Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive Page 1 of 10
Port of Seattle Commission
Workforce Development Policy
Directive
As Adopted
June 23, 2020
1
Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive Page 2 of 10
SECTION 1. Purpose. 2
The purpose of this Policy Directive is to fulfil Century Agenda strategic objectives by increasing 3
equitable access for workers in port-related economic activities, create opportunities for 4
workers to acquire the skills, experience, and education they need to secure increasingly 5
complex and better compensated jobs and careers at the Port and in port-related economic 6
industries and activities; and to guide the workforce development efforts of the Port of Seattle 7
to benefit workers, Port customers and tenants, and port-related economic activities in near-8
port communities in King County and the general area. 9
Workforce development is critical to achieving the Port’s mission to serve as an economic 10
development agency. As a regional anchor institution, the Port will leverage its cross-sector 11
influence and leadership to promote long-term, sustainable advancements across port-related 12
economic activities that promote equity. 13
14
The port-related workforce development described herein provides a substantial public benefit 15
consistent with the Port Commission’s economic development goals and is consistent with 16
ongoing worker training initiatives in place in King County. 17
18
This policy directive advances the Port of Seattle’s commitment to workforce development and 19
is intended to: 20
21
1. Increase Equitable Access to Economic Prosperity 22
2. Leverage Port Impact and Innovation 23
24
SECTION 2. Definitions. 25
26
When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings 27
given below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise: 28
29
“Apprentice” means an individual participating in a registered program that provides closely 30
supervised on-the-job training which may be supplemented with classroom instruction. 31
Apprentices receive wages when they begin and earn increases as they become proficient in 32
various skills. Once the program is complete, apprentices receive industry certifications and 33
licenses to practice their trade. 34
35
“Career and Technical Education” means the practice of teaching specific career skills to 36
students in middle school, high school, and post-secondary institutions. 37
38
“Career Connected Learning” means a continuum of events and work-related experiences 39
designed to create meaningful linkages between K-12 education and future employment 40
opportunities. They are typically broken down into a series of events classified as, “Awareness”, 41
“Experiential”, “Preparation”, and “Launch.” These events are geared towards creating 42
experiential awareness about career pipelines or pathways for young people from an early age. 43
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“Career Pathways” means an integrated collection of programs and services intended to 44
develop community members’ core academic, technical and employability skills; provide them 45
with continuous education, training; and place them in high-demand, high-opportunity jobs and 46
careers. 47
48
“Career Transitions” means the experience by opportunity youth and adults transitioning from 49
high school and or GED programs, involvement with the criminal justice system, income-related 50
housing insecurity, military veterans, and or under-employment. 51
52
“Community Capacity Building” means the process by which community members and 53
community organizations obtain, improve, and retain the skills, knowledge, tools, equipment, 54
and other resources needed to engage effectively in planning and decision-making processes 55
and advocate for self-determination in both policy and project decisions. 56
57
“Demand Occupations” means Occupations within the high growth industries (as defined by 58
Federal government) and having more than the average number of new openings. 59
60
“Disaggregated Data” means data that has been broken down by detailed sub-categories, such 61
as race, gender, income, or census tract level findings. Disaggregated data can reveal 62
disproportionalities that may not be fully reflected in aggregated data. 63
64
“Displacement” means the involuntary relocation of current residents or businesses from their 65
current residence. This is a different phenomenon than when property owners voluntarily sell 66
their interests to capture an increase in value. Physical (direct) displacement is the result of 67
eviction, condemnation, rehabilitation, or demolition of property, or the expiration of 68
covenants on rent- or income-restricted housing. Economic (indirect) displacement occurs 69
when residents and businesses can no longer afford escalating rents or property taxes. Cultural 70
displacement occurs when people choose to move because their neighbors and culturally 71
related businesses have left the area. 72
73
“Disparities Rank” means, according to the Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map, 74
means a ranking of cumulative impacts that determines the prevalence of disparity within an 75
area. The rank is identified by multiplying environmental exposures and effects with the 76
presence of sensitive populations and socioeconomic factors. 77
78
“Economic Development Programs” means occupational job training and placement, job 79
advancement and job retention, pre-apprenticeship training, or occupational education 80
programs associated with port tenants, customers, and local economic development related to 81
port tenants or port-related economic activities that are sponsored by a port and operated by a 82
nonprofit, private, or public entity. The Port of Seattle refers to these as “workforce 83
development programs.” 84
85
“Equity” means the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people while 86
striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of 87
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communities historically oppressed. Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness 88
with the procedures and processes of institutions or systems and a fair, intentional distribution 89
of resources. 90
91
“Equity Driven” means embedding race, gender, and broad social equity approaches 92
throughout projects or programs. 93
94
“Fellowships” refers to programs designed to provide hands-on career experience and 95
mentorship to identify and guide program participants. 96
97
“Green Job/Green Career” means a job or career needed to operate and sustainably manage 98
Port assets. Green jobs/green careers provide the skilled and diverse workforce in King County 99
required by the Port to satisfy environment and sustainability commitments identified in the 100
Century Agenda and support the Port’s operations. This workforce is created using principles of 101
an inclusive green economy that concurrently enhance the environmental health and economic 102
well-being of communities. Examples of Port-related green jobs/green careers may include but 103
is not limited to: renewable and solar energy, stormwater management, habitat restoration and 104
carbon banking, eco-tourism and sustainable transportation, environmental compliance and 105
remediation, environmental policy, as allowable by law. 106
“Inclusive Green Economy” means according to the European Commission, as an economic 107
model, one that differs from traditional ones in that it takes due consideration of 108
environmental and social externalities, focuses on resource efficiency and ecosystems, as 109
building blocks of the economy; taking into account that environment degradation undermines 110
long-term economic growth and human development. The transition to an inclusive green 111
economy entails joined efforts at many levels, including in stimulating sustainable lifestyles, 112
scaling up sustainable consumption and production and encouraging green entrepreneurship, 113
through the advancement of eco-innovations, the facilitation of resource efficiency, and the 114
mainstreaming of green consumer behavior. In the course of change, new green jobs are to be 115
created without compromising on existing employment, and a significant reduction on carbon 116
emissions, waste and other forms of pollution is to be achieved. 117
118
“Port-related Industries” means aviation, maritime, construction trades and green career 119
industries. 120
121
“Priority Hire Policy” means the Port of Seattle Resolution No. 3736 and amended by Resolution 122
No. 3746 adopted by the Port of Seattle Commission which strives to increase access to jobs for 123
qualified construction workers from economically distressed areas of King County to Port of 124
Seattle projects. 125
126
“Pre-Apprentice” means an individual participating in a registered program that provides the 127
training and skill development needed to meet the qualifications for entry into an 128
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apprenticeship. These programs also provide wrap-around support that allows participants to 129
remain in the program. 130
131
“Opportunity Youth” are defined as people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither 132
enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. For instance, in many cases, these 133
young people are experiencing connected challenges like homelessness, being in foster care, 134
involvement in the youth or adult criminal justice systems, and being an immigrant or child of 135
an immigrant; these life circumstances become barriers to participating in the workforce. 136
“Training system” means programs and courses of secondary vocational education, technical 137
college programs and courses, community college vocational programs and courses, private 138
career school and college programs and courses, employer-sponsored training, adult basic 139
education programs and courses, programs and courses funded by the federal workforce 140
innovation and opportunity act, programs and courses funded by the federal vocational act, 141
programs and courses funded under the federal adult education act, publicly funded programs 142
and courses for adult literacy education, and apprenticeships, and programs and courses 143
offered by private and public nonprofit organizations that are representative of communities or 144
significant segments of communities and provide job training or adult literacy services. 145
“Workforce Development” means the composite of strategies and services, including career 146
connected learning, K-12 education, worker and employer training and job matching that help 147
connect and retain workers to careers within the Port and port-related economic activities, and 148
that help ensure area businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need to thrive and 149
grow. RCW 53.08.245(1) provides that “[i]t shall be in the public purpose for all port districts to 150
engage in economic development programs.” RCW 53.08.245(2)(a) provides that such 151
economic development programs may include “[o]occupational job training and placement, job 152
advancement and job retention, preapprenticeship training, or occupational education 153
programs associated with port tenants, customers, and local economic development related to 154
port tenants or port-related economic activities that are sponsored by a port and operated by a 155
nonprofit, private, or public entity.” 156
“Wrap-Around Services” means those services and support systems including but not limited 157
to, public transportation assistance, work related clothing, tools, work related food assistance, 158
child-care and monetary compensation as they relate to work-needs, and as allowable by law, 159
regulations and funding sources, that promote access and stronger alignment of workforce, 160
education, vocational rehabilitation, and other human services systems. 161
162
SECTION 3. Scope and Applicability. 163
164
This policy directive, in alignment with WA RCW 53.08.245, applies to all activities of the Port of 165
Seattle’s employees and related business units that support economic development programs, 166
hereafter referred to as “workforce development programs.” 167
168
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SECTION 4. Responsibilities. 169
170
The Executive Director shall engage in the following activities in pursuit of this policy directive, 171
either directly or by appropriate delegation of authority: 172
173
A. Develop and implement economic and workforce development programs consistent 174
with this policy directive. 175
176
B. Incorporate current Port policies when developing and implementing workforce 177
development efforts, including the Port’s Century Agenda, the Diversity in Contracting 178
Policy Directive, the Priority Hire Policy Directive, the Duwamish Valley Community 179
Benefits Commitment Policy Directive, the South King County Fund, the Opportunities 180
Motion, and other relevant Port directives and policies. 181
182
C. Develop a three-year workforce development strategic plan to implement this policy 183
and guide equitable, diverse, and inclusive economic development programs across King 184
County and the region. The strategic plan will include the following elements: 185
186
1. An overview of workforce development best practices in port-related industries 187
including: education, job placement assistance, training, coaching, navigation 188
assistance, and skills needs of workers to acquire and retain jobs and advance in 189
their careers; 190
191
2. A strategic overview of port-related industries for career connected learning 192
opportunities, workforce education and training system gaps, and possible areas of 193
focus for the Port with an emphasis on equitable impact; 194
195
3. Identification of current and future labor and skills needs of the Port and port-196
related industry employers; 197
198
4. Identification of gaps in port-related industry workforce education and training 199
system offerings with recommendations; 200
201
5. Identification of additional funding sources and partnership opportunities to support 202
port-related industries; 203
204
6. Identification of disproportionately impacted communities who are also at high risk 205
of displacement will be prioritized in the workforce development strategy; 206
207
7. Identification of opportunities for the Port to promote an inclusive green economy 208
through innovative workforce training and career pathways that further advance 209
opportunities for port-related economic activities to advance the region’s 210
sustainability and climate change resilience. 211
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8. Identification of all port resources needed to carry out the strategic plan. 212
213
SECTION 5. Policy. 214
215
Port-related workforce development provides a substantial public benefit consistent with the 216
Port of Seattle Commission's economic development goals and is consistent with ongoing 217
worker training initiatives in place. To center equity, diversity and inclusion in its workforce 218
development efforts and to support sustainable and competitive port-related industries, the 219
Port shall pursue the following goals: 220
221
A. Goal 1: Increase Equitable Access to Economic Prosperity. Increase equitable workforce 222
access for the trades in port-related economic activities, with an emphasis on expanding 223
opportunities to near-port communities which are most disproportionately impacted. 224
Port staff will develop program priorities, actions, benchmarks, and metrics for success. 225
226
1. Focus on workforce training and education on Port and port-related economic 227
activities where the greatest gaps and disparity rankings exist and; 228
229
2. Promote access to wrap around services and infrastructure that are necessary to 230
improve the delivery of services to individuals, including adults and youth who face 231
barriers to employment and job retention, where such services are allowed by law. 232
233
3. Career Pathways 234
(i.) Increase equitable access to port related industry specific career pathways and 235
port-related economic activities; 236
237
(ii.) Support the development of equitable port related industry specific career 238
pathways with an emphasis on progressively high demand careers and in 239
careers which the Port of Seattle’s economic vitality is dependent upon. 240
241
4. Career Connected Learning: Adopt Career Connected Learning best practices into 242
Port workforce development, internships, and fellowship programs for all four (4) of 243
the commonly identified phases, with a special emphasis on support for opportunity 244
youth: 245
(i) Awareness: provides youth an introductory level exposure to industries and job 246
skills in port-related economic sectors. 247
248
(ii) Experiential: provides youth a focused level of direct exposure to learning in 249
industries and port-related economic sectors. 250
251
(iii) Preparation: provides youth with supervised, practical application of skills and 252
knowledge through extended direct interactions with industry and sector 253
professionals in Port-related economic sectors. 254
255
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(iv) Launch: provides workforce-ready youth the preparation needed for 256
employment in a specific range of occupations within the Port and in Port-257
related economic activities. 258
259
B. Goal 2: Leverage Port Impact and Innovation. Identify and prioritize opportunities for 260
leadership and influence to promote a sector-based approach to workforce 261
development centered on equity, diversity and inclusion. 262
263
1. Make strategic investments in the maritime, aviation, construction trades, green 264
careers, and other port-related economic activities where the Port is uniquely 265
positioned to leverage the greatest community impact. 266
267
(i.) Develop metrics to demonstrate the opportunities for leadership, influence 268
and investment. 269
270
(ii.) Create targeted emphasis to increase workforce development programs in 271
near-port communities. 272
273
(iii.) Leverage industry participation to increase recruitment and retention of 274
workers in port-related demand occupations and high need careers. 275
276
(iv.) Create awareness and access to education and career pathways in port related 277
industries. 278
279
(v.) Leverage port-related industry investment in programs that support training 280
for basic skills and career advancement. 281
282
(vi.) Invest Port funds in recruitment, retention, and training programs that will 283
leverage increased investment in port-related careers. 284
285
2. Foster partnership with community-based organizations, educational institutions, 286
labor, industry stakeholders, and government agencies to maximize the workforce 287
development impact of the Port of Seattle: 288
289
(i) Support Priority Hire and ongoing government to government coordination to 290
improve apprenticeship outcomes for individuals living in economically 291
distressed zip codes, women and people of color. 292
293
(ii) Career and Technical Education, CTE 294
a. Coordinate with school districts and other degree-granting institutions 295
to ensure Port fellows and interns are eligible for CTE credit when 296
available. 297
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b. Create opportunities to support port and port-related industry 298
apprentice and pre-apprentice programs. 299
300
c. Improve access to educational and career support resources, such as job 301
training centers, that facilitates workers’ physical access to workforce 302
development opportunities for disproportionately impacted near-port 303
communities. 304
305
(iii) Youth Employment 306
a. Facilitate the expansion of the Port of Seattle Internship Program, such 307
as by increasing the number of high school and college interns placed in 308
Port of Seattle internships, supporting port-related internship programs 309
or exploring other strategies to support port-related career-connected 310
learning. 311
312
b. Support the placement of opportunity youth 16-24 years old in high-313
quality, compensated fellowship, internship, and job opportunities at the 314
Port and with partner organizations to support port-related career-315
connected learning. 316
317
SECTION 6. Program Evaluation. 318
319
The Executive Director, or a delegate, shall establish benchmarks and metrics to include, but 320
not limited to the following: 321
322
A. Provide an annual report to the Commission no later than April 30
th
. 323
324
1. The application of Career Connected Learning best practices in Awareness, 325
Experiential, Preparation, and Launch. 326
327
2. Evaluation of the Port’s workforce investments on an annual basis, using 328
disaggregated data. Report will show how the Port’s workforce development 329
resources are utilized to leverage industry involvement to address evolving 330
workforce training, education and retention demand projections as necessary and to 331
ensure equity, actions outlined in the policy directive shall strive to address the 332
concerns of community members disproportionately impacted. 333
334
3. Identification of investments, outcomes and progress of the Port’s workforce 335
development efforts including, but not limited to: 336
337
(i) The number youth placed in internships and jobs; 338
339
(ii) The number of persons trained, recruited, placed in jobs, and retained; 340
341
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(iii) The types of internships and jobs and range of compensation; 342
343
(iv) The number and types of businesses that are served; 344
345
(v) Any other tangible benefits realized by the port, the workers, businesses, 346
and the public. 347
