10e. Attachment

Port’s Opportunity Youth Initiative

Item No. 10e_attach_01
Meeting Date: February 8, 2022


Port of Seattle Commission 
Workforce Development Policy
Directive 
As Amended and Adopted
June 23, 2020 



Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 1 of 10

SECTION 1.    Purpose. 
The purpose of this Policy Directive is to fulfil Century Agenda strategic objectives by increasing
equitable access for workers in port-related economic activities,  create  opportunities for
workers to acquire the skills, experience, and education they need to secure increasingly
complex and better compensated jobs and careers at the Port and in port-related economic
industries and activities; and to guide the workforce development efforts of the Port of Seattle
to benefit workers, Port customers and tenants, and port-related economic activities in nearport
communities in King County and the general area. 
Workforce development is critical to achieving the Port's mission to serve as an economic
development agency. A s a regional anchor institution, the Port will leverage its cross-sector
influence and leadership to promote long-term, sustainable advancements across port-related
economic activities that promote equity. 
The port-related workforce development described herein provides a substantial public benefit
consistent with the Port Commission's economic developmentgoals and is consistent with
ongoing worker training initiatives in place in King County. 
This policy directive advances the Port of Seattle's commitment to workforce development and
is intended to: 
1.  Increase Equitable Access to Economic Prosperity 
2.  Leverage Port Impact and Innovation 
SECTION 2.  Definitions. 
When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
given below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise: 
"Apprentice" means anindividual participating in a registered program that provides closely
supervised on-the-job training which may be supplemented with classroom instruction.
Apprentices receive wages when they begin and earn increases as they become proficient in
various skills. Once the program is complete, apprentices receive industry certifications and
licenses to practice their trade.
"Career and Technical Education" means the practice of teaching specific career skills to
students in middle school, high school, and post-secondary institutions. 
"Career Connected Learning" means acontinuum of events and work-related experiences
designed to create meaningful linkages between K-12 education and future employment
opportunities. They are typically broken down into a series of events classified as, "Awareness",
"Experiential", "Preparation", and "Launch." These events are geared towards creating
experiential awareness about career pipelines or pathways for young people from an early age. 

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 2 of 10

"Career Pathways" means an integrated collection of programs and services intended to
develop community members' core academic, technical and employability skills; provide them
with continuous education, training; and place them in high-demand, high-opportunity jobs and
careers. 
"Career Transitions" means the experience by opportunity youth and adults transitioning from
high school and or GED programs, involvement with the criminal justice system, income-related
housing insecurity, military veterans, and or under-employment. 
"Community Capacity Building" means the process by which community members and
community organizations obtain, improve, and retain the skills, knowledge, tools, equipment,
and other resources needed to engage effectively in planning and decision-making processes
and advocate for self-determination in both policy and project decisions. 
"Demand Occupations" means Occupations within the high growth industries (as defined by
Federal government) and having more than the average number of new openings. 
"Disaggregated Data" means data that has been broken down by detailed sub-categories, such
as race, gender,  income,  or census tract level findings. Disaggregated data can reveal
disproportionalities that may not be fully reflected in aggregated data. 
"Displacement" means theinvoluntary relocation of current residents or businesses from their
current residence. This is a different phenomenon than when property owners voluntarily sell
their interests to capture an increase in value. Physical (direct) displacement is the result of
eviction,  condemnation,  rehabilitation,  or  demolition  of  property,  or  the  expiration  of
covenants on rent- or income-restricted housing. Economic (indirect) displacement occurs
when residents and businesses can no longer afford escalating rents or property taxes. Cultural
displacement occurs when people choose to move because their neighbors and culturally
related businesses have left the area.
"Disparities Rank" means, according to theWashington Environmental Health Disparities Map,
means a ranking of cumulative impacts that determines the prevalence of disparity within an
area. The rank is identified by multiplying environmental exposures and effects with the
presence of sensitive populations and socioeconomic factors. 
"Economic Development Programs"  means occupational job training and placement, job
advancement and job retention, pre-apprenticeship training, or occupational education
programs associated with port tenants, customers, and local economic development related to
port tenants or port-related economic activities that are sponsored by a port and operated by a
nonprofit, private, or public entity. The Port of Seattle refers to these as "workforce
development programs." 
"Equity" means the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people while
striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 3 of 10

communities historically oppressed. Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness
with the procedures and processes of institutions or systems and a fair, intentional distribution
of resources. 
"Equity Driven"  means  embedding  race,  gender,  and  broad  social  equity  approaches 
throughout projects or programs. 
"Fellowships" refers to programs designed to provide hands-on career experience and
mentorship to identify and guide program participants. 
"Green Job/Green Career" means a job or career needed to operate and sustainably manage
Port assets. Green jobs/green careers provide the skilled and diverse workforce in King County 
required by the Port to satisfy environment and sustainability commitments identified in the
Century Agenda and support the Port's operations. This workforce is created using principles of
an inclusive green economy that concurrently enhance the environmental health and economic
well-being of communities. Examples of Port-related green jobs/green careers may include but
is not limited to: renewable and solar energy, stormwater management, habitat restoration and
carbon banking, eco-tourism and sustainable transportation, environmental compliance and
remediation, environmental policy, as allowable by law. 
"Inclusive Green Economy" means according to the European Commission, as an economic
model,  one  that differs from  traditional  ones in that it takes due  consideration of
environmental and social externalities, focuses on resource efficiency and ecosystems, as
building blocks of the economy; taking into account that environment degradation undermines
long-term economic growth and human development. The transition to an inclusive green
economy entails joined efforts at many levels, including in stimulating sustainable lifestyles,
scaling up sustainable consumption and production and encouraging green entrepreneurship,
through the advancement of eco-innovations, the facilitation of resource efficiency, and the
mainstreaming of green consumer behavior. In the course of change, new green jobs are to be
created without compromising on existing employment, and a significant reduction on carbon
emissions, waste and other forms of pollution is to be achieved. 
"Port-related Industries" means aviation, maritime, construction trades and green career
industries. 
"Priority Hire Policy" means the Port of Seattle Resolution No. 3736 and amended by Resolution
No. 3746 adopted by the Port of Seattle Commission which strives to increase access to jobs for
qualified construction workers from economically distressed areas of King County to Port of
Seattle projects. 
"Pre-Apprentice" means anindividual participating in a registered program that provides the
training  and  skill  development  needed  to  meet  the  qualifications  for  entry  into  an

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 4 of 10

apprenticeship. These programs also provide wrap-around support that allows participants to
remain in the program. 
"OpportunityYouth" are defined as people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither
enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. For instance, in many cases, these
young people are experiencing connected challenges like homelessness, being in foster care,
involvement in the youth or adult criminal justice systems, and being an immigrant or child of
an immigrant; these life circumstances become barriers to participating in the workforce. 
"Training system" means programs and courses of secondary vocational education, technical
college programs and courses, community college vocational programs and courses, private
career school and college programs and courses, employer-sponsored training, adult basic
education programs and courses, programs and courses funded by the federal workforce
innovation and opportunity act, programs and courses funded by the federal vocational act,
programs and courses funded under the federal adult education act, publicly funded programs
and courses for adult literacy education, and apprenticeships, and programs and courses
offered by private and public nonprofit organizations that are representative of communities or
significant segments of communities and provide job training or adult literacy services. 
"Workforce Development"means the composite of strategies and services, including career
connected learning, K-12 education, worker and employer training and job matching that help
connect and retain workers to careers within the Port and port-related economic activities, and
that help ensure area businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need to thrive and
grow. RCW 53.08.245(1) provides that "[i]t shall be in the public purpose for all port districts to
engage in economic development programs." RCW 53.08.245(2)(a) provides that such
economic development programs may include "[o]occupational job training and placement, job
advancement and job retention, preapprenticeship training, or occupational education
programs associated with port tenants, customers, and local economic development related to
port tenants or port-related economic activities that are sponsored by a port and operated by a
nonprofit, private, or public entity." 
"Wrap-AroundServices" means those services and support systems including but not limited
to, public transportation assistance, work related clothing, tools, work related food assistance,
child-care and monetary compensation as they relate to work-needs, and as allowable by law,
regulations and funding sources, that promote access and stronger alignment of workforce,
education, vocational rehabilitation, and other human services systems. 
SECTION 3.  Scope and Applicability. 
This policy directive, in alignment with WA RCW 53.08.245, applies to all activities of the Port of
Seattle's employees and related business units that support economic development programs,
hereafter referred to as "workforce development programs." 

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 5 of 10

SECTION 4.  Responsibilities. 
The Executive Director shall engage in the following activities in pursuit of this policy directive,
either directly or by appropriate delegation of authority: 
A.  Develop and implement economic and workforce development programs consistent
with this policy directive. 
B.  Incorporate  current  Port  policies  when  developing  and  implementing  workforce
development efforts, including the Port's Century Agenda, the Diversity in Contracting
Policy Directive, the Priority Hire Policy Directive, the Duwamish Valley Community
Benefits Commitment Policy Directive, the South King County Fund, the Opportunities
Motion, and other relevant Port directives and policies. 
C.  Develop a three-year workforce development strategic plan to implement this policy
and guide equitable, diverse, and inclusive economic development programs across King
County and the region. The strategic plan will include the following elements: 
1.  An overview of workforce development best practices in port-related industries
including:  education,  job  placement  assistance,  training,  coaching,  navigation
assistance, and skills needs of workers to acquire and retain jobs and advance in
their careers; 
2.  A  strategic  overview  of  port-related  industries  for  career  connected  learning
opportunities, workforce education and training system gaps, and possible areas of
focus for the Port with an emphasis on equitable impact; 
3.  Identification of current and future labor and skills needs of the Port and portrelated
industry employers; 
4.  Identification of gaps in port-related industry workforce education and training
system offerings with recommendations; 
5.  Identification of additional funding sources and partnership opportunities to support
port-related industries; 
6.  Identification of disproportionately impacted communities who are also at high risk
of displacement will be prioritized in the workforce development strategy; 
7.  Identification of opportunities for the Port to promote an inclusive green economy
through innovative workforce training and career pathways that further advance
opportunities  for  port-related economic activities to advance the region's
sustainability and climate change resilience. 

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 6 of 10

8.  Identification of all port resources needed to carry out the strategic plan. 
SECTION 5.  Policy. 
Port-related workforce development provides a substantial public benefit consistent with the
Port of Seattle Commission's economic development goals and is consistent with ongoing
worker training initiatives in place. To center equity, diversity and inclusion in its workforce
development efforts and to support sustainable and competitive port-related industries, the
Port shall pursue the following goals: 
A.  Goal 1: Increase Equitable Access to Economic Prosperity. Increase equitable workforce
access for the trades in port-related economic activities, with an emphasis on expanding
opportunities to near-port communities which are most disproportionately impacted.
Port staff will develop program priorities, actions, benchmarks, and metrics for success.
1.  Focus on workforce training and education on  Port and port-related economic
activities where the greatest gaps and disparity rankings exist and; 
2.  Promote access to wrap around services and infrastructure that are necessary to
improve the delivery of services to individuals, including adults and youth who face
barriers to employment and job retention, where such services are allowed by law. 
3.  Career Pathways 
(i.)  Increase equitable access to port related industry specific career pathways and
port-related economic activities; 
(ii.)  Support the development of equitable port related industry specific career
pathways with an emphasis on progressively high demand careers and in
careers which the Port of Seattle's economic vitality is dependent upon. 
4.  Career Connected Learning: Adopt Career Connected Learning best practices into
Port workforce development, internships, and fellowship programs for all four (4) of
the commonly identified phases, with a special emphasis on support for opportunity
youth: 
(i)  Awareness: provides youth an introductory level exposure to industries and job
skills in port-related economic sectors. 
(ii)  Experiential: provides youth a focused level of direct exposure to learning in
industries and port-related economic sectors. 
(iii)  Preparation: provides youth with supervised, practical application of skills and
knowledge through extended direct interactions with industry and sector
professionals in Port-related economic sectors. 

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 7 of 10

(iv)  Launch:   provides   workforce-ready   youth   the   preparation   needed   for
employment in a specific range of occupations within the Port and in Portrelated
economic activities. 
B.  Goal 2: Leverage Port Impact and Innovation. Identify and prioritize opportunities for
leadership  and  influence  to  promote  a  sector-based  approach  to  workforce
development centered on equity, diversity and inclusion. 
1.  Make strategic investments in the maritime, aviation, construction trades, green
careers, and other port-related economic activities where the Port is uniquely
positioned to leverage the greatest community impact. 
(i.)  Develop metrics to demonstrate the opportunities for leadership, influence
and investment. 
(ii.)  Create targeted emphasis to increase workforce development programs in
near-port communities. 
(iii.)  Leverage  industry  participation  to  increase  recruitment  and  retention  of
workers in port-related demand occupations and high need careers. 
(iv.)  Create awareness and access to education and career pathways in port related
industries. 
(v.)  Leverage port-related industry investment in programs that support training
for basic skills and career advancement. 
(vi.)  Invest Port funds in recruitment, retention, and training programs that will
leverage increased investment in port-related careers. 
2.  Foster partnership with community-based organizations, educational institutions,
labor, industry stakeholders, and government agencies to maximize the workforce
development impact of the Port of Seattle: 
(i)     Support Priority Hire and ongoing government to government coordination to
improve  apprenticeship  outcomes for individuals living in economically
distressed zip codes, women and people of color. 
(ii)     Career and Technical Education, CTE 
a.  Coordinate with school districts and other degree-granting institutions
to ensure Port fellows and interns are eligible for CTE credit when
available. 

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 8 of 10

b.  Create   opportunities  to  support  port  and  port-related  industry
apprentice and pre-apprentice programs. 
c.   Improve access to educational and career support resources, such as job
training centers, that facilitates workers' physical access to workforce
development opportunities for disproportionately impacted near-port
communities. 
(iii)     Youth Employment 
a. Facilitate the expansion of the Port of Seattle Internship Program, such
as by increasing the number of high school and college interns placed in 
Port of Seattle internships, supporting port-related internship programs 
or exploring other strategies to support port-related career-connected
learning. 
b. Support the placement of opportunity youth 16-24 years old in highquality
, compensated fellowship, internship, and job opportunities at the
Port and with partner organizations  to support port-related careerconnected
learning. 
SECTION 6.  Program Evaluation. 
The Executive Director, or a delegate, shall establish benchmarks and metrics to include, but
not limited to the following: 
A.  Provide an annual report to the Commission no later than April 30th. 
1.  The  application  of  Career  Connected  Learning  best  practices  in  Awareness,
Experiential, Preparation, and Launch. 
2. Evaluation of the Port's workforce investments on an annual basis, using
disaggregated data. Report will show how the Port's workforce development
resources  are  utilized  to  leverage  industry  involvement  to  address  evolving
workforce training, education and retention demand projections as necessary and to
ensure equity, actions outlined in the policy directive shall strive to address the
concerns of community members disproportionately impacted. 
3.  Identification  of investments, outcomes and progress of the Port's workforce
development efforts including, but not limited to: 
(i)       The number youth placed in internships and jobs; 
(ii)       The number of persons trained, recruited, placed in jobs, and retained; 

Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                             Page 9 of 10

(iii)       The types of internships and jobs and range of compensation; 
(iv)       The number and types of businesses that are served; 
(v)       Any other tangible benefits realized by the port, the workers, businesses,
and the public.
(vi)       List the partnerships identified under Section 5(b)(2). 















Port of Seattle Workforce Development Policy Directive                                                           Page 10 of 10

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