Template revised April 12, 2018.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
9a
BRIEFING ITEM
Date of Meeting
March 24, 2020
DATE: March 12, 2020
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: LeeAnne Schirato, Commission Specialist
Aaron Pritchard, Commission Policy Manager
SUBJECT: Workforce Development Policy Directive Briefing
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In March, 2019, the Commission chartered the Port’s first Workforce Development, WFD,
committee. The committee was tasked with drafting a formal workforce development policy
directive in order to update the direction provided in the July 1, 2014, WFD motion. On
February 25, 2020, the Equity and Workforce Development Committee was chartered to
provide information, advice, and recommendations about the port’s equity, workforce
development, and career connected learning programs and policies, and diversity in contracting
goals. The new Equity and Workforce Development Committee continues to drive much of the
work the was initiated by the 2019 WFD Special Committee., including many months of
program evaluation, strategy review and policy development
This briefing memo will provide an update on the continued development of the policy
directive which is scheduled for introduction on April 14 and adoption on April 28.
POLICY
The purpose of this Policy Directive is to guide the workforce development efforts of the Port of
Seattle and to support targeted efforts for near-port communities, underrepresented
communities, and port related industries in King County and in Washington State and is
intended to:
1. Center diversity, equity and inclusion
2. Create equitable access to economic prosperity
3. Leverage partnerships
4. Increase the availability of a skilled workforce for the port and port related
industries
5. Demonstrate measurable outcomes
To accomplish this, the policy focuses on two primary goals:
1. Increasing Equitable workforce access for the trades in port-related industries, with
an emphasis on expanding access to near-port communities which are furthest from
economic and social justice.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 9a Page 2 of 2
Meeting Date: March 24, 2020
Template revised September 22, 2016.
a. Focus on workforce training and education in Port and port-related industries
where the greatest gaps and disparities in equity and diversity exist.
b. Promote access to wrap around services with an emphasis on those who face
barriers to employment and job retention.
c. Building out career pathways and adopting best practices for career
connected learning.
2. Leveraging Port Impact by identifying and prioritizing opportunities for leadership
and influence to promote a sector-based approach to workforce development
centered on equity, diversity and inclusion.
a. Making strategic investments in the maritime, aviation and construction
sectors where the Port is uniquely positioned to leverage the greatest
community impact and developing metrics to demonstrate the opportunities
for leadership, influence and investment.
b. Fostering partnerships with community-based organizations, educational
institutions, and government agencies to maximize the workforce
development impact of the Port of Seattle
The policy draft recommends an evaluation process including an annual report that will
document:
1. How the Port is applying Career Connected Learning best practices
2. How the Port’s workforce development resources are utilized to leverage industry
involvement and to address evolving workforce training, education and retention
demand projections as necessary
3. How many students are placed in internships
4. How many people have been trained, recruited, placed in jobs, and retained
5. What types of jobs program participants are being placed in and the range of
compensation for those job
6. How many and what kind of business our programs are serving
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING
(1) Draft Policy Directive
(2) Draft Resolution
(3) PowerPoint Presentation
(4) 2014 Motion of the Port of Seattle Increasing Workforce Development and Career
Opportunities Activities
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
(1) July 1, 2014 – The Commission approved a Motion of the Port of Seattle Increasing
Workforce Development and Career Opportunities Activities
