The Port of Long Beach this week announced the award of $743,631 in grants to fund nine air-filtration projects aimed at improving the health of children, seniors and other vulnerable populations who live near the port.
The funds are part of the $46.4-million Port Community Grants Program, the largest voluntary effort of its kind in the nation aimed at mitigating the impacts of goods movement. Added to the $18.2-million awarded during a previous program, the Port has committed $65 million to safeguard community health, according to officials.
“The selected projects will provide high-performance air filters and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades at facilities most impacted by port operations,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum. “We’ve made tremendous progress in reducing air pollution through our Green Port Policy, and these grants help us provide mitigation directly to our neighbors.”
Air filters and HVAC systems were selected as the first grant projects following a series of public meetings conducted to solicit priorities for the program, created in 2016.
With a five-member advisory committee appointed by Mayor Robert Garcia, Port staff made recommendations for funding to the Harbor Commission, which approved the following grants:
• City of Long Beach Multi-Service Center— $104,498
• The Vasek Polak Children’s Clinic Family Health Center in Long Beach— $5,859
• Compton Unified School District— Kelly Elementary— $74,477
• Compton Unified School District— Roosevelt Elementary— $133,652
• Compton Unified School District Whaley Middle— $103,322
• The Children’s Clinic Family Health Center in central Long Beach — $12,765
• City of Paramount— Spane Park Learning Center— $4,549
• Fairfield Family YMCA in Long Beach— $143,979
• St. Lucy School in Long Beach— $160,530
In total, the projects will improve air quality in facilities that see more than 2.2 million visits by students, seniors, patients and others each year, port officials said.
The Port has scheduled meetings later this month to gather input for grants to be awarded for Fiscal Year 2018. The workshop times and locations are:
6pm to 7pm on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at First Congregational Church, 241 Cedar Ave.
6pm to 7pm on Thursday, Oct. 26, at Michelle Obama Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave.
10am to 11am on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Silverado Park, 1545 W. 31st St.
Attendees will learn about and offer input regarding the Port’s plans to disburse Community Grant Program funding in three areas: community health, facility improvement and community infrastructure, in alignment with the funding guidelines. Information on the program and the types of projects previously funded will be provided during a preliminary presentation.
To RSVP or to submit written comments, email grants@polb.com. To learn more about the Community Grants Program, visit polb.com/grants.
Source: Port of LB
