The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday approved 167 sponsorships totaling $632,150, funding a diverse variety of community events and projects. The sponsorship program helps the Port of Long Beach engage with and inform local community members about Port operations and initiatives.

Earlier this year, the Harbor Commission added a third call for the Port of Long Beach’s Community Sponsorship Program, which funds community events and activities that help inform residents about the Port. The events center on the environment, education, social justice, the arts and historic preservation.

For this fall 2023 call, the Port received 9% more applications than in fall 2022. Of the applications, 38% were first-time applicants. To satisfy demand for community funding, the Board approved a $2 million sponsorship budget for the 2024 fiscal year that began Oct. 1. A record $1.44 million was awarded to community groups in fiscal year 2023.

“We’re very proud of how this program has grown to help even more nonprofit organizations serving our city,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Supporting these important members of our community fabric is part of our longstanding commitment to social responsibility as we provide jobs and drive economic activity across Southern California.”

“The Port of Long Beach has an obligation to inform and educate the community about the key role it plays in the local, regional, national and international economy,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “The sponsorship program is a great vehicle to accomplish this goal while helping the amazing organizations that make our city a wonderful place to live and work.”

Among the events and programs sponsored in this week’s awards are Literary Women of Long Beach’s Festival of Authors, the Hmong Association of Long Beach’s Hmong New Year Festival, Casa Bella Foundation’s Holiday Toys and Meals program, the Historical Society of Long Beach’s Centro de La Raza exhibition and the March of Dimes Baby Showers.

A list of the approved sponsorships can be found here. The Port accepts sponsorship applications three times a year, in January, May and September. More information about the Community Sponsorship Program can be found at www.polb.com/sponsorships.