Millions set aside to help Californian ports recover from COVID-19 pandemic

Millions set aside to help Californian ports recover from COVID-19 pandemic

$250 million has been earmarked to help Californian ports recover from losses incurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Port of Oakland will benefit after Governor Gavin Newsom set aside economic relief for ports in his latest proposed budget.

The port’s executive director Danny Wan said: “These new funds will help ports, which are absolutely vital to the state’s economic strength and recovery going forward.

“When Oakland’s port flourishes and its business partners are doing well, together, we can support more than 84,000 jobs in the region and impact more than a million jobs across the country.”

Mr Wan, who is also vice president of the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA), said that although trade has been booming for containerised ports, tourism and related businesses like restaurants and hotels on port property have been gutted by the pandemic.

The pandemic has caused some of California ports’ revenue streams to be cut in half due to the impacts on tourism and hospitality industries. Up to now these seaports have not received direct state or federal relief.

For more information visit www.californiaports.org

24th May 2021