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Port of Hueneme Leads Ventura County’s Green Economy

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PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme kicked off 2020 drawing the attention of Ventura County’s business leaders and environmental advocates earning the California Green Business Network Certification and the 2020 Outstanding Business Catalyst Award.

“What a great way to begin the New Year! Having both the business and environmental communities recognize the work the Port is doing affirms that we truly are leading our community in green job growth.” Jess Ramirez, Oxnard Harbor District President stated,” Our community knows that if the Port is involved, the job gets done right and in the greenest way possible.”
Oxnard Harbor District Commissioners Mary Anne Rooney and Jess Herrera were present to accept the 2020 Outstanding Business Catalyst Award at the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting on January 30th, 2020.

“The relationship between the Chamber and the Port goes back 82 years, when they rallied support to have the Port built at Hueneme instead of Ventura.” Commissioner Rooney stated, “This award speaks to our Vision as a Port, ‘to provide the maximum possible economic and social benefits to our community and industries served’.”
Chamber of Commerce leadership and Port team accept the 2020 Outstanding Business Catalyst Award at the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting on January 30, 2020. Pictured (L to R) Chamber Past Chair Stacy Miller, Port Gov’t & Public Relations Manager Cam Spencer, Ports America General Manager Casey Dexter, OHD Commissioner Mary Anne Rooney, OHD Commissioner Jess Herrera, Port CCO/CPAO & 2020 Chamber Vice Chair Dona Lacayo, Port Deputy Executive Director/CFO/CAO Andrew Palomares, and Chamber 2020 Chair Celina Zacarias.
The Port’s past two years of record-breaking cargo growth (1.65 million cargo tons), the 15,834 jobs generated annually, and their leadership as the Greenest Port in the United States were highlighted in the Chamber’s selection of the Port.

Nancy Lindholm, President of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce commented, “This award is a very small token of the appreciation that the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce has for the Port of Hueneme and its impact on our local economy, all the jobs that it provides and the tax revenues generated, our community would not be the same without the Port.”

The Chamber award comes on the heels of the Port earning the California Green Business Network Certification. Funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and under assistance agreement with the California Air Resources Board, the California Green Business Network “is a nonprofit focused on sustainability; [partnering] with local governments and utilities to help businesses meet an aggressive set of environmental standards.” Being a Certified Green Business “means that your business complies with environmental regulations in the areas of waste, energy, water, pollution prevention, and air quality.”

Jason Hodge, Oxnard Harbor District Vice President stated, “These two recent accolades are a testament to our two-pronged approach of sustainable job growth for our Port. We view it our responsibility to set the bar for our community in what green economics looks like: one eye on job creation, and the other on responsible resource management.”

“We pride ourselves on having business growth and environmental sustainability work in harmony at the Port,” reflected CEO & Port Director Kristin Decas. “These two priorities shape our decisions and investments; it’s great to have our business and environmental communities recognize our efforts with these accolades.”
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 $9.5 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.