Port Launches $5 Million Health Grant Program Public Workshop Series this month to help groups, facilities apply

The Port of Long Beach is seeking applications for a new $5 million community grant program designed to help medical centers, senior facilities and health organizations improve health by limiting exposure to air pollution and increasing health awareness and in areas of Long Beach closest to the Port and its trade corridors.

The applications for the program will be available starting Tuesday, October 12 and a series of three workshops to help the public apply for grants will begin next week with a session on Wednesday, October 20 at Cesar Chavez Park.

In this, the second round of Port Grant Programs, the Port is reaching out to medical centers, convalescent homes and other health-care sites to reduce indoor air pollution. Health organizations and agencies would also be invited to seek funding for outreach and screening programs that address respiratory and cardiopulmonary issues.

The first round of the Port’s community grants recently announced nearly $5 million in aid to local schools and day-care facilities.

As with the schools grants, health-grant funding would be concentrated in zones of Long Beach closest to the Port.

Three workshops are scheduled in Long Beach to help people apply for funding:

• Wednesday, October 20, 2-3:30 p.m., Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave. 90802
• Thursday, October 21, 6-7:30 p.m., Miller Family Health Education Center, 3820 Cherry Ave., 90807
• Thursday, October 28, 6-7:30 p.m., Mark Twain Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St., 90813

The Health Care and Seniors Facilities Program is designed to help the individuals most vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution, such as children and the elderly. Funding for the Port Mitigation Grant Programs comes from specific Port development projects. The Port makes every effort to reduce air pollution at the source, but not all impacts can be addressed by on-site mitigation measures alone.

Beginning October 12, grant applications and guidelines for the Health Care and Seniors Facilities Grant Program and more information will be available on the Port of Long Beach website.  Or contact us at grants@polb.com or 1-888-789-GRANT (1-888-789-4726).