The 2026 SKPCF EOC (Partnership Track) application is open on March 9. Apply by April 20, 2026!
Join our upcoming RFP information sessions to learn about the RFP application, proposal requirements, timelines, and how proposals will be evaluated. See Funding Opportunities for additional details and call-in for RFP info sessions.
Economic Opportunities for Communities
The Economic Opportunities for Communities program aims to increase access and visibility of living-wage jobs and careers in aviation, construction trades, green jobs, and maritime for underrepresented communities. To do this, SKPCF EOC funds programs that are:
- Community-led: SKCPF partners are non-profits and chambers of commerce with trust and experience in communities being served
- Equitable: SKPCF programs are located in and provided to individuals who live or work in South King County, extending up to the Duwamish Valley and Beacon Hill
- Career Prep and Readiness: SKPCF programs provide experiential, navigation, retention, or training opportunities to communities
- Port-related industries: SKPCF is focused solely on aviation, construction trades, green jobs, and maritime
The EOC Program has two funding tracks:
- Partnership Track – EOC Partnership Track is for organizations that are ready to implement single-year or multi-year career prep and readiness programs to help individuals become aware and prepared to enter into jobs and careers in Port-related industries. This track is for organizations with at least one year of direct workforce experience and/or partnerships in aviation, construction trades, green jobs, and/or maritime. The EOC Partnership Track 2026 RFP opens March 9 – April 20, 2026.
- Capacity Building Track – EOC Capacity Building Track is for organizations with little to no experience with Port-related industries. These organizations will receive direct capacity building to learn about and connect with experts in Port-related industries. More information to come about the Capacity Building Track in Summer 2026.
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 SKPCF Economic Recovery Program evolved into the Economic Opportunities for Communities (EOC) Program to refocus funds to advance economic opportunity instead of recovery.
Wages in jobs and careers in Port-related industries exceed regional averages across other occupation categories. EOC creates access and pathways for communities furthest from opportunities to improve their socioeconomic status. 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.
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. The EOC’s 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 SKPCF.
