The Port of Seattle is set to make a significant impact across communities in South King County, Beacon Hill, and the Duwamish Valley with a total funding of $2.7 million through the South King and Port Communities Fund (SKPCF) Economic Opportunities for Communities (EOC) Program.
Ten community-led organizations will benefit from this initiative, designed to connect underrepresented communities to better job opportunities in port-related industries.
Originally established as the Economic Recovery Program in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has been restructured to focus on broadening economic opportunities.
Interest in the EOC funding opportunity has surged, with the Port receiving a record number of applications for supportive community-led career-preparation programs this year.
The selected organizations will officially kick off their programs and services in November 2025, laying the groundwork for creating pathways to careers primarily in aviation, construction, green jobs, and maritime sectors.
In 2024, the Port of Seattle Commission authorized an increase in funding for community-led projects from $10 million to $14 million, reflecting the growing demand for initiatives that enhance equity and access to jobs in economically disadvantaged regions.
According to Port of Seattle Commission President Toshiko Hasegawa, “At the Port, we’re investing in community-led solutions that strengthen both our workforce and our environment.” Hasegawa emphasized that these funds will help foster opportunities for good jobs in critical sectors while promoting environmental stewardship.
In addition, Port of Seattle Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed added that this multi-million-dollar investment aims to provide support to communities that face compounded challenges, including health disparities and environmental burdens, by helping them reach job-related training and career pathways.
The reimagined EOC program emphasizes long-term economic opportunity rather than merely addressing the immediate needs stemming from the pandemic. It expands the eligible areas of focus to include regions identified by the Port of Seattle’s Equity Index as experiencing social and economic inequities.
With workforce development increasingly essential due to staffing shortages in many port-related industries, community-led career-prep programs are crucial for equipping participants with the skills and experience necessary for securing family-wage jobs.
Progress House Association, in partnership with the Port, aims to uplift youth in the region by providing access to careers in the skilled trades. CEO Cynthia Fedrick mentioned, “This program opens doors to family-wage careers while strengthening our diverse communities.”
Sub-partners of Progress House, Edmund Clark and Joseph Phillips of S.T.E.P., emphasized the collaboration’s goal: to connect education, industry, and community to create real pathways into the workforce.
The Workforce Readiness Program initiated by Serve Ethiopians Washington highlights how the organization helps community members build the skills and networks needed for successful careers in aviation and green job sectors.
For the 2025 EOC Program, a variety of initiatives have been chosen from the list of recipients.
African Community Housing and Development will launch a program targeting adult job-seekers in aviation and related fields, offering career navigation services and hands-on support to enhance their employability.
The Boys and Girls Club of King County will offer the YouthForce Program, aimed at economically vulnerable youth aged 16–24 in South King County. The program focuses on providing pre-apprenticeship experiences to pave the way for careers in construction trades.
Cares of WA plans to implement the Career Advancement Program, which offers year-round support to those facing significant barriers in securing job opportunities, helping them transition into pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in construction trades.
The Latino Civic Alliance’s Building Future Industry Leaders (BFIL) Program aims to provide career readiness services to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to facilitate access to port-related job opportunities.
Orion Industries will manage the Aerospace Manufacturing for the Future Program, which provides paid transitional training in aerospace manufacturing targeted at participants from excluded communities.
Progress House Association will expand its youth programming through the S.T.E.P. initiative, focused on exposing high school students to careers in construction trades. The program integrates classroom education with hands-on training.
Additionally, the Success Foundation, in partnership with Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, will introduce the Workforce Discovery Lab, giving high school students immersive career preparation experiences across various port-related sectors.
Serve Ethiopians will reiterate its commitment through the Workforce Readiness Program, focusing on East African immigrants and refugees and providing vital career coaching and training tailored for aviation and green jobs.
The WA Maritime Blue organization will roll out the Youth Maritime Accelerator Project, offering seasonal paid internships to young adults from underrepresented communities interested in maritime careers.
Finally, World Relief will initiate the Economic Opportunities for Refugee and Immigrant Communities Project, specifically targeting newly arrived residents seeking career preparation in aviation.
Since its inception in 2019, the South King and Port Communities Fund has focused on developing partnerships and providing crucial resources to historically underserved communities. Over the past few years, the fund has supported many community-led projects, providing valuable training and enhancing community job access.
Now, more than ever, the Port of Seattle is positioned to create career pathways that nurture and sustain families in South King County while meeting the needs of the local economy.
Ultimately, this investment in communities reflects the Port’s commitment to promoting equity and inclusion across vulnerable populations, reaffirming its role in creating a thriving, sustainable workforce for the future.
image source from：portseattle
