Stay tuned for the next funding opportunity coming in 2026!
Economic Opportunities for Communities
The Economic Opportunities for Communities Program aims to provide equitable access to living wage jobs and careers in port-related industries for underrepresented communities. Through the EOC program, the Port of Seattle contracts with community-based organizations to implement career-prep programs to increase access to jobs and careers in port-related industries. These programs will provide services focused on awareness, exploration, preparation, and training to underrepresented communities who live and work in near-airport cities and South King County, extending up to Beacon Hill and Duwamish Valley. Learn more about the EOC Program model.
Growing economic opportunity
In 2020, the Economic Recovery Program was established to support communities recovering from the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, through community listening sessions, partner feedback, and utilization of the Equity Index, the SKCCIF Economic Recovery Program evolved into the Economic Opportunities for Communities Program to refocus funds to advance economic opportunity instead of recovery.
With equity as a core value of the SKCCIF, providing economic opportunities means creating access for underrepresented communities to obtain quality, family-wage jobs. Wages in jobs and careers in Port-related industries exceed regional averages across other occupation categories, providing pathways to improve the socioeconomic status of communities furthest from opportunities. Socioeconomic status (SES), a combination of education, income, and occupation, encompasses quality of life traits, including the opportunities and privileges afforded to people within society. In addition, discrimination and marginalization can serve as a hindrance to upward mobility for ethnic and racial minorities seeking to escape poverty.
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 family-wage careers 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 help participants acquire the exposure, skills, experience, and training needed to secure increasingly complex and family-wage jobs in these industries.
Equity Index
The Port's Equity Index is an online interactive map, displaying a visual representation of social and environmental disparities in King County. Neighborhoods with a low-equity index score have the greatest disparities. The Equity Index is used to identify the eligible geographic region. See the eligible geographic region for SKCCIF.
