SEATTLE – The Port of Seattle continued to help COVID-19 recovery efforts in South King County with the approval today of a three year, $160,000 agreement with the Highline College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to provide small, woman and minority business enterprises (WMBE) with training and assistance for those interested in doing business with the Port.
“COVID-19 devasted local business and workers, but the most vulnerable communities have been hit the hardest,” said Port of Seattle Commission Vice President Fred Felleman. “This funding serves as a first step, rapid response to serve this critical need. The Port is proud to partner with Highline College which has the expertise to deliver these support services to small businesses in these impacted communities.”
This investment marks the first expenditure for the Port’s South King County Fund, a unique program to develop equity-based partnerships and provide resources and support in historically underserved near-airport communities. the fund was created to address noise mitigation, environmental health and sustainability in and around the ethnically diverse cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila.
Read the Press Release here
About the Port of Seattle
Founded in 1911 by a vote of the people as a special purpose government, the Port of Seattle’s mission is to promote economic opportunities and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner.
The Port owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Fishermen’s Terminal—home of the North Pacific fishing fleet—and public marinas. The Port also owns two cruise ship terminals, a grain terminal, real estate assets, and marine cargo terminals through its partnership in the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
Port operations help support nearly 200,000 jobs and $7 billion in wages throughout the region. Over the next 17 years, the port’s “Century Agenda” seeks to create an additional 100,000 jobs through economic growth while becoming the nation’s leading equitable, green, and energy-efficient port. Learn more at www.portseattle.org.
