PORT OF LOS ANGELES AWARDS $1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 27 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Funding from Port’s Community Investment Grant Program to Support Local
Workforce Development, Education, Environment and LA Waterfront
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Sept. 2, 2021 – The Port of Los Angeles has awarded $1 million in grants to 27 local organizations to support programs, projects and events benefiting a wide variety of communities, both locally and statewide. A total of 49 organizations applied for Fiscal Year 2021/22 funding from the Port’s Community Investment Grant Program, which has now awarded a total of 235 community grants totaling $7 million over the last eight years
“This year’s nonprofit grantees and all past recipients play a vital role in our community, delivering important and valuable services and activities that help make the Los Angeles Harbor area stronger, more resilient and more connected,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner President Jaime Lee. “The Port of Los Angeles is proud to support such worthy and dedicated organizations.”
Grants were awarded in three categories, ranging from small (less than $5,000), to medium ($5,001-$99,999) to large (more than $100,000) in support of local workforce development, education, the environment, and LA Waterfront. All grant funding is self-supported by Port shipping and lease revenues, and not taxpayer-funded. This year, all grant applications were additionally reviewed for adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.
The two organizations that received grants in the large funding category were EXP and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI). Serving thousands of high school students annually, EXP will use its grant on next-generation workforce development, supporting youth maritime education programs that generate awareness, interest, work experience and career preparation in the maritime industry. The LAMI award will support TopSail, its on-the-water, experiential education sailing program for at-risk youth.
Among recipients in the medium grant category, Clean Wilmington’s $60,000 grant will help support its ongoing community beautification and clean-up efforts. Friends of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium will use its $30,000 grant to boost outreach around its 2022 Whale Fiesta educational celebration, among other initiatives. San Pedro’s International Bird Rescue Center’s $15,000 grant will support the rescue and rehabilitation of native aquatic birds negatively affected by human-induced impacts, as well as for its 50th Anniversary outreach activities.
Final grant awards were reviewed and made by a committee of six individuals – three from the Port’s Community Relations Division, one from the Wilmington Chamber, one from the San Pedro Chamber and one from Los Angeles Council District 15. A full list of all grants can be found here.
North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $259 billion in trade during 2020. 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 has remained open with all terminals operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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