Bellingham shows up as  No. 2 , on  The Washington Post’s rankings of America’s best cities for fostering entrepreneurial business. Mount Vernon comes in at No. 17. The only other Washington city listed was Longview.

“Locally-owned businesses are at the heart of the American economy,” the article says on the paper’s Web site. “They create jobs, boost local economies and add vibrancy to nearby communities — and that is particularly true in the 25 cities on our list. These metropolitan areas, which range from bustling New York City to towns in central Oregon, are hotbeds for small businesses and local entrepreneurs.”

They say that Bellingham: “is encouraging residents to chime in with their ideas for a revamped downtown using an online survey on the city’s Web site. The city will share its plans with residents early next year.”