Projects involving tourism, job training and development receive funding

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver USA has announced the recipients of its 2024 Community Fund. The Community Fund assists programs and projects in the local community that share the port’s mission of economic development, workforce training and tourism. The Community Fund will disburse $10,000 among the following projects and programs in 2024:

 

  • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra—The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will receive $3,000 from the port to support its participation in the second annual Vancouver Arts and Music Festival. The three-day festival will feature a free performance by the symphony in Esther Short Park. The festival and performance is a regional tourism draw and will help support restaurants and businesses in downtown Vancouver. 

 

  • WHY Community—The WHY Community will receive $1,500 from the port to support free registrations for a variety of community runs and fitness events held during the year. These events bring 15,000 people to the Vancouver community and generate over $5 million in local economic activity. Port funds will be used to provide free registrations for 60 children, veterans, cancer survivors and other at-risk groups.

 

  • Ke Kukui Foundation—The Ke Kukui Foundation will receive $2,500 from the port in support of the 4 Days of Aloha festival. Port funds will support cultural workshops featuring master practitioners from Hawaii who share music and traditional artistic practices with attendees. The festival is a regional tourism draw supporting hotels, restaurants and business in downtown Vancouver. 

 

  • Partners in Careers—Partners in Careers will receive $3,000 from the port in support of its efforts to establish an Entrepreneurs Academy to nurture youth as next generation business leaders. Youth in the program will learn problem solving, communication and other skills that will better equip them for starting businesses and careers. The project meets port goals of supporting workforce training and development.

 

The port launched the Community Fund in 2020. For its 2024 award consideration, the Community Fund received eleven applications requesting a total of $64,800.

 

“All of the applications we received this year were top notch,” said Ryan Hart, Chief of External Affairs. “This makes the job of our selection committee all the more difficult. But we feel we landed on some excellent projects that fit well with port priorities to generate economic opportunities, prepare our local workforce and strengthen tourism here in Vancouver.”

 

Several ports in Washington state operate community funds and the port drew from that expertise in developing its own guidelines. The Port of Vancouver USA’s program supports its Strategic Plan and a stated community goal of: Pursuing opportunities to share port resources with community partners to advance shared goals.

 

The port will solicit applications for the 2025 round of funding later this year.

 

 

– POV –

The Port of Vancouver USA is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast, and its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a skilled labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community. For more information, please visit us at portvanusa.com.