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Port authority invites East Vancouver community groups to apply for project funding

Centerm Community Fund part of port terminal expansion project in Burrard Inlet

Community organizations from the Downtown Eastside, Strathcona, Grandview-Woodland, and Hastings Sunrise are now invited to submit applications until November 29 for project funding from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Centerm Community Fund.

The Centerm Community Fund is part of a larger $2 million donation to community initiatives in East Vancouver from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, in coordination with Centerm container terminal operator DP World.

“We created the Centerm Community Fund as part of our community investment for the Centerm Expansion Project, which is now underway,” says Duncan Wilson, vice president environment, community and government affairs at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “It’s exciting to be able to add this new addition to our existing community investment program and support local organizations that do so much in this community. We are looking forward to learning about the wonderful community programs and projects that people put forth in their applications.”

Projects supporting community enrichment, education and training, or environmental leadership are eligible to receive funding.

The Centerm Community Fund was created to provide $500,000 to support projects proposed by organizations in Downtown Eastside (including Chinatown, Gastown, Railtown), Strathcona, Hastings-Sunrise, and Grandview-Woodland. The total amount of the fund will be drawn down over three years and three application periods.

Organizations can learn more about how to apply for funding through the new Centerm Community Fund at portvancouver.com/centerm-fund. The first submission period for applications will run from September 3 until November 29, 2019. Applications must be received during the intake period to be considered.

About the Centerm Expansion Project

The Centerm Expansion Project is being completed to help meet anticipated near-term demand for trade shipped in containers through the Port of Vancouver, including imported clothing, food, and electronics, and exports such as pulp, paper, lumber, and specialty grains. By increasing the terminal footprint by only 15% and rearranging on-site operations, the facility will be able to handle about 60% more containers. In addition to increasing the capacity of the terminal, the project is predicted to create 350 full time equivalent jobs per year during construction, 800-900 new jobs for ongoing operations related to the expansion, and 1,700-1,900 new jobs as part of the greater port economy (in fields such as logistics, supply chain, transloading, distribution). The project is anticipated to be substantially complete by the end of 2021.
portvancouver.com/projects/centerm-expansion-project/

About Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for the stewardship of the federal port lands in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. It is financially self-sufficient and accountable to the federal minister of transport and operates pursuant to the Canada Marine Act. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo, facilitating trade between Canada and more than 170 world economies. Located in a naturally beautiful setting on Canada’s west coast, the port authority and port terminals and tenants are responsible for the efficient and reliable movement of goods and passengers, integrating environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives into all areas of port operations. Enabling the trade of approximately $240 billion in goods, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.

For more information about previous Vancouver Fraser Port Authority community investments to the communities along the south shore of Burrard Inlet, visit portvancouver.com/community/neighbouring-communities.

Media contact:
Danielle Jang
Media relations advisor
604.340.8617
[email protected]

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