{"id":5221,"date":"2025-06-30T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/?p=5221"},"modified":"2025-09-29T14:54:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T19:54:29","slug":"building-local-connections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/30\/building-local-connections\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Local Connections"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"htmlBody article_div\">\n<div class=\"roofHeader\">Feature<\/div>\n<div class=\"subtitle\">Port administrators use targeted approach to deepen ties to their communities and inspire a future workforce<\/div>\n<div class=\"byline\">By <span class=\"author-name\">Nick Fortuna<\/span><\/div>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/012.jpg\" alt=\"building local connections\" \/><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">PORT OF OAKLAND<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span class=\"dropCap\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/span>hen students from a local elementary school visit Port Panama City, Executive Director Alex King can predict with some confidence which part of the field trip will be their favorite.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s definitely the container reach stackers by far,\u201d he said. \u201cThey just can\u2019t get over the sight of these big machines reaching up, locking in, picking up a container, raising it 50 feet in the air, and setting it on top of another one. They think it\u2019s the best way to play Tetris.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Handling more than 2 million tons of cargo a year and generating about 11,000 jobs, Port Panama City is an integral part of the Florida Panhandle, an economic driver poised for growth. The port will break ground on a second warehouse this year, part of a $60 million expansion of its East Terminal. A 600-foot berth extension and expansion of the turning basin there is in the permitting stages, with construction expected to begin in 2027.<\/p>\n<p>With big plans in place, Port Panama City needs a skilled local workforce that recognizes the port as an engine of opportunity, so King and his team are reaching out to students of all ages. That includes hosting field trips for children and developing educational curriculum for older students, he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/013.jpg\" alt=\"port panama city is reaching out to students of all ages\" \/><figcaption><em>Port Panama City is reaching out to students of all ages, hosting field trips for children and developing educational curriculum for older students.<\/em> <span class=\"attribution\">PORT PANAMA CITY<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Young students visiting the port get hard hats and safety vests as they enter a conference room, where they enjoy a snack and view an animated presentation geared toward their age level. The slides display the steps along the supply chain for products such as cucumbers imported from Mexico, with the arrival of the ship to the port, the removal of the containers, the loading of products onto rail or trucks and, finally, their arrival on grocery-store shelves.<\/p>\n<p>From there, students get on a bus and tour the port, which includes watching containers get loaded, unloaded, and stacked. Students can climb into the driver\u2019s seat of large cranes, reach stackers and forklifts to \u201cget a feel for the immense size of this equipment and what it does,\u201d King said. Students also tour the warehouse and see the various types of commodities and finished products shipped into and out of the port every day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe tell them that operating a crane is kind of like playing video games except it\u2019s not virtual, it\u2019s real,\u201d King said. \u201cWe talk about how the things they use in their daily lives come through ports so they understand that what we\u2019re doing right here in Panama City affects their lives and affects the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Port Panama City also regularly hosts students from Junior Leadership Bay, a program run by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce designed to educate high school juniors about the resources and career opportunities available in Bay County.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/014.jpg\" alt=\"tickets for port of oaklands free 90 minute guided tours are typically claimed in minutes\" \/><figcaption><em>Tickets for Port of Oakland&#8217;s free 90-minute guided tours are typically claimed in minutes.<\/em> <span class=\"attribution\">PORT OF OAKLAND<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To prepare older students for careers there, Port Panama City is working with administrators from two schools in Panama City \u2014 Gulf Coast State College and Tom P. Haney Technical College \u2014 to establish relevant courses. The port also has visited local schools to talk about job opportunities and asked educators for help in identifying mechanically inclined students who might want to work at the port.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTerminal handling equipment is getting more and more sophisticated,\u201d King said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot less pulling levers and a lot more programming and drive systems, so we need to prepare our local workforce for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>King and his team spend considerable time building community connections. He\u2019s active with two local chambers of commerce and an environmental group focused on the health of local estuaries. Looking ahead, the port will work with local environmental groups and stakeholders to establish new seagrass beds, mitigating the environmental impact of the major construction project to expand the East Terminal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur outreach is really going to pick up with this expansion,\u201d King said. \u201cIf you have the community involved and invite them to be a part of it, then they\u2019ll want it to be successful too.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"sidebar shortSidebar\">\n<h2>Canadian Ports Building Connections<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/014-01.jpg\" alt=\"canadian ports building connections\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Much like their American peers, Canadian ports are investing significant time and resources into community engagement. Here\u2019s a snapshot of what\u2019s happening at three ports north of the border.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PORT OF VANCOUVER<\/strong> \u2014 Canada Place, the port\u2019s cruise terminal and waterfront entertainment complex, draws thousands of visitors each holiday season for Christmas at Canada Place. The free, family-oriented event features wintery light displays, a large illuminated orca and department-store window displays depicting Victorian-era holiday scenes, with animatronic characters and elaborate decorations. There\u2019s also the Avenue of Trees, featuring 20 large decorated Christmas trees.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PORT OF MONTREAL<\/strong> \u2014 Each fall, the port offers a free event exposing visitors to a range of maritime-themed activities. The event includes bus tours of the port, tours of ships, educational kiosks on port trades and activities and access to the Port of Montreal Tower. The glass-enclosed tower on the banks of the St. Lawrence River measures 213 feet in height and provides breathtaking views of the city. The annual Port Day event is geared toward children, with free popcorn, cotton candy, face painting and workshops on tying sailors\u2019 knots.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PORT OF HALIFAX<\/strong> \u2014 The port will host its fourth annual One Port City Day in June, a free event featuring vessel displays, exhibits from port partners, a family fun zone, train rides, live music and bus tours of the PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub container terminal. In addition, the Port Innovation Engagement and Research facility, Canada\u2019s first lab dedicated to transportation, supply chain and logistics, allows visitors to explore the latest in port innovations.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Setting Sail in Oakland<\/h2>\n<p>If you want a free guided tour of Oakland\u2019s inner and outer harbors, you have to act fast. Once a month from May through October, the Port of Oakland takes about 250 passengers on an educational ferry ride, passing under the western span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge near Yerba Buena Island before returning to Jack London Square, a vibrant hub of outdoor recreation, dining and entertainment venues.<\/p>\n<p>During the 90-minute tour, live narration teaches visitors about the global economic impact of the port\u2019s operations, and passengers get an up-close view of container cranes, megaships, and terminal activity.<\/p>\n<p>Sound interesting? You\u2019re not alone in thinking so. Two weeks before each sailing, the Port of Oakland makes tickets available on its website, and they\u2019re typically gone in minutes, according to Matt Davis, chief public engagement officer for the port.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese sailings are always oversubscribed, and people show up to be put on a waiting list in case some people with tickets don\u2019t show up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Competition is equally fierce for a summer internship at the Port of Oakland. After a hiatus during the pandemic, the port restarted its internship program two years ago, and it recently received more than 600 applications from college students for 22 positions, Davis said. Interns earn a healthy salary of $25 an hour, work up to 25 hours a week and are spread throughout the port\u2019s departments, including engineering, government affairs, aviation, and maritime logistics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s a pretty good wage for a college student,\u201d Davis said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot more than I made when I was in college, and it\u2019s a hands-on opportunity for students to work on substantive projects. We really incorporate them into port operations so they can gain meaningful career experience. We\u2019re starting to see former interns come back to the port as employees, which is really gratifying. We want to attract the best and brightest workers.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/015.jpg\" alt=\"the port infrastructure tour is an important revenue generating\" \/><figcaption><em>The Port Infrastructure Tour is an important revenue-generating event for Open House New York, a cultural nonprofit group promoting broad access to the city and educating the public about what makes New York special.<\/em> <span class=\"attribution\">PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Each quarter since 2015, the Port of Oakland\u2019s Community Investment Program has awarded grants of up to $5,000 to local nonprofit organizations. To qualify, a group\u2019s purpose must align with one of the program\u2019s three stated priorities: economic vitality, environmental sustainability and healthy communities, and workforce development and education. The grants amount to several hundred thousand dollars each year, Davis said.<\/p>\n<p>Some grants help small businesses create and sustain jobs, while others improve energy conservation, water quality, and environmental stewardship. Still others prepare people for careers at the port through skills training and education.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, the points system used to determine which businesses are awarded contracts to provide products and services to the port is weighted toward small businesses in the area, allowing the local community to reap the economic benefits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur goal is not to just be a source of economic activity but a source of economic opportunity,\u201d Davis said. \u201cWe spend a lot of money every year on critical infrastructure, and we need to make sure that we have highly trained workers available so those projects are delivered on time and under budget. We\u2019re trying to build into our processes opportunities to have the community\u2019s success mirror the port\u2019s success.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Showcasing the Big Apple<\/h2>\n<p>Northern California\u2019s Bay Bridge is quite a sight, no doubt, but it\u2019s hard to compete with sunset views of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline of Lower Manhattan. Each summer, Beth Rooney, director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, guides a boat tour through New York Harbor and into container terminal waterways, teaching passengers about the past, present, and future of the local shipping industry.<\/p>\n<p>The annual Port Infrastructure Tour has become an important revenue-generating event for Open House New York, a cultural nonprofit group promoting broad access to the city and educating the public about what makes New York special. Though tickets cost $45 for group members and $55 for general admission, the 500 available seats \u201calways go quickly,\u201d and there\u2019s a long waiting list, according to port spokesman Steve Burns.<\/p>\n<p>Aboard the Circle Line ferry, passengers get a good look at towering ships, massive cranes, and cargo-handling equipment before passing by Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, and under the Bayonne Bridge. Last summer, the tour included up-close views of the MSC Lisbon, which was carrying 12,000 containers through the Kill Van Kull waterway, and the OCCL Berlin, which was docked at the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal with more than 13,000 containers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/06\/016.jpg\" alt=\"boat tours sponsored by the port authority of new york and new jersey\" \/><figcaption><em>Boat tours sponsored by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are an important component of the port\u2019s outreach efforts.<\/em> <span class=\"attribution\">PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During the tour, Rooney explained how the Port Authority had raised the Bayonne Bridge\u2019s roadway less than a decade ago so the world\u2019s largest container ships could access container terminals in New Jersey and State Island. The ambitious project elevated the roadway 64 feet, placing it 215 feet above the water.<\/p>\n<p>As the tour neared its end, Rooney asked passengers to reflect on how port operations affect their daily lives. \u201cWhen you go home tonight and you\u2019re getting ready for bed, look at the labels of everything you touch, whether it\u2019s clothes, sheets or furniture,\u201d she said. \u201cLook where they came from. They came in on a ship through New York Harbor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rooney said the boat tours are an important component of the port\u2019s outreach efforts and typically are eye-opening for passengers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s great to see how curious people are about what goes on in the maritime industry,\u201d she said. \u201cWe usually don\u2019t hear about the supply chain until some part of it breaks down, but the truth is, it impacts us every day in so many ways. The more we can help people understand that, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feature Port administrators use targeted approach to deepen ties to their communities and inspire a future workforce By Nick Fortuna PORT OF OAKLAND When students from a local elementary school visit Port Panama City, Executive Director Alex King can predict with some confidence which part of the field trip will be their favorite. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":5222,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1286,1223,310],"class_list":["post-5221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-community-engagement","tag-leadership","tag-port-authority-of-new-york-and-new-jersey"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5221"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5221\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}