Ten community-led organizations across South King County, Beacon Hill, and Duwamish Valley will receive a combined $2.7 million in funding through the Port of Seattle’s South King and Port Communities Fund (formerly South King County Community Impact Fund) Economic Opportunities for Communities (EOC) Program. The EOC program (formerly Economic Recovery Program) connects underrepresented communities in South King County, Beacon Hill, and the Duwamish Valley to opportunities for living wage jobs and careers in port-related industries.
In March 2025, the Port released the South King and Port Communities Fund (SKPCF) EOC funding opportunity to support community-led career-prep programs that create awareness and access for the next generation of professionals to enter the workforce in aviation, construction trades, green jobs, and maritime. The Port received a record number of applications, which underwent a very competitive evaluation process involving community evaluators and Port staff. The 10 community-led organizations are set to begin programs and services in November 2025.
Evolution of the EOC Program
In 2020, the Port established the Economic Recovery Program to assist communities in recovering from the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, through community listening sessions, partner feedback, and utilization of the Port of Seattle’s Equity Index, the Economic Recovery Program evolved into the EOC Program, refocusing funds to advance economic opportunity instead of recovery.
In 2024, the Port of Seattle Commission authorized $14 million — up from $10 million the previous five years — to continue South King and Port Communities Fund (SKPCF) community-led projects that advance equity, environmental improvements, and access to jobs in port-related industries.
Updates for the 2025-2029 funding cycles include:
- Refocusing the Economic Recovery Program to fund projects that advance economic opportunity instead of projects focused solely on recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Expanding the eligible geographic region to include areas of South King County, the Duwamish Valley, and Beacon Hill that the Port of Seattle’s Equity Index identifies as experiencing social, economic, and environmental inequities
- Continuing to prioritize the Port’s commitment to the six near-airport cities, and identifying how applications for projects in those cities will receive priority status
"At the Port, we’re investing in community-led solutions that strengthen both our workforce and our environment,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Toshiko Hasegawa. “This fund helps build pathways to good jobs in aviation, maritime, construction, and green industries, while advancing environmental stewardship and climate resilience in the communities closest to Port operations. Together, we’re proving that when we invest locally, we can grow a cleaner, stronger, and more inclusive economy for everyone.”
“This multi-million-dollar investment expands the fund’s reach so we can support communities that have long faced overlapping challenges, from health disparities to traffic congestion and environmental burdens,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed. “By including areas like Beacon Hill and the Duwamish Valley, we’re ensuring that port-related investments in training, jobs, and career pathways reach residents most affected by these compounded impacts.”
With ties to all of Washington’s key economic sectors and connections to more than 500 employers operating at its facilities, the Port is uniquely positioned to create pathways to well-paying jobs that benefit communities most impacted by Port operations. Workforce development investments are critical as many port-related industries are experiencing staffing shortfalls. Community-led career-prep programs will help participants navigate and acquire the exposure, skills, experience, and training needed to secure increasingly complex family-wage jobs in these industries.
“Progress House Association is honored to partner with the Port of Seattle to uplift youth in our region through access to career pathways in the skilled trades,” said Cynthia Fedrick, Chief Executive Officer, Progress House Association. “With industry-recognized certifications and culturally responsive coaching, this program opens doors to family-wage careers while strengthening our diverse communities. Together, we’re not just preparing students for jobs — we’re preparing them to thrive, lead, and shape the future of our workforce.”
Edmund Clark and Joseph Phillips, co-founders of S.T.E.P., a sub-partner of Progress House Association, added, “This partnership with the Port of Seattle represents exactly what the Skilled Trade Entrepreneurship Program (S.T.E.P.) was created for — connecting education, industry, and community to create real pathways into the workforce.... Through work-based learning and life skills coaching, we are rebranding the skilled trades and creating a new generation workforce that is confident, career-ready, and reflective of the innovation and diversity shaping our future.”
“Through the Workforce Readiness Program, Serve Ethiopians Washington is helping community members build the skills, confidence, and connections needed to succeed in aviation and green jobs,” said Armaye Eshete, Executive Director, Serve Ethiopians Washington. “The program offers career navigation, job preparation, and on-the-ground training that empower participants to enter high-demand industries and advance economic mobility in South King County.”
2025 EOC Program Recipients
African Community Housing and Development
The Career Supports for African Diaspora Immigrants and Refugees Program will provide year-round career navigation for adult job-seekers in aviation and other port-related industries. Participants receive one-on-one coaching, resume and interview support, and connections to job opportunities at SEA and beyond.
Boys and Girls Club of King County
Through the YouthForce Program, economically vulnerable youth ages 16–24 in South King County cities can explore pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathways in construction trades. Participants gain hands-on experience, certifications, and career coaching to prepare for well-paying jobs in the sector.
Cares of WA
The Career Advancement Program is available year-round to help participants facing significant barriers to opportunity learn about, prepare for, enter, and complete pre-apprenticeship programs. They also provide support for pre-apprenticeship participants to enter and transition into apprenticeship programs in construction trades.
Latino Civic Alliance
The Building Future Industry Leaders (BFIL) Program will provide comprehensive career prep and readiness services to individuals from underrepresented communities living and/or working in the eligible South King County cities, targeting individuals who are Latino, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), and/or low-income. The project is a hybrid cohort training and year-round career navigation program designed to facilitate access to jobs and careers in port-related industries.
Orion Industries
Through its Aerospace Manufacturing for the Future Program, Orion offers paid, transitional training in aerospace manufacturing. Participants gain technical and soft skills, reduce barriers to employment, and build confidence while preparing for jobs in aviation. The program targets participants from underrepresented communities, such as communities of color, refugees and immigrants, individuals who speak limited English, individuals with disabilities, and other structurally excluded communities who live in the eligible South King County region.
Progress House Association
Progress House Association is expanding its trades experience into direct youth programming with the S.T.E.P. (Skilled Trades Exploration & Preparation) Program, which introduces high school students to construction careers through a school-year cohort model. Focused on BIPOC youth at Cleveland High School and in Beacon Hill, the program combines classroom education with hands-on training and certification.
Success Foundation with Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce
The Workforce Discovery Lab offers high school students a two-week immersive experience through career prep and readiness training, hands-on simulation opportunities, and career coaching across port-related industries.
Serve Ethiopians
The Workforce Readiness Program supports East African immigrants and refugees through two tracks: aviation and green jobs. Participants receive career coaching, training, and job navigation services, including youth-focused environmental career programs in partnership with Forterra.
WA Maritime Blue
The Youth Maritime Accelerator Project is running a paid, eight-week seasonal paid internships cohort program for young adults from underrepresented communities living and/or working in South King County to explore maritime careers.
World Relief
The Economic Opportunities for Refugee and Immigrant Communities Project supports newly arrived residents through career preparation in aviation. Participants receive culturally responsive coaching, skills development, and job placement services to achieve financial stability and long-term career growth.
About the South King and Port Communities Fund (SKPCF)
The Port established the South King County Community Impact Fund (now South King and Port Communities Fund) in 2019 to develop equity-based partnerships and provide resources and support to historically underserved, ethnically and culturally diverse near-airport communities. From 2020 to 2024, the SKCCIF launched four cycles of the Economic Recovery (now Economic Opportunities for Communities) program and the Environmental Grants (now the Environmental Improvement) program, to fund community-led projects that create pathways to training and well-paying jobs, and to fund environmental improvements. Since the fund’s inception, more than 50 organizations have received a total of $9.25 million, which has funded over 80 projects.
Contact
Perry Cooper | SEA Airport
(206) 787-4923 | [email protected]
