Community Outreach: Long Beach, San Diego

Long Beach: Port Awards $360,000 to Community Groups

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on May 12 awarded 83 community sponsorships amounting to $359,795, capping off a record year of community sponsorships that highlight the port’s role in international trade and dedication to social responsibility.

With the latest sponsorships, the port has given a total of $737,995 in the current fiscal year that began last October 1for 159 events for causes such as the arts, environment, social justice and historic preservation. A list of sponsorship recipients can be found here.

Harbor commissioners in August 2015 adopted new guidelines for the port's community sponsorship program with goals of increasing participation, setting clear, user-friendly guidelines and enhancing the Port's focus on public service.

Among the many events and programs sponsored in the latest call for applications are the International Seafarers Center Maritime Salute, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust environmental education and cleanup program, the WomenShelter of Long Beach annual fundraiser and AIDS Food Store annual reception. Commissioners and port staff attend many sponsored events as part of the harbor department’s community outreach efforts.

"As the record number of applicants and recipients shows, the new sponsorship policy, coupled with an aggressive outreach campaign, is proving successful," said Harbor Commission President Lori Ann Guzmán. "The Port of Long Beach takes great pride in supporting local organizations that represent the diversity of our city and make it such a wonderful place to live."

San Diego of Port Commission Earmarks FY 2017 Budget Funding for 83 Waterfront Events

San Diego’s Board of Port Commissioners has earmarked funding in its budget to support 83 events during Fiscal Year 2017 as part of the port’s tidelands-activation-program.

The port’s support of these events comprises $738,500 in earmarked sponsorship funding with an additional $924,164 earmarked in the form of waived fees. The Tidelands Activation Program is an annual grant program through which the port actively supports events, large and small, that engage the community and inspire visitors to enjoy San Diego Bay.

The program includes proposed sponsorship of the Port of San Diego Big Bay Boom July 4th Fireworks Show, and the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade, scheduled for December 30, 2016. Other community events were selected for proposed sponsorship through a public evaluation process led by the Tidelands Activation Program Advisory Committee, chaired by Port Commissioner Ann Moore. Actual funding for all of the events, however, is subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and the completing of individual agreements with each event organizer.

"The Port of San Diego is proud to sponsor a record-setting number of public, waterfront events in this year’s Tidelands Activation Program," said Port Commission Chairman Marshall Merrifield. "These events encourage people to visit and enjoy San Diego Bay at the Port’s public parks, open spaces and facilities. It is our ongoing commitment to celebrate San Diego's enjoyable outdoor lifestyle and rich diversity, while making it available to everyone."