Pilot Projects - Port and Near-Port Community Collaboration

Support for Near-Port Communities and Port/Port Authorities: Environmental Justice Action

Pilot Projects Selected for Near-Port Communities and Ports/Port Authorities

update  More than twenty near-port communities and ports submitted applications for consideration to be among the first in a series of pilot projects utilizing the capacity building tools recently developed by EPA in collaboration with key stakeholders.  EPA is pleased to announce the location for our initial pilot projects:  Savannah, GA; New Orleans, LA; and Seattle, WA.  
 
Congratulations to following applicants from the locations noted above. 
  • Harambee House, Inc. (Savannah)
  • Port of New Orleans, in collaboration with Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development, and with Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (New Orleans)
  • Port of Seattle and Just Health Action (Seattle)

EPA’s Near-port Community Capacity Building Project supports the goals to improve environmental and public health outcomes for communities affected by ports and associated goods movement facilities, and to improve environmental performance at ports with emphasis on enhancing efficiency and resiliency of port infrastructure.  This project also supports success in partnership building by equipping industry and community stakeholders with information, skills and guidance to effectively develop and implement collaborative actions leading to shared prosperity and better quality of life conditions.

The level of interest by both near-port communities and ports in participating in our Pilot Project Opportunity underscores the need for stakeholder engagement strategies, capacity building tools, and guidance to develop collaborative solutions for addressing goods movement challenges. The number of quality applications which merit participation exceeds the scope for our initial selections.  However, additional pilot projects are planned and we invite applicants to remain engaged by frequenting this website and by utilizing the available draft tools and resources.  

An overview and links to the capacity building tools can be found below.  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Pilot Project Opportunity for testing and refining the tools can be found in the box to the right.  

 
An interactive tool and reference document that characterizes the port industry sector including environmental and community health impacts associated with port activities.
 

photo of community action roadmap cover
 
 
An implementation companion for the Ports Primer for Communities that provides

a step-by-step process for building capacity and preparing community stakeholders.

 
 
 

Designed to inform the port industry sector of the perspectives, priorities, and challenges often unique to communities with EJ concerns.
 
In addition to orienting the port sector about EJ considerations this resource is structured to provide step-by-step guidance to improve the effectiveness of port and community engagement in addressing concerns of impacted residential communities.