single quarter without quitting their day job. (We no longer cite older WATR placement percentages that are not on the center’s live pages.)

    If you have to pick one of the five right now: Quality Assurance and Manufacturing Composites are the two carrying the heaviest demand because they map directly onto Boeing’s biggest unmet needs. Electrical Assembly is the third hardest to fill.

    The Machinists Institute path

    If you want the IAM 751 union pathway and are aiming directly at Boeing factory work, the Machinists Institute at 8729 Airport Road in Everett is the answer. The 23,000-square-foot facility opened June 6, 2025, and is built to train up to 700 new machinists per year.

    The Boeing-direct program at the Institute trains in spray painting, manual machining, blueprint reading, and assembly-line quality control. The equipment list is what gets your attention: CNC simulators, paint and welding virtual reality rigs, advanced metrology tools, 3D printers, programmable logic controllers, augmented reality applications. None of that is window dressing — every one of those tools maps to a Boeing or supplier process you will see on the floor.

    The Institute sits directly across Airport Road from Sno-Isle Tech and adjacent to the Boeing Everett Factory. The geography is the message: this is the on-ramp.

    What the pay looks like

    Hard numbers move with contracts and bargaining cycles, so the right move is to verify against the current IAM 751 and Boeing public materials before signing anything. The directional truth in spring 2026 is that:

    • Entry-level Boeing factory roles in Everett are paying meaningfully more than they did pre-2024 because of the post-strike contract and the workforce push.
    • Skilled trades (CNC, composites, inspection) carry a senior-pay premium that is widening.
    • Supplier-side work across Snohomish County’s 600-plus aerospace suppliers competes on benefits, schedule flexibility, and tuition reimbursement to offset Boeing’s wage edge.

    The right move on pay: get the certificate, get the first job, then look at lateral moves at the 12 to 18 month mark when you have on-the-floor experience to negotiate against.

    What about the 767 sundown?

    If you are working the 767 line and reading this — the line is winding down for commercial freighters, but the KC-46 tanker continues, and the skills you are carrying are exactly what Boeing needs everywhere else in the factory. Our 767 sundown / KC-46 transition coverage walks the transition path. Bottom line: do not panic. The line narrows, it does not shut down, and the carry-forward into the rest of the Everett operations is built into the workforce plan.

    What about the 777X rework?

    Boeing’s April 22, 2026 first-quarter results discussion pointed to a multi-year change-incorporation workload on already-built 777X widebodies parked at Paine Field before delivery. That work is going to absorb skilled labor — particularly CNC, structural assembly, and inspection — for the next several years. If you are trying to get hired in: the rework backlog is part of why the demand curve does not flatten anytime soon.

    The housing piece

    If you are relocating to take the job, read the Boeing 737 North Line worker housing guide first — the math on commute time, rent versus buy, and which submarkets actually work for shift workers is in there. The three submarkets housing guide is the broader companion.

    The honest bottom line

    The pipeline can put you in front of an aerospace employer in 12 weeks. The leverage in the negotiation is real for the next 24 months at minimum. If you have been considering this move and waiting for a sign — the hiring leverage around Paine Field right now is the sign.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does WATR training take?

    WATR certificate programs run 12 weeks. The hybrid model lets you complete the program in a single quarter while working, with online coursework paired with in-person lab work at the Paine Field facility.

    How much does WATR cost?

    WATR program costs are managed through Edmonds College. Aerospace Loan Programs through the Washington Student Achievement Council and other workforce funding mechanisms are designed to keep out-of-pocket cost low for in-state residents. Confirm the current term’s price and funding options with WATR directly at 3008 100th Street SW, Everett.

    Is the Machinists Institute free?

    The Machinists Institute Boeing-pathway program is structured to move workers into Boeing factory roles. Confirm current enrollment costs, requirements, and funding options through IAM District 751 directly. AJAC apprenticeships, by contrast, are paid from day one — you earn while you train.

    What’s the highest-leverage role to train into right now?

    Quality Assurance and Manufacturing Composites carry the heaviest unmet demand because they map directly onto Boeing’s biggest unmet needs. Skilled CNC machinists are also in deep shortage, but the training timeline is longer.

    Will the 767 line shutting down hurt my job prospects?

    The Boeing 767 commercial freighter program is winding down through 2027, but the KC-46 tanker line continues and the skills carry directly into the rest of the Everett operations. Boeing’s workforce plan absorbs the transition; the broader hiring picture is still net positive.

    How does the Machinists Institute compare to WATR?

    WATR is the Edmonds College civilian training pathway with five 12-week certificate options. The Machinists Institute is the IAM District 751 union pathway built around Boeing factory hiring. Both produce qualified workers, and both are within five miles of the Boeing factory; the right pick depends on whether you want the union pathway and Boeing-direct placement or the broader certificate options that work for any aerospace employer.


    >Part of the complete guide: Boeing Everett & SPEEA 2026

  • Memorial Day 2026 Snohomish County: Everett Events Guide

    Memorial Day 2026 Snohomish County: Everett Events Guide

    Quick answer: Memorial Day 2026 is Monday, May 25. The closest VA national cemetery to Naval Station Everett is Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, which holds its annual Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony at 1 p.m. that Monday at the Main Flag Pole Assembly Area. Closer to home, Snohomish County’s Eternal Flame at the County Courthouse (3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett) is the central county-level remembrance site, and Lake Stevens American Legion Post 181, Floral Hills in Lynnwood, and Evergreen Cemetery in Everett all host community services that morning.

    If you’ve just PCS’d to Naval Station Everett, retired in Snohomish County, or moved here to support a sailor or soldier in the family, Memorial Day is one of the days the local military community is easiest to find. The bases are quieter than Navy Birthday or Veterans Day, but the cemeteries and memorials are full — and the people who run those services are the same people who run the volunteer drivers at the VA, the American Legion posts, the VFWs, and the spouse networks the rest of the year.

    This is a practical 2026 guide to where to go, when, and what to expect — written for the family that wants to do the day right and meet a few of the people who’d be good to know once the parade ends.

    Why this matters for the Everett military community

    Snohomish County is home to roughly 52,000 veterans — about one in eleven county residents — plus the active-duty population at Naval Station Everett, the five Arleigh Burke-class destroyers homeported there (USS Momsen, USS Kidd, USS Gridley, USS Sampson, USS Ralph Johnson), and several thousand military family members spread across Mukilteo, Marysville, Lake Stevens, and the unincorporated edges of the county.

    Memorial Day is the day that community shows up in one place. Active-duty sailors stand color guard at services. Vietnam-era VFW members read the names. Gold Star families lay wreaths. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts plant flags at headstones the Saturday before. Local mayors give the speeches that don’t make the regional news but matter enormously to the families in the front rows.

    For a military family that’s two months into a Naval Station Everett tour, going to one of these services is often the fastest way to meet the people who’ll be at every PCS hello-and-goodbye for the next three years. (For more on what life looks like at NAVSTA Everett right now, see our guide to the FF(X) frigate decision and what it means for PCS plans, school choices, and the next decade for Navy families based in Everett.)

    The closest VA national cemetery: Tahoma in Kent

    Tahoma National Cemetery at 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, is the federally-administered national cemetery serving the Puget Sound region — the burial ground operated by the National Cemetery Administration under the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is the closest VA national cemetery to Naval Station Everett.

    The drive from NAVSTA Everett to Tahoma is roughly 50 minutes south on I-5 in Memorial Day morning traffic, longer if you leave after 11 a.m.

    The 2026 ceremony: Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony, Monday, May 25, 2026, 1 p.m., at the Main Flag Pole Assembly Area. The program follows the standard Tahoma format — wreath-laying, rifle volley, and Taps, with remarks from local civic leaders and retired military officers. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

    Practical notes for first-time visitors:

    • Arrive by 12:15 p.m. Parking inside the cemetery fills early. Once the lots are full, staff direct cars to overflow parking with shuttle service.
    • Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. The assembly area is exposed and seating is minimal — most attendees stand.
    • Wear comfortable walking shoes. Even from the closest lots, the walk to the flag pole is several hundred yards on uneven ground.
    • The cemetery hosts a “Run to Tahoma” community event the same morning organized through the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board for those who want a longer-distance commemoration before the 1 p.m. service.

    For sailors, families, or veterans who want the most formal Memorial Day service in the region — full military honors, full federal protocol — Tahoma is the answer.

    The county-level service: Snohomish County Eternal Flame

    The Snohomish County Eternal Flame sits in front of the Robert J. Drewel Building at the County Courthouse complex, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. It is the county’s central memorial to its veterans and the most accessible Memorial Day stop for anyone living in central or downtown Everett.

    Snohomish County typically holds an 11 a.m. Veterans Day service at the Eternal Flame in November, and the same site hosts informal Memorial Day gatherings — wreath placements, individual remembrances, and small ceremonies coordinated by local VFW and American Legion posts — throughout the morning of the holiday. Families with school-age kids who want to keep the day local often come here first, then move to one of the cemetery services.

    The Drewel Building is also where the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program (VAP) office is located — the county-funded program that helps veterans and their families with rent, utilities, prescriptions, transportation, and emergency needs. Most county veterans don’t know the program exists. Memorial Day is a quiet, low-pressure day to walk past the office, see the staff, and pick up the contact card. (For a deeper look at how the county program fits with the federal VA system, see our complete 2026 guide to getting VA claims help in Snohomish County.)

    The community services in Snohomish County

    Multiple community services across the county happen Memorial Day morning. These are the longest-running and most reliable for 2026.

    Lake Stevens American Legion Post 181

    Post 181 traditionally hosts two Memorial Day services on Monday morning:

    • 10 a.m. at the Lake Stevens War Veterans Memorial flag display, 1808 Main St., Lake Stevens
    • Noon at the Machias Cemetery, 1201 Silva St., Snohomish

    The Lake Stevens services are short, family-friendly, and are some of the only regularly attended community services east of I-5 in the county. Post 181 has been doing this for decades.

    Floral Hills in Lynnwood

    The Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills annual Memorial Day program at 409 Filbert Rd., Lynnwood typically runs:

    • 10:30 a.m. band concert
    • 11 a.m. ceremony

    Floral Hills is the largest cemetery in southwest Snohomish County and the regular Memorial Day stop for families based out of Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, and the south end of the county. Programs are listed annually on the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) calendar.

    Evergreen Cemetery in Everett

    Evergreen Cemetery, 4505 Broadway, Everett is the historic in-city cemetery — the burial ground for many of Everett’s earliest civic leaders and Civil War-era veterans. The site has hosted Memorial Day commemorations going back more than a century. For 2026 program times, the Everett Public Library and the city’s Parks and Recreation calendar typically post details in the two weeks before the holiday.

    For veterans buried at Evergreen, families typically come the Sunday afternoon or Monday morning before the larger county services to place flowers and flags individually.

    What to do the rest of the weekend

    Memorial Day weekend is three full days in 2026 — Saturday May 23 through Monday May 25. A practical Snohomish County itinerary for a military family looks like:

    Saturday morning — Flag-placement events. Boy Scout troops, Cub Scout packs, and Civil Air Patrol cadets across the county place small American flags on veteran headstones. Tahoma National Cemetery, Floral Hills, Cypress Lawn (1615 SE Everett Mall Way), and Evergreen all get flags this weekend. Showing up to help is a fast way to meet the local Scouting and youth-veterans community.

    Sunday — Quiet day. Many Snohomish County churches incorporate Memorial Day remembrances into their Sunday services. The American Legion and VFW posts are typically open in the afternoon.

    Monday — The day itself. Tahoma at 1 p.m. for the most formal service. Lake Stevens, Floral Hills, or Evergreen in the morning if you want a community-scale event.

    Monday afternoon — Most VFW and American Legion halls in the county host open houses, family-friendly gatherings, or potlucks after the morning services. VFW Post 2100 in downtown Everett (Suite 101 of the Vet Center building) and American Legion Post 6 in Snohomish are the two most active in central county. (The Vet Center building also houses the VFW Service Officer who handles VA claims help — making the Suite 101 location worth knowing year-round.)

    If you can’t make a service

    A practical alternative for sailors who can’t get away from the base, or family members who can’t make a public service:

    • Place a wreath at the Snohomish County Eternal Flame any time on Monday. The site is unstaffed and unrestricted.
    • Make a contribution to a service organization — the USO Northwest, the Snohomish County VAP, or a county VSO — in lieu of attendance.
    • Read the names of the Snohomish County service members who’ve died in service since 9/11 at the Centennial Trail memorial at Haller Bridge in Arlington. The kiosk includes interpretive panels for each name.

    Resources for military families new to the area

    Three numbers and links worth keeping for any military family doing their first Memorial Day in Snohomish County:

    • Naval Station Everett Fleet & Family Support Center: 425-304-3735 — for any deployment-related question, family event, or community resource referral.
    • Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program (VAP): snohomishcountywa.gov/veterans — for emergency assistance, transportation, or VSO referral.
    • Tahoma National Cemetery: cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/tahoma.asp — for burial eligibility, memorial benefits, and event schedule.

    For anyone arriving on PCS orders this spring or summer, the practical follow-on after Memorial Day is the Fleet & Family Support Center’s resource intake — the same office that runs the spouse employment programs and the deployment family support groups. Memorial Day is when you meet the community. The week after is when the FFSC plugs you into it. (See our deep dive on how NAVSTA Everett supports Navy kids and families through the FFSC and the school liaison office.)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What day is Memorial Day 2026?

    Memorial Day 2026 is Monday, May 25. It is the last Monday of May, as set by the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

    Is there a VA national cemetery in Everett?

    No. The closest VA national cemetery to Naval Station Everett is Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, about 50 minutes south on I-5. Tahoma is the only VA national cemetery in the Puget Sound region.

    Is Tahoma National Cemetery’s Memorial Day ceremony open to the public?

    Yes. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Plan to arrive by 12:15 p.m. Monday May 25, 2026 because parking inside the cemetery fills early and overflow parking requires a shuttle.

    Where is the Snohomish County Eternal Flame?

    The Eternal Flame is at the Snohomish County Courthouse / Robert J. Drewel Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. It is the county’s central veterans memorial and is accessible 24 hours a day.

    Are the Memorial Day services in Snohomish County family-friendly?

    Yes. The Lake Stevens services at the War Veterans Memorial and Machias Cemetery, and the Floral Hills program in Lynnwood, are designed for family attendance with short program lengths, seating, and accessible venues. Tahoma’s main service is longer and more formal but is still family-friendly with adequate planning.

    How can a Naval Station Everett family find local Memorial Day events the week before?

    Two reliable sources: the Naval Station Everett Fleet & Family Support Center at 425-304-3735, and the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs event calendar at dva.wa.gov. The HeraldNet and MyEverettNews local outlets also publish Memorial Day round-ups in the days before the holiday.

    Where can I get help with a VA claim related to a service member I’m honoring on Memorial Day?

    The Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program at the Drewel Building is the closest in-person resource for VA claims help in the county, alongside the VFW Service Officer at the Vet Center building Suite 101 and the monthly Veterans Benefits Administration field visits to the Everett Vet Center. (See our prior coverage on VA claims help options after the 2026 Vet Center schedule change for the full breakdown.)

  • The New Mexicans Everett: Authentic Hatch Green Chile

    The New Mexicans Everett: Authentic Hatch Green Chile

    What is The New Mexicans in Everett? The New Mexicans is a New Mexican (not Mexican) restaurant at 1416 Hewitt Avenue serving Hatch green chile, posole, sopaipillas and famous in-house cinnamon rolls. The restaurant was founded in 2012 by Chrystal Handy whose family is from New Mexico, and is now run by Evie and Vince De Simone, who hail from Hatch, NM. It’s the only restaurant in Snohomish County serving genuine New Mexican cuisine, and locals call it the perfect pre-Silvertips game stop.

    Let’s clear up the most common mistake first. The New Mexicans is not a Mexican restaurant. It’s a New Mexican restaurant — the cuisine of the state of New Mexico, which is its own thing, with its own ingredients, its own flavor profile, and its own argument about whether red or green is better. (At The New Mexicans you can order “Christmas,” which means both, and that is the move.)

    If you’ve never had real New Mexican food, the easiest way to think about it is: take Mexican food, give it to a high-altitude region built around Hatch chile peppers and Pueblo culture, let it sit in there for 400 years, and you’ll get something that tastes nothing like the Tex-Mex or California-Mex or Sonoran-Mex you’re used to. The chile is the foundation. The sopaipilla is the bread. And the green chile cheeseburger is its own American food group.

    The New Mexicans, at 1416 Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett, is the only place in Snohomish County doing this cuisine for real. It’s been there since 2012. Most of Everett still treats it like a discovery.

    Who’s Behind It

    The restaurant was opened in 2012 by Chrystal Handy, whose family is from New Mexico. As of February 2017, ownership transitioned to Evie and Vince De Simone, who are from Hatch, New Mexico — yes, that Hatch, the chile-pepper Hatch — and they kept the menu and the philosophy intact. They bake their own bread, their own sopaipillas, and their own cinnamon rolls in-house. That last detail is going to come up again.

    The Hatch Chile Question

    If you walk into a New Mexican restaurant and the question “red or green?” doesn’t show up on your menu or your server’s lips, it’s not really a New Mexican restaurant. At The New Mexicans, that question shows up everywhere. Order Christmas. That’s the local-knowledge answer — half red chile sauce, half green chile sauce, both made from real Hatch chile shipped up from the source.

    The dishes that show off the chile best:

    • Posole / Pozole — the deeply savory hominy stew with pork. The version here runs spicier than most Mexican-restaurant versions and the broth has the richness that says it’s been simmering longer than a normal Tuesday-night soup. Order it on a cold Everett day. You’ll get it.
    • Green chile cheeseburger — the New Mexico state sandwich, built on the official Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail philosophy: Hatch green chile, melted cheese, no apologies. This is the one to order if you’ve got a friend who refuses to try “weird food.”
    • Stuffed sopaipillas — fried bread pillows stuffed with carne adovada (red chile pork), beans, and cheese. The sopaipilla itself is the star — light, hot, faintly sweet, used to sponge up the chile sauce.
    • Carne adovada — pork slow-cooked in red chile sauce. The textbook New Mexican dish. Order it as an entrée or as the filling in something else.

    Now About Those Cinnamon Rolls

    Here’s the thing nobody preps you for: The New Mexicans makes the best cinnamon rolls in Everett. Plate-sized. Warm. House-baked. Glazed, not over-iced. They’re not a side dessert. They’re a destination order. People walk in for a cinnamon roll and a coffee and walk out fully justified.

    The why-cinnamon-rolls-at-a-Southwest-restaurant question has a real answer. New Mexican breakfast traditions absolutely include sweet baked goods, and the De Simones bake all of their bread in-house. But functionally? They’re just the best cinnamon rolls on Hewitt Avenue, and that’s reason enough.

    Why It Matters Where It Sits

    The New Mexicans is on Hewitt Avenue, two blocks from Angel of the Winds Arena. It’s the perfect pre-Silvertips game stop and the locals know it. Get there 90 minutes before puck drop, eat a green chile cheeseburger, walk to the arena, sit through three periods of WHL hockey, walk back for a cinnamon roll if the place is still open. That’s a downtown Everett night that costs less than a single ticket to a Mariners game and tastes better than 90% of what’s on the lower bowl concourse at T-Mobile Park.

    Logistics

    Address: 1416 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
    Cuisine: New Mexican (not Mexican). Hatch chile, sopaipillas, posole, green chile cheeseburgers, carne adovada, in-house cinnamon rolls.
    Phone / Reservations: Reservations are accepted; the restaurant offers take-out and delivery.
    Website: thenewmexicanseverett.com
    Parking: Street parking on Hewitt and the side streets; the city lot at Hewitt and Rockefeller is a block east.
    Price range: $$ — most plates run $14–$22, breakfast and burgers cheaper, cocktails and house margaritas extra.
    Pre-game tip: 90 minutes before any Silvertips, AquaSox, or Angel of the Winds Arena event.
    Happy hour: Real one. Locals show up for it.

    What to Order Your First Time

    For a true introduction: Order a stuffed sopaipilla “Christmas” (red and green chile both), with a side of posole. If you’re a burger person, do the green chile cheeseburger and an order of the in-house chips and salsa. Either way, save room for a cinnamon roll. Take the second half home.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is The New Mexicans a Mexican restaurant? No. It’s a New Mexican restaurant — the cuisine of the state of New Mexico, which is distinct from Mexican food. The two cuisines share roots but use different ingredients (especially Hatch chile) and different preparations.

    Where is The New Mexicans in Everett? 1416 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201, in downtown Everett a couple of blocks west of Angel of the Winds Arena.

    Who owns The New Mexicans? Evie and Vince De Simone, who are originally from Hatch, New Mexico, took over from founder Chrystal Handy in 2017 and have run it since.

    What is “Christmas” on a New Mexican menu? Christmas means both red and green chile sauce on the same dish, half-and-half. It’s the standard local-knowledge order at any real New Mexican restaurant.

    Are the cinnamon rolls really that good? Yes. They’re house-baked, plate-sized, and consistently one of the best baked goods in downtown Everett. They sell out on weekends.

    Is The New Mexicans good before a Silvertips game? It’s the local pre-game stop. Two blocks from Angel of the Winds Arena. Get there 90 minutes before puck drop.

    Does The New Mexicans have happy hour? Yes. The happy hour menu is real, with lower-priced cocktails and small plates, and locals know about it.

    What should a first-timer order at The New Mexicans? A stuffed sopaipilla “Christmas,” a side of posole, and a cinnamon roll to share or take home. If you want the most New Mexican thing on the menu in one bite, order the green chile cheeseburger.

  • Heritage African Restaurant: West African Food in Everett

    Heritage African Restaurant: West African Food in Everett

    Where can I get African food in Everett? Heritage African Restaurant at 2019 Hewitt Avenue, on the corner of Hewitt and Broadway in downtown Everett, serves West African staples like jollof rice, egusi soup, suya grilled lamb and oxtail stew alongside burgers and soul food. Co-owner Fatou Dibba and her aunt Mama Saho opened the restaurant in late February 2024 in the multicolored building that used to house Sol De Mexico. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

    The multicolored building on the corner of Hewitt and Broadway used to be Sol De Mexico. We drove past it for years. Then in early 2024 the murals got freshened up, the windows changed, and a name we’d never seen in Everett before went up over the door: Heritage African Restaurant.

    It is, two years in, the most underrated restaurant in downtown Everett. We’re not going to be subtle about that.

    What Heritage Actually Is

    Heritage African Restaurant is the work of Fatou Dibba and her aunt, Mama Saho. Dibba moved to the Pacific Northwest as a teenager. She started cooking the food of her childhood — Senegalese, Gambian and broader West African dishes — for events around Snohomish County, and the response was immediate. People who’d never tried African food were asking how to pay her to make more of it. Her aunt, who already runs Diva’s Beauty Supply in Lynnwood with her, suggested they open a real restaurant.

    They spent a year hunting for a space and several months retooling the inside of 2019 Hewitt Avenue before they opened the doors in late February 2024. The colors on the outside of that building are a tell. So is the warmth inside.

    The Move: Order the Jollof. Then Order More Jollof.

    If you’ve never had West African food, here’s the orientation. Jollof rice is the dish you build a meal around. Long-grain rice cooked in tomato, onion, scotch bonnet pepper and a stock that’s been built up for hours until the rice itself tastes like the bottom of a pan that’s been working all day. Heritage’s version is exactly that — savory, smoky from the bottom of the pot, with the kind of low heat that warms you up rather than punishes you.

    From there, the menu opens up:

    • Egusi soup — ground melon-seed stew, deeply savory, served with fufu or rice. This is the one that tells you whether a kitchen is serious. Heritage’s is.
    • Suya / Dibi Afra — grilled lamb with a spice rub built around peanut, ginger and chili. Order it. Don’t think about it. Order it.
    • Oxtail stew or oxtail soup — tender, rich, the broth gelatinous in the way oxtail broth is supposed to be.
    • Suppa Kanja (okra stew) — Senegalese-style, deep green, served over rice.
    • Fataya pies — stuffed hand pies, perfect appetizer, share them.

    The menu also runs sideways into burgers and soul food — wings, fried catfish, sandwiches — which makes Heritage one of the easier “first African meal” introductions for anyone you’re trying to bring along. Nobody at the table gets stuck without an order they recognize.

    Why This Spot Matters

    Everett’s downtown food scene has gotten genuinely interesting in the last three years. Hewitt Avenue alone now anchors Italian (Luca, two blocks east), New Mexican (The New Mexicans, three blocks west), pizza (Brooklyn Bros), Korean (K Fresh), and African (Heritage). That’s a downtown stretch that used to lean heavily into bar food and now reads like a small city’s actual restaurant row.

    Heritage is the most distinctive of those rooms. There’s no other restaurant in Snohomish County serving jollof, egusi and suya from a Gambian and Senegalese kitchen. The closest equivalents are in Seattle, Tukwila or Tacoma. For a 100,000-person city to have a restaurant this specific and this good, on its main drag, is the kind of thing locals should be louder about.

    Logistics

    Address: 2019 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201 (corner of Hewitt and Broadway).
    Hours: Monday–Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Phone: (425) 374-7728
    Website: heritageafricanrestaurant.com
    Delivery: Yes — DoorDash and Postmates both carry it.
    Parking: Street parking on Hewitt and Broadway, plus the city lot a block south. We’ve never had a problem at lunch. Friday and Saturday dinner gets busier.
    Price range: $$ — most plates land in the $14–$22 range; oxtail and lamb plates push higher.
    Best time to go: Tuesday or Wednesday lunch if you want the room mostly to yourselves; Friday after 7 p.m. if you want it lively.

    What to Order Your First Time

    For two people: one large jollof rice, the egusi soup, a side of suya. Split a fataya pie up front. Get the hibiscus drink (zobo) if it’s on the day’s menu — it’s the right sweet/tart to balance the spice. That gets you out the door for around $50–$60, and you’ll leave knowing whether you’re a Heritage regular yet. (You will be.)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Heritage African Restaurant open in 2026? Yes. Heritage opened in February 2024 and is operating regular hours at 2019 Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett as of April 2026.

    What kind of African food does Heritage serve? The kitchen leans West African, anchored in Gambian and Senegalese traditions — jollof rice, egusi soup, suya grilled lamb, oxtail stew, suppa kanja okra stew, and fataya hand pies — with a soul-food and burger sideline.

    Who owns Heritage African Restaurant in Everett? Co-owners Fatou Dibba and her aunt Mama Saho. They also run Diva’s Beauty Supply in Lynnwood.

    Is Heritage African Restaurant spicy? The food has heat, but most dishes sit in the warming-not-burning range. Anything built on scotch bonnet (jollof, certain stews) carries real spice; the kitchen will adjust on request.

    Does Heritage take reservations? Walk-ins are normal at lunch. For larger parties or weekend dinner, call ahead at (425) 374-7728.

    Where can I park near Heritage African Restaurant? Street parking on Hewitt Avenue and Broadway, plus the city parking lot one block south. Free in the evenings.

    Does Heritage deliver? Yes — DoorDash and Postmates both deliver from 2019 Hewitt Avenue.

    What should I order at Heritage African Restaurant if I’ve never had African food? Start with jollof rice and a side of suya grilled lamb. Both are approachable, deeply flavored, and a good window into how the kitchen handles spice and seasoning.

  • ZeroAvia Aerospace Suppliers: The Paine Field Opportunity

    ZeroAvia Aerospace Suppliers: The Paine Field Opportunity

    If you run a precision machining shop, a composite house, an avionics integration shop, or any of the 1,350-plus aerospace establishments in Snohomish County, the ZeroAvia anniversary at Paine Field is the supplier story most coverage doesn’t tell. Two years in, the Everett Propulsion Center of Excellence is sourcing aviation-grade motor and power electronics components from a supply base that overlaps almost completely with the one that already feeds Boeing — and ZeroAvia’s separate components-sales business effectively creates a second downstream customer for that same supply base.

    The Supplier Question, Asked Plainly

    Most coverage of ZeroAvia treats the company as a downstream consumer of aerospace technology. The supplier-side question — what does this facility buy, from whom, and at what cadence? — has been mostly absent from public reporting. After two years of operations, here is what the Snohomish County supplier base can reasonably read into the public record:

    What ZeroAvia’s Everett Facility Sources

    The Propulsion Center of Excellence manufactures electric motors and power electronics — inverters, converters, motor controllers — for ZeroAvia’s ZA600 and ZA2000 powertrains and for sale to other electric and hybrid aviation programs. Without speculating on specific vendor relationships, the bill of materials for a finished motor or power electronics unit at aviation grade typically includes:

    • Precision-machined rotor and stator components — tight tolerance work that Snohomish County’s machining base already produces for turbofan and engine accessories.
    • Composite and bonded housings, mounts, and structural elements — directly adjacent to the composite work the county’s shops already do for Boeing programs.
    • Wire harness assemblies and high-current cabling — overlapping with avionics integration and electrical sub-assembly.
    • Connector and terminal hardware — aviation-rated, the same standards already used in airframe wiring.
    • Coil winding and electromagnetic sub-assemblies — a specialty subset of precision manufacturing.
    • Quality, conformity, and test instrumentation — the same kinds of tooling and test rigs the existing supply base already builds.
    • Logistics, packaging, and crating — for finished aviation components shipped to integrators and aircraft programs.

    None of that is a different supply base from the one already standing in Snohomish County. Suppliers do not need to retool to serve electric propulsion work the way a paint shop would have to retool to serve composites work. The qualification gates are different — aviation-grade electrical specs instead of structural specs — but the manufacturing capability is the same.

    Why the Components-Sales Business Is the Bigger Supplier Signal

    The most underappreciated piece of the ZeroAvia model from a supplier perspective is the components-sales business. The Everett facility manufactures motors and power electronics not only for ZeroAvia’s own aircraft programs but also for sale to other electric and hybrid aviation programs.

    From a supply chain standpoint, that means demand for the upstream supply base — Snohomish County’s machining shops, composite houses, harness builders, and quality services — is not tied to ZeroAvia’s own aircraft program winning the regional aviation market. It is tied to the broader growth of the electric and hybrid aviation industry across multiple continents. That diversifies demand for the supplier base in a way a single-customer relationship would not.

    The 2026–2028 Ramp Window

    ZeroAvia’s public roadmap targets a 300-mile-range powertrain in a 10- to 20-seat aircraft by the end of 2026, and a 700-mile-range, 40- to 80-seat powertrain by 2028. From a supplier-planning standpoint:

    • The end-of-2026 milestone tracks the ZA600 (600 kW) volume ramp. The motors and electronics for that powertrain are sized for 10- to 20-seat aircraft — smaller per-unit content, potentially higher per-program count.
    • The 2028 milestone tracks the ZA2000 (1.8 MW) volume ramp. The per-unit content is meaningfully larger because the machine itself is larger.
    • The components-sales business runs in parallel with both, sized against demand from the broader electric aviation industry rather than ZeroAvia’s own roadmap.

    Suppliers thinking about capacity and qualification for hydrogen-electric work should plan against the 2026 ramp as the immediate window and the 2028 ramp as the step-change.

    Qualification — The One Real Adjustment

    The single area where Snohomish County suppliers will face real adjustment is qualification. Aviation-grade electrical and electromagnetic specifications — DO-160, DO-178/254 where applicable, AS9100 process baseline, and motor- and inverter-specific aviation standards — are different from the airframe and engine accessory specifications that dominate the existing supply base.

    For shops that already operate under AS9100 and have done DO-160 environmental qualification work for avionics customers, the path is short. For shops that have only ever served airframe work, the qualification path is longer but is the same path electrification is already pulling the entire aerospace supply base toward.

    What Two Years Tells Suppliers About the Bet

    The most important supplier signal from two years of ZeroAvia at Paine Field is that the building is still here. Hydrogen-electric aviation is a long, certification-gated industry, and the most common failure mode for new propulsion technology companies is running out of runway before reaching commercial volume. ZeroAvia’s two-year mark in Everett — combined with public state and federal support and the diversification of revenue across both aircraft programs and components sales — is the kind of structural durability that justifies supplier-side investment in qualification work.

    For Snohomish County’s aerospace supplier base — which has spent the past several years reading the 767 sundown and KC-46 transition and tracking the 777X’s path through FAA certification — ZeroAvia is the second technology base growing on the same airfield. It is not a replacement for the Boeing relationship. It is a parallel demand source that the same supply base can serve.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How does a Snohomish County supplier get qualified to sell to ZeroAvia?

    The path runs through ZeroAvia’s procurement organization at the Everett facility and through the standard aviation supplier-qualification process — AS9100 baseline, DO-160 where applicable, plus product-specific qualification for whatever component or process the supplier is offering. Suppliers should engage directly with ZeroAvia procurement and the Economic Alliance Snohomish County for introductions.

    Is the Everett facility’s supply chain primarily local or international?

    ZeroAvia has not publicly disclosed its supply chain breakdown. What’s structurally true is that physical proximity, lead time, and aerospace cluster expertise favor local sourcing for many manufacturing categories, and Snohomish County has the densest aerospace supply base in the country.

    What product categories should our shop think about first?

    The closest matches to existing Snohomish County aerospace capacity are precision machining of rotor and stator components, composite and bonded housings, wire harness assembly, coil winding and electromagnetic sub-assemblies, and aviation-grade quality and test services.

    Does ZeroAvia’s components-sales business expand the customer set beyond ZeroAvia?

    Yes. The components business sells aviation-grade motors and inverters to other electric and hybrid aircraft programs. Suppliers that qualify for the Everett facility’s bill of materials are effectively serving demand from a broader electric aviation market segment.

    How does the 2026 ramp window compare to 2028 for supplier-planning purposes?

    The 2026 milestone — a 300-mile-range powertrain in a 10- to 20-seat aircraft — is the immediate ramp window for the ZA600. The 2028 milestone — a 700-mile-range, 40- to 80-seat powertrain — is the step-change for the ZA2000 and is the date suppliers should plan capacity expansion against.

    Related Exploring Everett Coverage

  • Boeing 737 MAX Wiring Fixed: Everett North Line on Track

    Boeing 737 MAX Wiring Fixed: Everett North Line on Track

    Q: Did Boeing fix the 25 Everett-built 737 MAX jets affected by the March wiring issue?
    A: Yes. On Boeing’s April 22, 2026 first-quarter earnings call, CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed all 25 affected airplanes have been reworked and most have already been delivered to customers. The fix did not change Boeing’s full-year delivery target or the plan to lift 737 MAX production to 47 jets per month this summer, with Everett’s new 737 North Line providing the next layer of capacity to climb from there.

    The wiring scare that paused Boeing 737 MAX deliveries between March 5 and March 11 has officially been put to bed — and Everett is the city that gets the next chapter.

    On Tuesday’s first-quarter earnings call, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told analysts the company has reworked all 25 jets caught up in a machining error that left small scratches on internal wiring, and most of those airframes are already at customer airlines. The full-year delivery goal of at least 500 737s stays on the table. The plan to push 737 MAX production to 47 a month this summer stays on the table. And the long-term ramp to 52 a month — and eventually 63 — still runs straight through Snohomish County, because the new 737 MAX North Line at Boeing’s Everett factory is the production line that unlocks every rate increase above 47.

    For Everett, that’s the headline. The wiring issue was the kind of small-but-real production stumble that has defined Boeing’s 2024 and 2025. The April 22 earnings call was the moment Boeing put a number on the rebound — 143 commercial deliveries in Q1, the company’s best quarter since 2019 — and reaffirmed the production strategy that puts Everett at the center of the recovery.

    What the wiring issue actually was

    In a March 10 statement, Boeing disclosed that routine pre-delivery checks had identified minor wiring damage on a group of 737 MAX airframes awaiting handover. The cause was traced to a machining error inside Boeing’s own facilities — not a supplier — that left small scratches on wire bundles. There was no in-service safety event tied to the issue, and Boeing initiated a delivery pause while engineers scoped the affected fleet.

    Aviation tracking firms recorded a complete halt in 737 MAX deliveries between March 5 and March 11. By the end of March, Boeing had delivered 46 jets, down from 51 in February. Each affected airframe required roughly three days of rework. Boeing leadership initially estimated about 10 planned 737 MAX handovers would slip from the first quarter into the second.

    On the April 22 earnings call, Ortberg closed the loop. The 25 airframes have been reworked. Most have already gone to customers. The remaining few are in the queue. And the broader production system absorbed the disruption without bending the full-year plan.

    Why Everett gets the next chapter

    Renton, Washington is still where Boeing assembles 737s today — three lines, every MAX variant. But Renton is at its capacity ceiling under Boeing’s current production certificate. The next rate above 47 jets a month requires a fourth assembly line, and Boeing has chosen the world’s largest building by volume — its Everett factory — to host it.

    The North Line at Everett is targeted to begin operating in midsummer 2026. It will sit at the north end of the Everett factory floor, replicating the Renton build process with one new wrinkle: a 737 Wing Transport Tool that ferries partially completed wings into Everett for final assembly. The line will be capable of building all 737 MAX variants and is expected to focus first on the 737-8, 737-9, and the largest variant, the 737-10.

    Ortberg confirmed on the earnings call that the 737 MAX 10, the largest and most complex variant in the family, will be produced predominantly at Everett. He also confirmed the line will start at a low initial production rate to demonstrate conformity to the FAA under Boeing’s current production certificate before it ramps up. That sequencing matters: it means the first months of Everett 737 production are about proving the build process to regulators, not flooding the market with new aircraft.

    The Everett rate ladder

    Boeing’s public production rate ladder for the 737 program now reads: hold at 38 a month through April, climb to 42 by midyear, push to 47 during summer, and get above 47 only once Everett’s North Line is operating at conformity. The next published step is 52 a month. Aerospace analysts expect Boeing to target 53 a month in 2026, with longer-term ambitions reaching 63 a month over a multi-year horizon.

    Every step on that ladder above 47 a month is an Everett step. That’s the strategic significance of the North Line. It’s the production line that breaks Boeing out of its Renton-only ceiling and gives the 737 MAX program room to grow into its order book.

    What that means for Everett

    For the 42,000 people who make up the aerospace workforce in Snohomish County, the wiring rework being closed out and the rate ladder staying intact are two pieces of the same story. The hiring ramp continues. Boeing is bringing on more than 100 assemblers a day across its production lines this spring. The 737 Wing Transport Tool is a new piece of the Everett supply chain. The first 737 MAX assembled in Everett will roll out of the building before the end of 2026.

    For Boeing’s customers — Southwest, United, Alaska, Ryanair, and the dozens of other airlines waiting on 737 MAX deliveries — Tuesday’s earnings call signaled that the wiring issue cost about three weeks of throughput, not a quarter. The Q1 number Boeing posted (143 commercial deliveries) was the largest opening quarter the company has had since 2019. For the first time in seven years, Boeing out-delivered Airbus in a single quarter.

    For Snohomish County’s broader economy — the suppliers, the trades, the housing market that depends on aerospace paychecks, the Paine Field commercial terminal that benefits from aerospace business travel — the message from the earnings call was steadiness. Boeing is not lowering guidance. The production ramp is not slipping. And the next phase of growth runs through the Everett factory floor.

    What hasn’t changed

    None of this erases the harder questions still in front of Boeing. The 777X program is still running roughly seven years behind its original schedule, with first delivery to launch customer Lufthansa now targeted for 2027. The 767 commercial freighter line is in its final year before pivoting to KC-46 tanker production only. SPEEA’s contract for Boeing’s engineers and technical workers expires October 6, 2026, and the next round of Wichita-benchmarked negotiations is already on the calendar. The company posted a $7 million net loss in Q1, narrowed sharply from prior quarters but not yet profitable.

    What changed on April 22 is the size of the cushion underneath the 737 program. The wiring issue is closed. The Everett line is on schedule. And the production rate that Boeing’s recovery story depends on is still on track.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many 737 MAX jets were affected by the March 2026 wiring issue?
    About 25 airframes that were awaiting customer delivery had small scratches on internal wiring caused by a machining error inside Boeing’s own facilities. No in-service safety event was tied to the issue.

    Are all 25 jets fixed?
    Yes. CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed on Boeing’s April 22, 2026 first-quarter earnings call that all 25 affected airplanes have been reworked, and most have already been delivered to customers.

    Did the wiring rework change Boeing’s 2026 production plan?
    No. Boeing’s full-year 737 delivery target of at least 500 jets remains unchanged, and the plan to ramp 737 MAX production to 47 per month this summer is intact.

    Where does Everett fit into Boeing’s 737 production plan?
    Boeing’s new 737 North Line at the Everett factory is targeted to begin operating in midsummer 2026 at an initial low production rate. It is the line that enables 737 production rates above 47 per month, with the next published target rate of 52 per month and longer-term ambitions reaching 63 per month.

    Which 737 MAX variants will be built at Everett?
    The North Line will be capable of building all 737 MAX variants and will initially focus on the 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10. CEO Kelly Ortberg has said the 737-10, the largest variant, will be produced predominantly at Everett.

    How many planes did Boeing deliver in Q1 2026?
    Boeing delivered 143 commercial aircraft in the first quarter of 2026, its best opening-quarter performance since 2019. For the first time in seven years, Boeing out-delivered Airbus in a single quarter.

    Why is the Everett 737 North Line starting at a low initial rate?
    Boeing has to demonstrate conformity to the FAA under its current production certificate before ramping the new line. Starting at a low initial rate (LRIP) lets the line prove its build process matches Renton’s before scaling.

    What does this mean for Everett-area aerospace workers?
    Boeing is hiring more than 100 assemblers per day across its production lines this spring. The North Line is expected to draw a combination of newly hired workers and existing teammates from Renton, Everett, and Moses Lake. The first 737 MAX assembled in Everett is scheduled to roll out of the factory before the end of 2026.

  • Everett Condo Market Update: April 2026 Trends & Prices

    Everett Condo Market Update: April 2026 Trends & Prices

    Q: What’s happening in the Everett and Snohomish County condo market in April 2026?

    A: Snohomish County condo prices climbed to an average of $586,261 in April 2026, up 4.4% year over year — outpacing single-family appreciation in the same window. Inventory expanded to 2.7 months and average days on market stretched to 40 days, giving condo buyers more leverage than they have had in years. Median condo listing price across the county is $429,000. In Everett specifically, condos are moving in 22 days at 99% of original list price, but with the highest inventory of any property type in the city — meaning the most negotiating room is in the segment everybody else is ignoring.

    Everyone watching the Snohomish County housing market in April 2026 is talking about single-family homes. The $735,750 median sale price (up 1.2% year over year), the 2.8-month inventory, the 99.9% sale-to-list ratio, the 35-day average time on market — those are the numbers in every neighborhood email and every Redfin link your friends keep sending you.

    The condo and townhome story is doing something different, and it might be the most interesting price-segment movement of the year if you actually read it.

    The county-level condo numbers

    April 2026 average condo pricing for Snohomish County: $586,261, up 4.4% year over year.

    That 4.4% is meaningfully ahead of the single-family resale appreciation rate of 1.2% in the same county over the same window. In a market where everyone is chasing single-family inventory at a 99.9% sale-to-list ratio, condos quietly outperformed in price growth.

    At the same time:

    • 2.7 months of inventory — modestly higher than single-family’s 2.0–2.8 months, depending on the slice.
    • 40 days average on market for condos vs. roughly 35 days for single-family.
    • $429,000 median condo listing price across Snohomish County — significantly below single-family’s median sale price of $735,750.
    • 204 condos for sale on the day the county-level reports were pulled.

    Translation: more inventory, more negotiating room, longer marketing windows, lower entry price — and stronger price growth than single-family. That is a combination buyers should not let pass without at least understanding what is in the listings.

    What’s happening inside Everett

    Zoom into Everett city limits and the condo segment behaves slightly differently than the county-wide read.

    Everett condo activity is leaning slower and more price-sensitive overall, with inventory high relative to demand and buyers having plenty of options to compare. But when you look at what is actually selling, the picture is sharper than the macro suggests:

    • 22 median days on market for Everett condos that close.
    • 99% of original list price received by sellers.
    • The most inventory of any Everett property type — which means buyers can actually shop instead of bidding blind.

    That combination — fast turn for the listings that move, plenty to compare for buyers who don’t fall for the first one — is the cleanest condo buying environment Everett has produced in years. Older complexes with high HOA dues are sitting longer. Buildings with healthy reserves and reasonable dues are turning in three weeks at near-list.

    The single-family contrast

    Compare the condo numbers to where single-family resale sits in Snohomish County right now:

    • Single-family resale prices holding near $877,000.
    • Average sale at 99.8% of list.
    • Inventory at 2.0 months.
    • Residential resale remains the strongest lane for sellers and the tightest for buyers.

    Single-family inventory in Snohomish County is still tight enough that buyers competing in that lane have very little leverage. Condos and new construction are giving buyers the room to negotiate that resale single-family does not.

    The townhome wave that’s about to hit

    The townhome segment is also worth watching specifically because of new product coming online. Conner Homes opens reservations on Saturday, April 25 — tomorrow as we publish this — for two new communities:

    • Greenview Heights — pricing expected to start in the low $700s.
    • Village Towns at Ten Trails — pricing expected to start in the mid $600s.

    These are not Everett-specific projects, but they are part of the broader Snohomish County townhome and attached-housing pipeline that is expanding the entry-level product available to buyers priced out of single-family resale. Anyone shopping in the $600K–$750K range in 2026 should be evaluating new-construction townhomes against resale condos against entry-level single-family — the three lanes are converging on similar buyer profiles, and the leverage shifts depending on which lane you walk into first.

    What buyers should actually do with this

    If you are a buyer in Snohomish County in April 2026 and you are open to a condo or townhome:

    1. Pull the inventory reports for the specific buildings you would consider. The county-level averages hide enormous variance between buildings. A condo in a building with $300/month dues, healthy reserves, and a young roof is a fundamentally different asset than a condo in a 1970s building with $700/month dues, deferred maintenance, and an upcoming special assessment. The same listing site shows you both.

    2. Read the HOA financials before you write the offer. The single biggest reason condo deals fall apart in 2026 is HOA reserve studies showing a special assessment in the next 24 months. The buyer either walks or renegotiates, and either way the deal slows. Read the financials early.

    3. Use the longer marketing window. Condos averaging 40 days on market means you have time to look, compare, and negotiate. Single-family at 35 days does not give you that. The condo segment in 2026 rewards patient buyers who actually shop.

    4. Look at the new-construction townhome alternative. Conner Homes’ new launches and the broader new-construction townhome pipeline are explicitly competing with resale condos for the same buyer. Touring both before you decide makes the negotiation cleaner on whichever lane you choose.

    What sellers should do

    If you are selling a condo in Snohomish County in April 2026:

    Get the reserve study and HOA financials in the listing packet. Buyers in 2026 are screening for special assessments before they tour. A clean reserve study is a price-supporting feature.

    Price to your specific building, not to the county average. The 4.4% YoY county average masks huge variance. Healthy buildings are appreciating well above 4.4%. Older buildings with deferred maintenance are not. Pricing to the wrong comparable is the fastest way to add weeks to your marketing window.

    If you are sitting at 60+ days on market in a healthy building, the issue is probably price, not the market. The 22-day median days on market for Everett condos that close tells you well-priced inventory still moves fast. The county average of 40 days is being pulled up by the long tail of mispriced listings.

    Bottom line on Everett’s housing landscape this month

    The Everett single-family story has been the lead in our housing coverage all spring, and rightly so — it is the segment most buyers are competing for and most sellers are listing. But the condo segment is producing a different opportunity that hasn’t gotten the same coverage: more inventory, longer windows, comparable closing-price discipline for the listings that move, and price appreciation that beat single-family year over year.

    If you are a buyer who can be flexible on property type, April 2026 is the cleanest time to shop the condo lane in years. If you are a seller, read your HOA financials before you list and price to your actual building.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the average condo price in Snohomish County in April 2026?
    $586,261, up 4.4% year over year.

    How does that compare to single-family homes?
    Snohomish County single-family resale prices are holding near $877,000 with average sales at 99.8% of list and 2.0 months of inventory. Condos appreciated faster (4.4% YoY vs. 1.2% YoY for single-family), but with more inventory and longer marketing windows.

    How long are Everett condos on market in April 2026?
    22 days median for the condos that close, with sellers receiving 99% of original list price. The condo segment has the most inventory of any Everett property type, so buyers have more options.

    Is now a good time to buy a condo in Snohomish County?
    For buyers who are flexible on property type, April 2026 is the cleanest condo buying environment in years. More inventory, longer marketing windows, better negotiating leverage, comparable price stability for healthy buildings.

    What about new-construction townhomes?
    Conner Homes opens reservations Saturday, April 25 for two new communities: Greenview Heights (starting low $700s) and Village Towns at Ten Trails (starting mid $600s). Both are part of the broader Snohomish County townhome pipeline competing with resale condos for similar buyers.

    What’s the biggest risk in buying a condo right now?
    Special assessments. Older buildings with weak reserve studies are showing up to buyers as 24-month special assessment risks. Read the HOA financials and reserve study before you write the offer.

    How many condos are for sale in Snohomish County right now?
    204 condos at the time of the most recent county-level report, with a median listing price of $429,000.

    Are condo prices rising faster than single-family in 2026?
    Year over year, yes — Snohomish County condos appreciated 4.4% vs. single-family at 1.2%. But the condo market is also showing more inventory variance and softer activity in older buildings, so the price growth is not uniform.

  • 2026 Charter Review: Everett & Snohomish Voter Guide

    2026 Charter Review: Everett & Snohomish Voter Guide

    Quick Answer: In 2026, both the City of Everett and Snohomish County are running active charter review processes — parallel, independent efforts that could reshape how local government works in the Everett area for the next decade. Charter reviews are the mechanism by which the foundational documents of local government get examined and, where voters approve, amended. The Everett review is looking at city council structure, mayoral authority, and citizen engagement processes. The county review is examining county council districts, the executive role, and the charter’s civil rights language. Both processes will produce ballot items that Everett-area voters will decide on in 2026 and 2027.

    What a Charter Is and Why It Matters

    A local government charter is the constitutional document for a city or county — the top-level rulebook that defines how the government is structured, what powers the council and executive have, and how citizens can petition, vote on, and change policy. The City of Everett operates under a charter adopted by voters and amended periodically. Snohomish County is one of only a handful of Washington counties that operates under a home-rule charter rather than the default county commission structure, which means voters there have direct authority to reshape county government in ways that voters in most Washington counties don’t.

    Charter reviews happen on a schedule set by each charter. The City of Everett’s charter calls for periodic review by a commission of appointed or elected residents whose job is to study the current charter, hold public hearings, and recommend amendments for the ballot. Snohomish County’s charter similarly provides for periodic review. In 2026, both review processes are running concurrently — a rare alignment that means Everett-area voters could see charter-related ballot items from both jurisdictions in the same election cycle.

    The City of Everett Charter Review in 2026

    The City of Everett’s 2026 charter review commission is actively working through the city’s charter section by section. The issues most frequently discussed in public sessions include the structure of city council representation (districts versus at-large, and the size of the council), the relationship between the mayor and the city council, the process by which citizens can propose ballot measures, and the charter’s language around open meetings and public records. These are foundational questions: the outcomes could determine whether Everett continues with its current strong-mayor structure, whether council districts are redrawn, and whether new citizen engagement mechanisms are added.

    Practical impact for Everett residents depends on which recommendations make it to the ballot and which voters approve. A charter amendment that restructures council districts could change which council member represents a given neighborhood. An amendment expanding citizen initiative rights could make it easier for residents to put policy questions directly to voters. An amendment changing mayoral authority could reshape how big-ticket decisions like the Everett Transit merger, waterfront development, and public safety policy get made. Residents who want to shape these outcomes should track charter commission meeting agendas and public hearings — both are the primary public input channels before recommendations go to the ballot.

    The Snohomish County Charter Review in 2026

    Snohomish County’s 2026 charter review ran in parallel at the county level. The elected Charter Review Commission was seated after the November 2025 election, held public sessions across the county (including Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Arlington), and in spring 2026 considered a wide working list — districts, the executive’s role, civil-rights language, contracting, and more. What actually reached the November 3, 2026 ballot is narrower: five county charter propositions (Props 1–5). For the current ballot guide — what each proposition does and what it means for Everett voters and businesses — see Snohomish County Charter Review: November 2026 Ballot Guide.

    For Everett residents specifically, the county charter review matters because Snohomish County delivers services that overlap directly with city life: the Sheriff’s Office provides patrol services in unincorporated areas just outside Everett and contracts for regional services inside Everett; the county court system handles felonies, family law, and civil cases for Everett residents; and county-wide programs like the Assessor’s Office, Public Health, and the Elections Division touch every Everett household. Amendments to the county charter can change the terms of any of those relationships.

    Where the Two Reviews Overlap and Where They Don’t

    The city and county charter reviews are legally independent — neither has authority over the other, and the ballot items they produce will be voted on separately. But the practical effects overlap in important ways. Both reviews are examining citizen engagement mechanisms, so amendments from either or both could change how residents interact with local government. Both are examining district boundaries, so residents could see changes to the geographic units that define their council and commission representation. And both are happening in a political environment where trust in local government, housing policy, public safety, and civil rights are active debates — meaning the charter questions are being asked against a backdrop of real policy stakes.

    Where they diverge: the city charter review is focused on Everett-specific governance questions and its outcomes affect only Everett residents. The county charter review’s outcomes affect all 800,000+ Snohomish County residents. That asymmetry matters for turnout and for which issues get the most attention at public hearings.

    How Residents Participate

    Both charter review processes ran on public input through 2026: commission meetings, written comments, public hearings, and neighborhood sessions. For the county review, the May 2026 hearing series and the May 29 commission vote are finished; the live decision for county voters is now the November 3 ballot (see the Props 1–5 ballot guide). City charter review follows its own calendar — check the city’s roster and agendas. Residents who want to shape outcomes should still vote on whatever charter items reach their ballot and, after Election Day, watch implementation of anything that passes.

    The Timeline: When Ballot Items Appear

    County charter amendments from the 2026 review are on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot as Propositions 1–5 — details in our Snohomish County November 2026 ballot guide. The City of Everett’s charter review produces separate ballot items on its own schedule; check city election materials for what reaches Everett voters. Snohomish County Elections publishes final ballot composition for each cycle in advance of the election.

    How Civic Watchers Can Dig Deeper

    Beyond reading the ballot guides, residents who want to organize comments or track both commissions can use the same habits civic watchers use: follow both commission calendars, coordinate with local groups, write specific comments, and stay engaged through implementation after Election Day.

    The Coalition Landscape

    Several local civic organizations are actively engaged with one or both reviews. The League of Women Voters of Snohomish County typically publishes educational materials on charter amendments and hosts candidate and issue forums. Local neighborhood associations — including associations in Northwest Everett, Bayside, and the Port Gardner neighborhood — have in past charter cycles submitted joint comments on issues affecting their areas. Watchers who want to amplify their individual voice should consider joining or coordinating with one of these organizations. Coordinated comments from multiple residents on the same issue carry materially more weight than isolated individual submissions.

    Writing Effective Public Comment

    Public comment on charter review items is most effective when it is specific, references particular charter sections, and ties the recommendation to a concrete outcome. Comments that say “I support reform” are less useful to commissioners than comments that say “I support amending Section X to require Y, because it would produce Z outcome in my neighborhood.” Comments can be submitted in writing before meetings and delivered orally at public hearings. Both channels are part of the record. For civic watchers planning to submit comments on multiple items, a clean spreadsheet tracking which commission, which section, which hearing, and which outcome you support is a practical organizing tool.

    After the Ballot: The Implementation Phase

    Charter amendments that pass don’t take effect instantly. Each amendment has an implementation timeline specified in the ballot language or derived from state law — some take effect at the next election cycle, some require enabling ordinances from the council, and some require procedural changes at the Snohomish County Elections office. Watchers who engaged with the amendment campaign should plan to engage with implementation — that’s typically where the hardest details get settled, and where civic attention often drops just when it matters most.

    Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Charter Reviews

    Are the city and county charter reviews the same process?

    No. They are independent. The City of Everett’s review examines the city charter. The Snohomish County review examines the county charter. They happen to be running concurrently in 2026, but they produce separate ballot items and are decided by voters separately.

    Can charter reviews change everything about local government?

    In theory, yes, within state and federal law. In practice, charter reviews produce amendments — not full replacements. Voters decide each amendment separately.

    How do I know who my charter review commissioners are?

    The City of Everett publishes its charter review commission roster on the city website. Snohomish County does the same. Both include contact information for commissioners.

    What happens if I don’t vote on charter items?

    Charter amendments require majority voter approval to pass. If you don’t vote, you don’t shape the outcome, but the amendments don’t fail automatically — they pass or fail based on votes cast.

    Do these reviews affect Everett Transit, the waterfront, or other current issues?

    Indirectly, yes. Charter amendments can change how the city council and mayor make decisions on these items, which can affect outcomes. They don’t directly legislate on transit or waterfront policy, but they shape the rules under which those decisions are made.

    Related Coverage From Tygart Media’s Exploring Everett Series