1 

2 
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4                        Port of Seattle Commission 

5 

6                 Work Force Development Policy

7                                                  Directive 

8 

9                                                As Adopted 
10                                         April 28, 2020 
11

12    SECTION 1.  Purpose. 
13 
14    Workforce development is critical to achieving the Port's primary mission to serve as an
15    economic development agency. Workforce development provides a substantial public and Port
16    benefit consistent with the Port's economic development goals: as an anchor institution the
17    Port will influence and leverage its leadership to promote port-related industries and economic
18    activities career pathways, equity and quality jobs. 
19 
20    The Port's workforce development objectives are to increase equitable access for workers in
21    the maritime, aviation, skilled trades, and port-related industries and activities and create the 
22    opportunities for workers to acquire the skills and education they need to secure increasingly
23    complex and better compensated jobs. 
24 
25    The purpose of this Policy Directive is to guide the workforce development efforts of the Port of
26    Seattle  and  to  support  targeted  efforts  for  near-port  communities,  underrepresented
27    communities, and port related industries in King County and in the general area, by supporting
28    programs that benefit the Port, its customers or tenants, or port-related economic activities.
29 
30    This policy directive advances the Port of Seattle's commitment to workforce development 
31    programs and is intended to: 
32 
33            1.  Increase equitable access to economic prosperity 
34            2.  Leverage Port Impact 
35 
36    SECTION 2.  Definitions. 
37 
38    When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
39    given below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise: 
40 
41    "Apprentice" means anindividual participating in a registered program that provides closely
42    supervised  on-the-job  training  which  may  be  supplemented  with  classroom  instruction.
43    Apprentices receive wages when they begin and earn increases as they become proficient in
44    various skills. Once the program is complete, apprentices receive industry certifications and
45    licenses to practice their trade.
46 
47    "Career and Technical Education" means the practice of teaching specific career skills to
48    students in middle school, high school, and post-secondary institutions. 
49 
50    "Career Connected Learning" means a continuum of events and work-related experiences
51    designed to create meaningful linkages between K-12 education and future employment
52    opportunities. They are typically broken down into a series of events classified as, "Awareness",
53    "Experiential", "Preparation", and "Launch." These events are geared towards creating
54    experiential awareness about career pipelines or pathways for young people from an early age. 

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55    "Career Pathways" means an integrated collection of programs and services intended to
56    develop community members' core academic, technical and employability skills; provide them
57    with continuous education, training; and place them in high-demand, high-opportunity jobs and
58    careers. 
59 
60    "Community Capacity Building" means the process by which community members and
61    community organizations obtain, improve, and retain the skills, knowledge, tools, equipment,
62    and other resources needed to engage effectively in planning and decision-making processes
63    and advocate for self-determination in both policy and project decisions. 
64 
65    "Equity" means fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people while
66    striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some
67    groups. Improving equity involves (1) Ensuring access to opportunities and increasing fairness
68    with the procedures and processes of institutions or systems and (2) a fair, intentional
69    distribution of resources. For example, racial equity considers root causes of inequities and
70    results in the elimination of racism in all policies, practices, attitudes, and cultural messages at
71    the structural, institutional, and individual levels. 
72 
73    "Equity Driven"  means  embedding  race,  gender,  and  broad  social  equity  approaches 
74    throughout projects or programs. 
75 
76    "Fellowship" refers to programs designed  to  provide  hands-on  career  experience  and
77    mentorship to identify and guide program participants. 
78 
79    "Port related industries" means the aviation, maritime and construction sectors. 
80 
81    "Priority Hire Policy" means the Port of Seattle Resolution No. 3736 and amended by Resolution
82    No. 3746 adopted by the Port of Seattle Commission which strives to increase access to jobs for
83    qualified construction workers from economically distressed areas of King County to Port of
84    Seattle projects. 
85 
86    "Pre-Apprentice" means an individual participating in a registered program that provides the
87    training and skill development needed to meet the qualifications for entry into an
88    apprenticeship. These programs also provide wrap-around support that allows participants to
89    remain in the program. 
90 
91    "Underrepresented" means thosewho are furthest from economic opportunity and social
92    justice and where applicable, those individuals will be given preference, where appropriate and
93    legal to do so. 
94 
95    "Workforce Development"means the composite of strategies and services, including career
96    connected learning, K-12 education, worker and employer training and job matching that help
97    connect and retain regional workers to careers within the Port and port related industries, and

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98    that help ensure area businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need to thrive and
99    grow. 
100 
101    "Workforce Skills"   means  building   lasting  skills  through  on-the-job  training,  paid
102    apprenticeships, credentialing, and other career-building opportunities. 
103 
104    "Wrap-Around Services" means thoseservices and support systems including but not limited
105    to, public transportation assistance, clothing, tools, food assistance, child-care and monetary
106    compensation as allowable by law, regulations and funding sources, that promote access and
107    stronger alignment of workforce, education,  vocational rehabilitation, and other human
108    services systems. 
109 
110    SECTION 3.  Scope and Applicability. 
111 
112    This policy directive applies to all activities of Port of Seattle employees and related business
113    units that support workforce development efforts. These activities, under the Port's legal
114    authority include; youth employment and Career Connected Learning, the Port internship and
115    fellowship programs and other programs and contracts to be administered by the Port of
116    Seattle Workforce Development department. 
117 
118    SECTION 4.  Responsibilities. 
119 
120    The Executive Director shall engage in the following activities in pursuit of this policy directive,
121    either directly or by appropriate redelegation of authority: 
122 
123        A.  Develop and implement workforce development programs consistent with this policy
124            directive. 
125 
126        B.  Incorporate  current  Port  policies  when  developing  and  implementing  workforce
127            development efforts, including the Port's Century Agenda, the Diversity in Contracting
128            Policy Directive, the Priority Hire Policy Directive, and other relevant Port policies. 
129 
130        C.  Develop a workforce development strategic plan to implement this policy and guide the
131            Port of Seattle's engagement in the development of a diverse,equitable and inclusive
132            workforce in King County and the region, that includes the following elements: 
133 
134            1.  An overview of workforce development best practices in port related industries
135                including:  education,  job  placement  assistance,  training,  coaching,  navigation
136                assistance, and skills needs of workers to acquire jobs and advance in their careers; 
137 
138            2.  A strategic overview of Port related industries for career connected  learning
139                opportunities, gaps and possible areas of focus for the port with an emphasis on
140                equitable impact; 
141 

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142            3.  Identification of current and future labor and skills needs of the Port and port-
143                related industry employers; 
144 
145            4.  Identification of gaps in port industry related training and education offerings with
146                recommendations for areas of opportunity; 
147 
148            5.  Identification of additional funding sources and partnership opportunities to support
149                port related industries; 
150 
151            6.  Identification of underrepresented communities that should be included in the
152                workforce development strategy; 
153 
154            7.  Identification of all port resources needed to carry out the strategic plan. 
155 
156    SECTION 5.  Policy. 
157 
158    To center diversity, equity and inclusion in its workforce development initiatives and to support
159    sustainable and competitive Port-related industries, the Port shall pursue the following goals: 
160 
161        A.  Goal 1: Increase Equitable Access. Increase equitable workforce access for the trades in
162            port-related  industries,  with  an  emphasis  on  expanding  access  to  near-port
163            communities which are furthest from economic and social justice. Develop metrics using
164            the following to demonstrate the increase in equitable access: 
165 
166            1.  Focus on workforce training and education on Port and port-related industries
167                where the greatest gaps and disparities in equity and diversity exist and; 
168 
169            2.  Promote access to wrap around services that are necessary to improve the structure
170                and delivery of services to individuals, including adults and youth who face barriers
171                to employment and job retention, where such services are allowed by law. 
172 
173            3.  Career Pathways 
174                 (i.)  Increase  equitable  access  to  career  pathways  in  port  and  port-related
175                     industries; 
176 
177                (ii.)  Support the development of career pathways in port related industries, with
178                     an emphasis on progressively high demand careers and in careers which the
179                     Port of Seattle's economic vitality is dependentupon, as identified within the
180                     workforce development strategic plan. 
181 
182            4.  Career Connected Learning: Adopt Career Connected Learning best practices into
183                Port workforce development and  internship programs for  all four (4) of the
184                commonly identified phases: 
185                (i)  Awareness: provides youth an introductory level exposure to industries. 

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186 
187                (ii)  Experiential: provides youth a focused level of direct exposure to industry
188                    learning. 
189 
190               (iii)  Preparation: provides youth with supervised, practical application of skills and
191                    knowledge through extended direct interactions with industry professionals. 
192 
193               (iv)  Launch:   provides  workforce-ready  youth  the  preparation  needed  for
194                    employment in a specific range of occupations. 
195 
196        B.  Goal 2: Leverage Port's Impact. Identify and prioritize opportunities for leadership and
197            influence to promote a sector-based approach to workforce development centered on
198            equity, diversity and inclusion. 
199 
200            1.  Make strategic investments  in the maritime, aviation and construction sectors
201                where the Port is uniquely positioned to leverage the greatest community impact.
202                Develop metrics to demonstrate the opportunities for leadership, influence and
203                investment: 
204 
205                (i)    Maritime Sector 
206                      a.  Create awareness and access to maritime education and career pathways
207                          in the maritime industry. 
208                      b.  Create targeted emphasis to increase maritime workforce development
209                          programs in near-port communities. 
210 
211                (ii)    Aviation Sector 
212                      a.  Leverage industry participation to increase recruitment and retention of
213                          workers in high need careers. 
214                      b.  Leverage industry investment in programs that support training for basic
215                          skills and career advancement. 
216                      c.  Invest Port funds in recruitment, retention, and training programs that will
217                          leverage increased investment in aviation related careers. 
218 
219               (iii)    Construction Sector 
220                      a.  Continue to invest in critical training and outreach programs and leverage
221                          increased participation from industry partners. 
222                      b.  Evaluate Priority Hire apprenticeship goals and placements and create
223                          stretch goals for apprenticeship placements. 
224 
225            2.  Foster partnership with community-based organizations, educational institutions,
226                and government agencies to maximize the workforce development impact of the
227                Port of Seattle: 
228 

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229               (i)    Support Priority Hire implementation and ongoing government to government
230                     coordination  to improve apprenticeship outcomes for individuals living in
231                     economically distressed zip codes, women and people of color. 
232 
233               (ii)    Career and Technical Education 
234                        a.  Coordinate with school districts to ensure Port interns are eligible for
235                            career and technical academic credit when available. 
236                        b.  Expand  opportunities  to  support  port  and  port  related  industry
237                            apprentice  and  pre-apprentice  programs  as  identified  within  the
238                            workforce development strategic plan. 
239 
240              (iii)    Youth Employment 
241                        a. Facilitate an increase in internship opportunities for the region's youth,
242                           with a targeted emphasis on students in King County and a goal of
243                           increasing opportunities by 500 placed interns a year, from 2021-2026. 
244                        b. Expand the Port of Seattle Intern Program to increase the number of
245                           interns placed in Port of Seattle internships or within port connected
246                           internship programs by 10% a year from 2021-2026. 
247                        c.  Compensate  interns placed with the Port of Seattle or within port
248                           connected intern programs. 
249 
250    (Res. NNNN, N, YYYY) 
251 
252    SECTION 6.  Program Evaluation. 
253 
254    The Executive Director, or a delegate, shall establish benchmarks and metrics to include, but
255    not be limited to the following: 
256 
257        A.  Provide an annual report to the Commission no later than April 30th that will include: 
258 
259            1.  The application of Career Connected Learning best practices that include leadership
260                and participation in Awareness, Experiential, Preparation, and Launch. 
261 
262            2. Evaluate the Port's workforce investments on an annual basis to show how the
263                Port's workforce  development  resources  are  utilized  to  leverage  industry
264                involvement and to address evolving workforce training, education and retention
265                demand projections as necessary. 
266 
267            3.  Identify investments, outcomes and progress of the Port's workforce development
268                efforts including, but not limited to: 
269 
270                (i)      the number students placed in internships; 
271                (ii)      the number of persons trained, recruited, placed in jobs, and retained; 
272               (iii)      the types of jobs and range of compensation; 

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273               (iv)      the number and types of businesses that are served; 
274                (v)      any other tangible benefits realized by the port, the workers, businesses,
275                        and the public. 



















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276                                          Revision History 
277 
278    Month D, YYYY            Resolution NNNN, doing thus-and-such  , was adopted. 
279 


















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