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What are the Port Grant Programs?
The Port of Long Beach's Grant Programs are designed to help offset the impacts of port-related pollution in the community. One of the grant programs will help children and seniors, those most vulnerable to air pollution in our community. Another program will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are associated with global warming.
The school and health-care grants address cumulative air quality impacts on local schools, senior centers, and community health. Although the program is not tied to any one Port project, the funding is connected to individual developments. The Port is starting this program due to the recent approval of the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project.
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When were these grants created?
This grant program was created in Spring 2009 when the Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a set of guidelines that established a framework to provide grant funding to help offset the impacts of Port operations. Although the program is not tied to one particular project, the program was set in motion by the City Council's upholding of the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project environmental study in May 2009.
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How much money is available?
The Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a total of $15 million for the Port Grant Program, related to Middle Harbor, which included $5 million each for 1) Schools and Related Sites, 2) Health Care and Seniors Facilities, and 3) Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Projects. These dollar figures were derived from calculations of air quality and greenhouse gas-reduction benefits, based upon various implementation scenarios, conducted by Port staff. The Board took the staff figures and rounded them up for ease of reference.
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Who is eligible to receive grants?
Eligible applicants include public and private organizations, such as hospitals, senior centers, medical programs, and schools. Funding for greenhouse gas reduction projects will also be used by the City, Port tenants, and the Port itself.
The framework for the Port Grant Program was established by the guidelines that the Board of Harbor Commissioners approved in spring 2009. The guidelines, which seek to provide grant funding to offset the impact of Port operations, are consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act and Tidelands Trust requirements.
Under this framework, the Board has the discretion to fund projects that will reduce health risks to children and seniors. It will also fund projects related to health-care facilities and greenhouse gas-reduction programs.
Together, these grants help the Port of Long Beach address the impacts of port operations in a comprehensive, far-reaching manner. The Port will fund programs that do the highest amount of good for the greatest number of residents.
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Can individuals apply? What about small businesses or non-profits?
While one of the Port's objectives in awarding these grants is to maximize the number of beneficiaries for dollars spent, project applicants will not be qualified on the basis of the size of their organization. However, reporting requirements, which reflect state law, might be onerous for individuals or small businesses or non-profits. We would encourage individuals to collaborate with other groups or institutions to develop proposals that could benefit a larger group. As you might imagine, processing thousands of individual applications will not only strain the program resources, but seriously delay the award dates.
The Port will work to facilitate partnerships and communication to ensure that the grants are distributed as fairly as possible and to those most in need. More information will be provided in upcoming grant workshops.
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Is there a requirement that matching funds also be obtained to complete a project?
There is no requirement for matching funds, but such funds may be considered as an attribute when the proposals are being ranked.
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Will there be a time limit for using the money?
Yes, but it will vary depending upon the type of project.
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What is the process for deciding which grants will be funded?
The guidelines specify that grants will be made by the Board of Harbor Commissioners based upon recommendations of the advisory committee. The advisory committee will review and rank all applications.
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Can grant money be used for treatment or medications such as asthma inhalers?
The guidelines emphasize illness prevention and diagnostic support in order to maximize the benefits allocated to the community through the grants. Hopefully, monies awarded to healthcare groups and facilities will allow those organizations to reallocate their own funds for other necessary programs, such as treatment and medications. For example, if a hospital is granted funds for an air filtration system, they could use their budget to provide treatment programs.
If project proponents creatively include treatment or medication aspects to their projects and still meet the requirements of the guidelines, these projects will be considered for funding.
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Can an entity apply for more than one grant? In more than one category?
Yes and yes.
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What is the next step?
The informational meetings in the community on June 10, 17 and 24 are the next step. These are being held to inform the community of the Port Grant Program, and of the types of recipients and projects that could be involved and solicit additional ideas for acceptable projects.
Then the grant advisory committee, including three city residents appointed by the Mayor, will be formed. Once the committee is in place, Port staff will set grant application workshops.
Information will continue to be updated on our website, including grant application forms, more contacts, new meetings and workshops, and more.
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In the Greenhouse Gas program, why is some money going to be used to fund projects in the Port?
The State Attorney General's Office, with whom we worked closely to develop the greenhouse gas guidelines, has asked that priority for funding be given to projects within the Port area. Once these projects are completed, the majority of grant funding will be directed toward projects in other parts of Long Beach.
The rationale for the Attorney General’s direction for prioritizing funding within Port boundaries is that the Port is the only entity that controls these properties and, thus, the only entity that can make the improvements. Alternately, in other parts of the City, other entities can make decisions about whether or not a particular project can or should be completed.
This does not preclude the Port, however, from funding projects outside of the harbor district boundaries before our own project list is exhausted, particularly if a project is very cost-effective at reducing greenhouse gases.
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Will lawsuits over Middle Harbor stop the grants?
As to the pending litigation, we don't know what effect that will have on the Port Grant Program, but we are moving forward at this time. It’s not clear at this point how future developments in the litigation could affect this round of the Port Grant Program.
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Why did you designate certain "zones" for the healthcare and schools grants? Can I apply if my project is outside of those zones?
These guidelines seek to reduce air quality impacts to the children, seniors, and people with respiratory illnesses in our community. These groups are the most vulnerable to air pollution impacts. Because air pollution impacts are highly correlated to distance from sources, the adopted guidelines identify geographic preference areas, or zones, for potential grant funding for schools and health care facilities.
Greenhouse gas emissions disperse widely into the atmosphere and don’t have inherent geographic limits. However, the State Attorney General’s Office has directed the Port to prioritize funding for greenhouse gas projects within Port boundaries.
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How is the grant program related to the Middle Harbor project?
The grant program is not tied to one particular development project; instead it provides a mechanism to be used in all future projects, at the Board of Harbor Commissioners' discretion.
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Where does the money come from?
While the Port Grant Program is not tied to any one development project at the Port, the money is provided to the grant program as development projects are approved. For example, the recent approval of the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project provided the first funds for the new Port Grant Program. Future projects could provide additional funding to the grant program.
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Why don't you fund residential improvements?
The program is designed to fund projects that benefit the most people — especially those people, such as children and seniors, who are most vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution.
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Can we get a park/school/pool/river trail built with this money?
For the community health grants, eligible projects must directly lessen the impact of air pollution from Port operations, such as air filters for schools and pollution-reduction equipment for school buses, or health education programs at health-care facilities. For greenhouse gas reduction projects, grants may be available to plant trees in existing parks or green spaces, rather than purchasing land, in order to maximize the benefits of the money expended.
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When will the first grants be made?
We hope to start awarding the grants by the end of calendar year 2009.
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How do we apply?
The Port hopes to announce the opening of the grant application process and begin taking applications by late summer 2009. The Port will announce the opening of the grant process on its website, in local newspapers and elsewhere. The Port plans to hold grant application workshops and provide support for those who need help in applying for a grant.
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What are some examples of potential recipients and eligible projects?
For community health grants, eligible applicants include daycare centers, preschools, and elementary, middle and high schools, which could apply for projects such as schoolroom filtration systems and pollution-reduction equipment for school buses, double-pane windows and sound barriers. Other applicants might be hospitals, health-care facilities and senior centers requesting money for health screenings, diagnostic equipment, education and air quality improvement efforts.
Projects involving "green" power, energy efficiency, hybrid technology and tree planting could vie for greenhouse gas-reduction grants.
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How can I get a job on the docks?
Most of the jobs on the docks and inside the shipping terminals are union jobs -- positions represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
Longshore workers are employed by a group representing the terminal operators and shipping lines called the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).
In August 2004, more than 300,000 people submitted their names to the PMA for a random drawing to select 3,000 part-time or "casual" workers with the ILWU. That pool of workers was later expanded to 5,000 people who are first in line for new union jobs on the docks.
For more information, contact the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, or the Pacific Maritime Association.
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Why is the Port important to the nation’s economy?
The Port is a major transportation and trade center, providing the shipping terminals for nearly one-third of the waterborne trade moving through the West Coast. In 2006 the Port moved more than $100 billion in goods. It supported about 1.4 million jobs in the U.S. and generated about $15 billion in annual trade-related wages.
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What is the Port of Long Beach?
The Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest seaport in the United States and a key transportation hub in the global trade marketplace. More than $100 billion worth of cargo moves through the Port every year – everything from clothing and furniture to machinery and petroleum. East Asian trade accounts for about 90 percent of the shipments through the Port. The Port’s top trading partners are China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.
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If the Port is a department of the City of Long Beach, does it receive funding from the City?
The Port is self-supporting financially. It does not receive tax revenues or money from the City’s general fund. Long Beach is a "landlord port," which means that the Board of Harbor Commissioners leases Port facilities to private companies (shipping lines and cargo-handling firms) who then contract with union Longshore workers to operate the shipping terminals. These shipping terminal leases are the principal source of revenue for the Long Beach Harbor Department. The Port revenues pay the wages of Harbor Department employees, and they are reinvested in the maintenance and development of Port facilities. California tidelands laws require ports to earn and spend their revenues only on activities related to commerce, navigation, marine recreation and fisheries.
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Is there a limit to Port cargo growth?
The Port has reached the limits of its physical expansion, in terms of major landfill additions, but has several projects underway to improve the efficiencies and environmental impacts of older, existing terminals. The Port’s challenge is to continue to find ways to efficiently utilize the Port and regional infrastructure to accommodate cargo growth.
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Who runs the Port?
The Port of Long Beach is a public agency managed and operated by the City of Long Beach Harbor Department. The Port is governed by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, whose five members are appointed by the mayor of Long Beach and confirmed by the City Council. The Board creates policies and appoints the Port Executive Director, the top official at the 350-employee Harbor Department.
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Who owns the Port?
Port lands are owned by the City of Long Beach in trust for the people of the State of California and cannot be sold to any private enterprises. In 1911, the California Legislature approved a Tidelands grant, giving the City of Long Beach the right to manage and develop the Harbor District for the sole purposes of commerce, navigation, fisheries and recreation.
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How is the Port managing its increase in growth?
The Port is consolidating and reconfiguring existing terminals so there is room for growing cargo volumes. It is encouraging longer hours of operation, increased storage densities and the use of technology to maximize terminal efficiency. It is also investing millions of dollars to enhance Port bridges and roadways like Ocean Boulevard, a $65 million project that has improved traffic flow on Terminal Island and reduced air pollution – one of the Port’s top priorities. As it manages growth, the Port is taking great care to reduce environmental impacts.
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What is the difference between the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles?
The two ports are located side-by-side in San Pedro Bay, and operated separately – one by the City of Long Beach and the other by the City of Los Angeles.
The two ports compete for business, but have cooperated on joint rail and other infrastructure projects. Together they are referred to as the San Pedro Bay Ports. Although they operate independently of one another, if you combine the number of cargo containers shipped through Long Beach and Los Angeles, the two ports would rank as the world's fifth busiest complex after facilities in Hong Kong and Singapore.
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What is the Port doing to improve the environment?
The Port of Long Beach is committed to becoming the most environmentally-friendly Port in the world. The Board of Harbor Commissioners has adopted the pioneering Green Port Policy, which sets the framework for the Port’s environmental protection efforts as well as its day-to-day operations. Through the Green Port Policy, the Port is taking bold steps to protect wildlife habitat, improve air and water quality, clean soil and undersea sediments and create a "sustainable" Port culture. Read more about the Port’s innovative Green Port Policy.
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What is the Port doing to ease traffic in and outside the Harbor District?
The Port is promoting operational changes such as incentives for truck drivers to avoid freeways during rush hour and on-dock railyards, which allow cargo to be transferred from ships to trains within the Port. Long Beach has been a pioneer in the use of waterfront railyards to eliminate thousands of truck trips each day from the highway network.
Roughly 25 percent of all Port cargo moves to and from the waterfront via the Alameda Corridor freight rail expressway. The Corridor also eliminated 200 street-level railroad crossings that delayed motorists in communities throughout Southeast Los Angeles County.
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How can my company do business with the Port?
The Port of Long Beach regularly seeks proposals from qualified firms to provide services and products. View current Requests for Quotes and Requests for Proposals.
The Port has also established the Small Business Enterprises (SBE) and Very Small Business Enterprises (VSBE) Program to ensure that small businesses have an equal opportunity to participate in the Port’s construction and consulting contracts and procurement opportunities.
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Why is Port cargo increasing?
Cargo traffic increases or decreases based on consumer demand, and in recent years consumer demand in the region and nation has grown steadily. Asia is the world's leading manufacturing center for products such as clothing, toys, shoes, home furnishings and electronics, and the majority of those products are imported through seaports.
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How can I get a job at the Port?
Eighty-five percent of the positions at the Long Beach Harbor Department – the city department that manages the Port of Long Beach – are filled through the Long Beach Civil Service Department. These government jobs include administrative, planning, engineering, security and maintenance positions. To obtain information on Harbor Department job openings click here.
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Could the Port "outsource" security to private companies?
No. Security at the Port of Long Beach is the multi-jurisdictional responsibility of many government agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs & Border Protection, federal and state Homeland Security offices, Long Beach Police Department and the Port Harbor Patrol, which have the authority to access all facilities and cargo at the Port. In addition, all terminals must comply with the Federal Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
Ensuring the safety and security of our customers, tenants, visitors, employees and the community at large has always been a top priority at the Port of Long Beach. Since September 11, 2001, however, security has become a paramount concern, and the Port and other government security agencies have significantly increased security in and around the Long Beach Harbor. For more information on Port security, click here.
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Could private companies purchase Port land?
No. As a landlord port, the Port of Long Beach leases its facilities to private terminal operating companies, which are usually joint ventures between shipping companies and cargo-handling (stevedoring) firms. The Board of Harbor Commissioners has the authority to review any proposed assignment of terminal leases at the Port of Long Beach.
Terminal operators contract with unionized longshore workers to operate the shipping terminals. Regardless of whether a terminal is operated by a foreign or domestic company, or a combination of both, the overwhelming majority of terminal workers are American citizens affiliated with the West Coast dockworkers union.
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Where is the port?
The port is located at:
925 Harbor Plaza
Long Beach
CA 90801
Phone:(562) 437-0041
Fax:N/A
View Map
www.polb.com |
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Where is the Carnival Cruise Lines boarding terminal?
The Carnival cruise terminal is located next to the Queen Mary, inside the dome that was formerly home to Howard Hughes Spruce Goose flying boat.
For directions, click here.
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How successful is the effort to expand the hours of operations at Port shipping terminals?
Currently the Port's privately operated container cargo terminals operate around the clock to work ships at berth. The terminal truck's gates typically open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays because that’s when importers, exporters and warehouses are open for business.
As importers, exporters and warehouses expand their hours of operation, so will shipping terminals. But the shift to 24/7 operations will take several years.
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What else can the Port do to curtail truck traffic?
As Southern California's population and economy grows, so will truck traffic. The Port is encouraging more efficient use of the existing freeway network by sponsoring truck appointment systems to spread traffic flow throughout the day.
The Port is also urging importers and exporters to operate at night and during weekends when freeways are less congested.
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How successful is the effort to expand the hours of operations at Port shipping terminals?
Currently the Port's privately operated container cargo terminals operate around the clock to work ships at berth. The terminal truck's gates typically open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays because that’s when importers, exporters and warehouses are open for business.
As importers, exporters and warehouses expand their hours of operation, so will shipping terminals. But the shift to 24/7 operations will take several years.
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