California has earmarked US$2.3 billion in the state's upcoming fiscal budget for port infrastructure improvements and upgrades to further help plug supply chain issues and disruptions in North America's busiest ports.
"We commend Governor Newsom and the state legislature for their foresight and leadership in making this much-needed commitment to creating a more resilient California freight system," said Gene Seroka, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director.
"Continual investment in port infrastructure, sustainable technologies and jobs creation is essential to maintaining our competitiveness, now and in the future," he added, noting that workforce development is also an important component to keep goods moving.
"We are thrilled to have the Governor's support of our initiative to create the nation’s first training campus to benefit our industry. The Port of Los Angeles plans to donate land and invest millions of dollars of our own capital in this facility," Seroka added.
The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach are working together to create the Goods Movement Training Campus, which will focus on worker skill development, upskilling, and reskilling to address the rapidly changing needs of the logistics industry.
It will also serve as an industry resource for training workers on emerging green and zero-emission technologies.
"The unprecedented supply chain challenges of the past two years have underscored the need to invest in new technology and training at our ports to keep goods moving reliably, efficiently, and safely," said Jim McKenna, President, and CEO of the Pacific Maritime Association.
"The first-of-its-kind facility included in the budget signed by Gov. Newsom will give ILWU members the hands-on training they need to keep pace with evolving technologies and be fully prepared for the longshore jobs of the future," McKenna added.
Ramon Ponce de Leon Jr., International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 13 president also lauded the move saying that the ILWU has long advocated for a training centre and is "grateful to the State of California, as well as the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, for answering the call with this historic investment."
"The members of our Union have adapted to new technologies and have helped shape training programs since our inception in the 1930s. With this important announcement, we look forward to training future generations to be productive employees on our working waterfront," ILWU said.
Ron Herrera, president, of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO for his part noted that the US$110 million investment in the Goods Movement Training Campus, is a "golden opportunity" to retrain, upskill, and create career pathways into family-sustaining union jobs for our region's underserved communities.
US$2.3 billion investment to California ports
In addition to the training campus investment, the state of California's US$2.3 billion plan for ports includes 1)US$1.2 billion in Port Infrastructure and Goods Movement; 2) US$760 million for zero-emission equipment and infrastructure, and US$30 million to be used by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to fund operational and process improvements at ports.
It will also set aside US$40 million to enhance California's capacity to issue Commercial Driver's Licenses, allowing for more truck drivers to serve the San Pedro Bay port complex.
The Port of Los Angeles is the busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere.
In 2021, the Port facilitated US$294 billion in trade and handled a total of 10.7 million container units, the busiest calendar year in the Port's 115-year history.
