CLEVELAND – July 10, 2025 – The Port of Cleveland board of directors today approved the allocation of $260,000 in Community Investment Fund (CIF) grants to help support seven local organizations advancing education, historic preservation and maritime access across the community.

“These awards reflect our deep commitment to investing in people and places that shape a stronger, more inclusive future for our region,” said David Gutheil, Interim CEO of the Port of Cleveland. “Each selected project aligns with the Port’s mission to drive economic vitality while strengthening the communities we serve.”

Established in 2018, the Community Investment Fund sets aside 10% of Port development finance revenues annually to support nonprofit-led initiatives that align with the Port’s values – especially around workforce readiness, sustainability, and equitable development. To date, the fund has invested over $500,000 in community grants to community-based organizations throughout Cuyahoga County.

The Port issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) on May 15 and received 17 qualified proposals. Following an in-depth evaluation of the proposals, the CIF committee has recommended funding the following organizations for the following reasons:

Teaching Cleveland / $50,000: For the support of the refinement of our Fresh Water Institute Year 1 experience, as well as the onboarding and engagement of a new cohort of students. The Fresh Water Institute (FWI) is an interdisciplinary, two-year program designed for Northeast Ohio area high school students to delve into the critical importance of Lake Erie and the Great Lakes to our region. Through rigorous summer field research and capstone projects, fellows will develop a comprehensive understanding of the water cycle, its impact on our communities, and the complex environmental and social issues surrounding this essential resource.

· Great Lakes Science Center / $50,000: To support maritime-focused programming and operational activities for the Centennial Celebration of the Steamship William G. Mather including mobile maritime outreach and interactive Great Lakes history exhibits.

· Cleveland Restoration Society / $50,000: To recapitalize its Historic Properties Fund to enable strategic investments in Cleveland properties it currently owns or might own in the near future. These properties include eight houses on Newton Avenue (Hough neighborhood), the Dall-Mays Houses on E. 46th Street (Central neighborhood), and the Jesse Owens Family Home (Fairfax neighborhood). Investments in these properties would be transformational for the subject property and for the surrounding area.

· Cleveland Rowing Foundation / $35,000: To hire a Row Cleveland community engagement coach focused on expanding rowing and river access to underserved neighborhoods.

· Baldwin Wallace University / $30,000: To fund the “Mobile Wave Tank for Marine Technology Outreach” to design and build a demonstration scale (approximately two-meter length) wave tank for education and outreach. The key applications of this project will focus on ocean exploration, aquaculture, marine transportation and desalination (alternative fuels).

· Economic & Community Development Institute / $25,000: To support training and resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

· Elements of Internal Movement / $20,000: To fund community outreach coordinators and educators to assist with programming that hires youth through funding provided by Ohio Means Jobs for a structured, hyper-localized, experiential internship experience.