The California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has announced the award of $27 million to support data system development and interoperability across California's five containerized ports, the first-ever state-level funding in the country focused on improving data functionality across a statewide network of ports.
As the nation's premier gateway for international trade, California and its ports are essential to the smooth functioning of the global economy. The state's containerized ports, which include the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, and Hueneme, handle a staggering 40% of all U.S. containerized imports, supporting millions of jobs and generating billions in economic activity.
"California's ports are critical to the stability of our national and global supply chains, as well as the health of our worldwide economy," said GO-Biz Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers. "These historic, first-of-their-kind awards will allow us to use data to improve the functionality of our supply chain, and we look forward to working with our ports to further the momentum that these projects will generate across the state."
The awards will fund ten innovative projects across the five ports that address key challenges in port operations and foster long-term statewide freight resilience. These projects encompass a wide range of solutions including optimization of cargo-routing, deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, implementation of climate resiliency and emissions reductions measures, adoption of trucking appointment systems, and the development of new data standards for cargo.
"This milestone marks significant progress in the Governor's vision to improve California's supply chain, powering us into a more equitable and economically prosperous future," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "Through this critical funding and strong collaboration between California's ports, key operators will now have essential data to help move goods using a more efficient, reliable and resilient transportation network. Together with our recent Port and Freight Infrastructure Program investments, these groundbreaking awards will help leverage innovation and new approaches, continuing to advance CalSTA's Core Four priorities of economic prosperity, equity, climate action and safety."
The grant program and awards also mark a significant milestone in the Governor and Legislature's historic investment in supply chain and goods movement, aimed at building long-term resilience in the wake of global supply chain challenges just years ago.
The funds follow the signing of a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last spring that formed the California Port Data Partnership between the five ports. Both the MOU and the awards are expected to yield significant economic, environmental, and transportation benefits for the State.
For more information: business.ca.gov