What is the MIIF?
The Maritime Industrial Impact Fund (MIIF) was established by the Board of Port Commissioners in 2010 in recognition that certain communities may be subject to disproportionate adverse impacts and constraints because of the presence of the Port’s maritime industry and terminals.
The MIIF was originally funded with $500,000. Later, the Board committed one-half of one percent (.5%) of the Port’s annual gross maritime industrial revenue to the program. In June 2023, the Board voted to increase the annual funding to 2% of the Port’s annual gross maritime industrial revenue. Then, in May 2024, the Board voted to again increase the annual funding, this time to 4% of the Port’s annual gross maritime industrial revenue, which includes revenues earned from the operation of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, the National City Marine Terminal, and rents from the Port's maritime industrial tenants.
Formalized under BPC Policy No. 773, impacts covered under MIIF include diminished air quality; visual impacts; excessive noise; heavy movement of vehicles or equipment through adjacent residential or commercial areas; or disproportionate degradation or use of public infrastructure, such as roads, streets, or sidewalks. The MIIF can also be used to support maritime electrification efforts such as electric trucks and infrastructure.
FRANC
The Port of San Diego allocated $400,000 from the MIIF to support the Free Ride Around National City (FRANC) shuttle program, which provides a clean and safe travel option for those who live and work in National City, improving quality of life by expanding affordable travel options while improving air quality and public health through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants.
The FRANC program was created by the City of National City, in partnership with Circuit Transit, Inc. It is an electric shuttle system that ties together destinations in downtown National City, Old Town National City, West Side National City, and the Port's National City Bayfront, including Pepper Park. FRANC also provide first and last-mile connections between the 8th and 24th Street Transit Centers and waterfront employers like Naval Base San Diego, National City Marine Terminal, and more.
Monarch School Garden & Nutrition Program
Located in Barrio Logan, the Monarch School serves unhoused kindergarten through 12th grade students since 1987, providing them with the stability and security they need to heal and learn.
The Port of San Diego allocated $20,000 from the MIIF to support the Monarch School's Garden & Nutrition Program through which students learn the importance of growing your own food, nutrition, and helping the planet.
MIIF-Supported Projects
Port member cities and public entities may propose projects for MIIF consideration. Proposed projects must show a nexus between maritime operations on tidelands and off-tidelands impacts that a specific project is expected to mitigate.
The following are Board-approved funding allocations through the MIIF:
- City of National City MOU Free Rides Program (FRANC) - $400,000
- Monarch School Garden and Nutrition Program - $20,000
- Clean Air Action Plan - $12,930
- Residential Air Filters Portside Community - $103,000
- Residential Lodging During the Navy Vessel Fire - $96,939
- Air Filters for Perkins Elementary - $488,165
- Bayshore Bikeway (National City segment) - $900,000
- Barrio Logan Nighttime Noise Study - $116,710
- Working Waterfront Noise Study - $2,950
- Maritime Clean Air Strategic Plan - $185,000
- National City Wayfinding - $250,000