Order2024‐11–YouthMaritimeCarerLaunchExtension Page1of2

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PORT OF SEATTLE 5

Order No. 2024-11 6

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AN ORDER OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 8

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… amending the deadline for the Youth Maritime Career 10

Launch, supporting program updates, and requiring program 11

evaluation.] 12

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PROPOSED 14

OCTOBER 8, 2024 15

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INTRODUCTION 17

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This order will modify and extend the Youth Career Launch pilot program through Dec. 31, 2025. 19

In February 2022, the Commission enacted a three-year Youth Career Launch Order (2022-02) to 20

determine how to implement a permanent and sustainable youth employment program that 21

connects young people between the ages of 16-24; to provide Workforce Development preparation 22

and launch opportunities in port-related industries; and to align with other Port, regional and state 23

priorities. In April 2022, the Commission added $2 million to the pilot fund to bring the total to 24

$4.1 million (2022-05) and directed Port staff to return in 2024 to report on program evaluation 25

and recommendations. The current order expires Dec. 31, 2024. 26

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TEXT OF THE ORDER 28

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The Port Commission directs the Executive Director, or designee, to: 30

1. Extend the Youth Career Launch pilot an additional year until Dec. 31, 2025. 31

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2. Support the Workforce Development team’s recommendations for updates to the program: 33

a. Continue working closely with community partners to implement the Youth 34

Maritime Career Launch internships with additional time for proof of concept in 35

the third year of the pilot. 36

b. Expand the use of up to 30 percent of the 2025 Youth Career Launch funds to 37

provide maritime career services and post-secondary education to those over 24 38

years old who are near-Port, structurally excluded or otherwise priority 39

communities. 40

c. Provide maritime post-secondary education as a pilot to ensure youth (18-24) have 41

the necessary skills before starting internships and adults are prepared when seeking 42

high-wage maritime careers. 43

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ItemNo.8d_order

MeetingDate:October8,2024

Order2024‐11–YouthMaritimeCarerLaunchExtension Page2of2

3. Conduct a program evaluation in 2025 to determine alignment with the current Workforce 45

Development Resolution and Policy Directive. The evaluation shall include a review of 46

program metrics and outcomes to inform the recommendation from the Executive Director 47

as to whether the program should be adopted as permanent core programming in Workforce 48

Development. 49

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STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER 51

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The Youth Career Launch has since been renamed Youth Maritime Career Launch with the first 53

pilot programs beginning in January 2023. Urban League and Maritime Blue provided 21 youth 54

with internships in 2023 and are continuing to offer training, internships, wrap around supports, 55

etc., to youth 18-24. Modifications to the program are necessary to enhance participant 56

preparedness and youth access to high-demand maritime occupations. Staff propose including 57

participants over the age of 24 in maritime career services in 2025, given this is the sole source of 58

Port maritime workforce development funds, and industry workforce demands cannot be met by 59

18- to 24-year-olds alone. The Commission believes this type of programming offers a great 60

opportunity to connect near-port communities to port-related employers and see value in allowing 61

community partners and Port staff more time to deliver the services and evaluate results. 62