The Port of San Diego has approved $480,000 in funding to provide air filtration systems to communities located near its industrial waterfront operations. The money, drawn from the agency's Maritime Industrial Impact Fund, will be distributed through the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District to help residents and schools combat air quality challenges.
According to officials, the investment will supply filtration devices to roughly 500 households and as many as 300 schools in neighborhoods including Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights and West National City. These areas experience elevated exposure to air pollution due to their proximity to port activities, making indoor air quality improvement a priority for public health.
Ann Moore, who chairs the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, said the initiative represents the agency's commitment to supporting neighboring communities. Paula Forbis, the county's Air Pollution Control Officer, noted that the program builds on a successful pilot project that received positive responses from participants.
The Maritime Industrial Impact Fund was established specifically to address the environmental and operational impacts of port activities on surrounding residential areas. The fund targets issues such as air quality degradation and heavy industrial traffic.
This allocation joins several other recent investments by the port authority, including $800,000 for air filtration at Logan Heights Library, $488,000 for equipment at Perkins Elementary, and $1.5 million for the National City segment of the Bayshore Bikeway. The port operates as a self-funded district without relying on tax revenue, managing 34 miles of bay waterfront across five cities.