Community Investment: Long Beach, Saint John, Virginia

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The Port of Long Beach announced May 13 the award of education scholarships totaling $43,500 to 28 local high school and college students. Port Saint John is contributing $75,000 to the Saint John Fire Department’s (SJFD) training center. The funds will support an emergency service building that offers training to SJFD personnel, other municipalities and businesses. International Paper’s growing cargo volumes at the Port of Virginia are driving job growth in the maritime industry and that growth has led the company to become the first in the state to receive money from The Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Fund.

Long Beach Launches Expanded Education Plan

The Port of Long Beach announced May 13 the award of education scholarships totaling $43,500 to 28 local high school and college students. At the same time, the port introduced an expanded Education Outreach Plan during the "Celebrating Education Reception" at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

The Education Outreach Plan dedicates $150,000 in seed money to three initiatives: a new online education portal, a maritime career exploration fair in the fall and a teacher externship program in summer 2015.

"We’re proud of our role as an economic engine, and we’re proud to 'fuel' that engine by supporting the best and brightest as they further their education," said Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond.

Frank Capo, senior vice president and chief commercial officer for Port of Long Beach terminal operator Total Terminals International, was honored with the port’s first Champion of Education Award, recognizing him for his longstanding support for port programs educating local students about international trade. The keynote speaker was Ebony Loeb, Black Belt Manager for Ports America, who received a port scholarship in 2010 while earning her Master of Arts in Global Logistics at California State University, Long Beach.

This year’s scholarship winners are:

• Long Beach Unified School District Scholars: Christopher David Chen, Chelsi Harris, Gabriel Picazo, Makaylah Respicio, Edith A. Rodriguez, Jasmine Yam and Doowon Yang.
• Long Beach City College Woodrow Wilson Memorial Scholars: Chaisnarlee Nguon and Mei Raczkowski.
• School of Career and Technical Education at Long Beach City College: David Bumpers.
• Global Logistics Specialist Program at Cal State Long Beach: Kristine Baray, Ryan Endres, Jacques Goueth and Jaime Medina.
• California State University, Long Beach, College of Business Administration: Mekhruboni Aziz, Bin Bin Cheng, Maribel Francisco, Lesly Yohana Garcia, Samantha Ibarra, David Iskander, Armando Morales, Yesenia Morales, Stacy Phung, Xinyun Shan, Bonita Touch Sim, Dao Vuong Quynh Tran, Alexa Ullom and Lhea Villarreal.

Also recognized were 25 students from eight Long Beach-area high schools chosen for the port’s 2014 summer internship program, and Lakewood High School senior Jasmine Armenta, who designed the winning entry selected for the port’s official summer 2014 T-shirt.

Since 1993, the Port of Long Beach has awarded scholarships totaling $549,150 to foster the education and training of the future leaders of international trade and goods movement.

Saint John Port Supports Fire Training Center

Port Saint John is contributing $75,000 to the Saint John Fire Department’s (SJFD) training center. The funds will support an emergency service building that offers training to SJFD personnel, other municipalities and businesses.

"The Live Fire Emergency Training Structure is a simulation-based training module that will allow SJFD firefighters to more efficiently and effectively respond to land based ship board fire and rescue events specific to passenger or cargo ships," said Fire Chief Kevin Clifford. "The back portion of the module contains ship doors, stairwells, narrow hallways, engine compartments and the international ships connection on the deck of the ship."

The port deals with high-risk cargo on a regular basis, including energy products. Ensuring the city’s 136 firefighters and 30 relief personnel have up-to-date training is essential to the safety of the port and surrounding community.

"As with any major industry, ports come with their share of risk," said Port Authority CEO Jim Quinn. "We have an excellent record of safety and a commitment to keeping that record strong. Supporting our local fire department and ensuring this community continues to have world class emergency responders is vital."

International Paper is First Recipient of Virginia Port’s Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Fund

International Paper’s growing cargo volumes at the Port of Virginia are driving job growth in the maritime industry and that growth has led the company to become the first in the state to receive money from The Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Fund.

"This is a triple win for Virginia: a company investing in Isle of Wight County, creating new jobs and moving cargo through the Port of Virginia," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "International Paper brought a shuttered-facility back to life and in a very short-time is operating at full capacity and is now pushing significant container volume through one of our Commonwealth’s greatest assets, The Port of Virginia."

The port grant program was created by the governor and Virginia General Assembly in 2012 and funded in 2013. It is used as an incentive for companies to locate new maritime-related employment centers or expand existing centers in Virginia in order to encourage and facilitate the growth of The Port of Virginia.

International Paper received the maximum amount allowable, $500,000, for creating 200 port-related jobs in Isle of Wight County. In reopening its mill in the city of Franklin, the company invested $83.6 million to manufacture fluff pulp for export.

To qualify for the grant, a company must create 25 jobs through facility expansion or new construction and move its cargo through the Port of Virginia. It must also enter into an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the Virginia Port Authority that requires repayment of the grant if the terms of the MOU are not met. Grants range from $25,000-$500,000 per qualified company depending on the number of jobs created.

The company plans to export approximately 17,000 TEUs a year of fluff pulp through the Port of Virginia from this facility. By contrast, in 2012 as International Paper was ramping-up its operation, it exported 5,274 TEUs.