The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) has awarded US$1 million in grants to 27 out of 49 local organisations that applied for the fiscal year 2021/2022 to support program projects for local workforce development, education, the environment, and the Los Angeles waterfront.
Port’s Community Investment Grant Program which has now awarded a total of 235 community grants, totalling US$7 million over the last eight years, has awarded grants in three categories, ranging from small (less than US$5,000), to medium (US$5,001-US$99,999) and large, (more than US$100,000) benefiting a variety of communities, both locally and statewide.
In particular, some of the organisations that will receive the total fund of US$1 million are Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI), EXP, Clean Wilmington, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro’s International Bird Rescue Center, Port’s Community Relations Division, Wilmington Chamber, San Pedro Chamber and Los Angeles Council District 15.
Particularly, the two organisations that will receive grants in the large funding category are EXP which serves thousands of high school students annually and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI).
In particular, EXP will use its grant on workforce development, supporting youth maritime education programs that generate awareness, interest, work experience and career preparation in the maritime industry, according to a statement, while LAMI will deploy the award to support TopSail, its on-the-water, experiential education sailing program for at-risk youth.
Among recipients in the medium grant category, Clean Wilmington’s US$60,000 grant will support its ongoing community beautification and clean-up efforts.
In the meantime, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium will use the US$30,000 grant to boost outreach around its 2022 Whale Fiesta educational celebration, while San Pedro’s International Bird Rescue Center’s US$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.
“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.
