PORT OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY INVESTMENT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM GRANTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020/21
$1 Million Goes to 29 Nonprofit Organizations; Initiatives Support Environment,
Education, Workforce Development and Promoting the LA Waterfront
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Aug. 20, 2020 – The Port of Los Angeles has awarded grants totaling $1 million in non-taxpayer funds to 29 organizations as part of its fiscal year 2020-21 Community Investment Sponsorship Program. The initiatives and programs receiving funding will directly benefit the Los Angeles Harbor communities of Wilmington and San Pedro, as well as the LA Waterfront.
“The Port of Los Angeles is proud to be able to continue supporting these high-caliber local organizations and all the important work that they do in the Harbor Community, particularly during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Jaime Lee. “The initiatives approved today will go a long way in making a meaningful and noticeable impact in our surrounding communities.”
The Port awarded grants in three categories: small ($5,000 and under), medium (between $5,001 - $99,999) and large ($100,000 or more). Grants focus on initiatives, events and programs that support the environment, maritime-related workforce development and education, as well as promotion of the LA Waterfront. As an added precaution this year, all grant applications were reviewed for adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.
Among those receiving awards in the large grant category were EXP (formerly known as International Trade Education Programs, Inc. or ITEP), the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor. All three of these organizations received the second installment of a two-year grant commitment announced in 2019. Second-year award balances were $325,000, $250,000 and $100,000 respectively.
EXP’s grant will support youth maritime education programs, focused on generating awareness, interest, work experience and preparation for careers in the maritime industry. The LAMI award will support TopSail, its experiential education program for at-risk youth. For the Boys & Girls Club, the grant will provide local youth with hands-on activities and learning opportunities in the areas of maritime, water-related recreation, fishing and other ocean-related industries.
Among the medium category winners this year, Clean Wilmington—a program of the South Bay Center for Counseling—will use its $44,950 grant to continue community clean-ups and neighborhood beautification efforts. A $10,000 grant to the Friends of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum will go toward the creation of a digital timeline history of the Port of Los Angeles. To support native bird rescue, rehabilitation and crisis response, the International Bird Rescue in San Pedro was awarded a $15,000 grant.
All grant applications were reviewed by a committee comprised of a representative from the San Pedro community, the Wilmington community and three internal Port staff members.
Since fiscal year 2013-14, the Community Investment Grants Program—an annual program that combines all of the Port’s community grantmaking under one umbrella—has funded 235 grants for a total of $7 million in support.
The Port of Los Angeles remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $276 billion in trade during 2019. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs across the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.
“The Port of Los Angeles is proud to be able to continue supporting these high-caliber local organizations and all the important work that they do in the Harbor Community, particularly during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Jaime Lee. “The initiatives approved today will go a long way in making a meaningful and noticeable impact in our surrounding communities.”
The Port awarded grants in three categories: small ($5,000 and under), medium (between $5,001 - $99,999) and large ($100,000 or more). Grants focus on initiatives, events and programs that support the environment, maritime-related workforce development and education, as well as promotion of the LA Waterfront. As an added precaution this year, all grant applications were reviewed for adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.
Among those receiving awards in the large grant category were EXP (formerly known as International Trade Education Programs, Inc. or ITEP), the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor. All three of these organizations received the second installment of a two-year grant commitment announced in 2019. Second-year award balances were $325,000, $250,000 and $100,000 respectively.
EXP’s grant will support youth maritime education programs, focused on generating awareness, interest, work experience and preparation for careers in the maritime industry. The LAMI award will support TopSail, its experiential education program for at-risk youth. For the Boys & Girls Club, the grant will provide local youth with hands-on activities and learning opportunities in the areas of maritime, water-related recreation, fishing and other ocean-related industries.
Among the medium category winners this year, Clean Wilmington—a program of the South Bay Center for Counseling—will use its $44,950 grant to continue community clean-ups and neighborhood beautification efforts. A $10,000 grant to the Friends of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum will go toward the creation of a digital timeline history of the Port of Los Angeles. To support native bird rescue, rehabilitation and crisis response, the International Bird Rescue in San Pedro was awarded a $15,000 grant.
All grant applications were reviewed by a committee comprised of a representative from the San Pedro community, the Wilmington community and three internal Port staff members.
Since fiscal year 2013-14, the Community Investment Grants Program—an annual program that combines all of the Port’s community grantmaking under one umbrella—has funded 235 grants for a total of $7 million in support.
The Port of Los Angeles remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $276 billion in trade during 2019. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs across the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.
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