Port board approves $2 million for West Oakland community grants

Rose Foundation for Communities & the Environment to administer funds to benefiteconomic development

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted to provide $2 million to fund economic development projects in West Oakland. The funds will go to the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment to establish a grant making program. The Rose Foundation will award approximately $500,000 each year through an annual grant process over a four-to-eight-year period.

“We’re happy to provide funding that will support projects for local business and workforce development, youth education, or environmental projects that will benefit the entire West Oakland community,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan. “Special thanks to the West Oakland Community Advisory Group and the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment for their great collaboration and working with us to bring this important project to fruition.”

Eligible projects must be consistent with California Tidelands Trust guidelines, which require the land be used for statewide public purposes including commerce and other recognized uses. The Port acts as trustee on behalf of the State for Port property. The eligible grant projects must also address economic, social and environmental equity issues in West Oakland, and be focused towards at least one of the following areas:

• Business development projects that support local entrepreneurship, small business development and other targeted local economic development in West Oakland including local hiring programs serving West Oakland businesses and residents

• Workforce development projects, including job training programs targeted towards West Oakland residents

• Educational projects including (but not limited to) programs serving West Oakland K-12 students around the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), adult skills development and continuing education programs

• Environmental projects focused on reducing existing or historical environmental impacts, and/or providing environmental benefits to the West Oakland community

The intent of the Community Fund is to provide money for projects in West Oakland, the neighborhood most directly impacted by closure of the former Oakland Army Base. The City of Oakland will also be contributing $2 million to the fund.

“As a long-standing community resident and the Co-Chair of the West Oakland Community Advisory Group, this funding helps fulfill a decades old promise from the Oakland Army Base to the people of my community," said community leader Brian Beveridge. "This new fund will enhance the quality of life for our neighbors through job training, assistance to local entrepreneurs, environmental programs and more.”

A five-person Funding Advisory Board will be created to guide grant making strategy, ensure robust outreach to the West Oakland community about funding opportunities, and review grant proposals to advise grantee selection.