Port of Hueneme Receives Funding as Part of State’s Recovery Efforts

PORT HUENEME, CA . As a result of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s
announcement last year that California’s public ports will receive an allocation of funding
from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Port of Hueneme was awarded
$2,337,563 in funds to help recover from revenue losses experienced in fiscal year 2020
during the COVID–19 pandemic. The State Lands Commission administered the grant
through a competitive process for California Ports and special districts.
ARPA funding is part of the state’s effort to invest in California ports that have lost revenue
and experience increases in expenses directly related to COVID–19. The funding is intended
to position ports with improved infrastructure as supply chain congestion challenges our
economy. The Port of Hueneme serves 15 West Coast States, Hawaii and parts of
Southwest Canada, with over 15,500 jobs that are supported by its active operations.
“Since the early days of the pandemic, the Port of Hueneme and other California ports have
worked to ensure essential goods reach consumers, even as they faced abrupt and dramatic
revenue shortfalls,” said State Controller and State Lands Commission Chair Betty T. Yee.

A Game Changer

“This funding is a game changer. It will restore financial losses while helping the port address
supply chain constraints and invest in technology to improve the environment.”
“Our Port community showed amazing resiliency when the pandemic started,” said Mary
Anne Rooney, President of the Oxnard Harbor District. “The brave women and men of ILWU
Local 46 and all of our Port stakeholders kept cargo moving 24/7 despite the challenges. We
really appreciate Governor Newsom’s efforts to invest in our Ports as this is also an
investment in the future of zero–emission technology innovation, workforce development and
infrastructure modernization.”
Auto manufacturing came to a complete halt in the last quarter of fiscal year 2020 and the
Port’s auto manufacturers experienced a major setback in production. A routine week of
receiving 4–6 auto ships at the Port, dropped to two vessels calls and in some cases zero.
Other business sectors including fruit, fertilizer and project cargo weathered better and as
such, the total loss in revenue to the Port in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019
was 3 percent. However, the loss in auto revenue was compounded by the increase in
expenses of 8 percent and the state grant covers these impacts.
“Ports are critical to California’s economy,” said Lieutenant Governor and State Lands
Commission member Eleni Kounalakis. “The funding the Commission dispersed is dedicated
to preventing layoffs, retaining staff, and facilitating infrastructure investments that will benefit
the environment and the economy.”

Funding Infusion

“This infusion of funding will help make the Port more solvent as it faced fiscal year 2020
losses in revenue from auto business impacted by COVID–19 and to help cover the surging
costs in capital improvements from inflation and supply shortages,” said Kristin Decas, CEO
& Port Director. “Our zero–emission electric crane infrastructure project that more than
doubled in cost by the millions can now make it over the finish line with increased fiscal
security.”
“The pandemic has significantly impacted the Port in a number of ways,” said Austin Yang,
Port of Hueneme’s Director of Finance and Accounting. “This award will provide critical
funding to help strengthen and expand our fiscal health.”
About the Port of Hueneme
The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways
for niche cargo on the West Coast. The Port is governed by five locally elected Port
Commissioners. The Port moves $10.85 billion in goods each year and consistently ranks
among the top ten U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the
community by bringing $1.7 billion in economic activity and creating 15,834 trade–related
jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $119 million in direct and
related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services. In 2017, the Port of
Hueneme became the first port in California to become Green Marine certified and was voted
the Greenest Port in the U.S. at the Green Shipping Summit.
www.portofh.org