The Port of Corpus Christi Authority is committed to supporting local community programs, initiatives, and activities that improve the quality of life in our regional community. We strive to increase understanding of Port operations through open communication with the local community. The Port has an interest in partnering with community groups to educate and inform the public about Port projects and programs as well as, sponsorships that focus on one of the Port’s Area of Impact:
- Community Vitality
- Economic Development
- Education & Workforce Development
- Health Care & Safety
- Sustainability & Environmental
Texas Water Code Section 60.201 indicates that districts in the State of Texas which operate ports or waterways and harbor and terminal facilities are in keen competition with other ports, waterways, harbors, and terminals outside the state and with privately owned port and terminal facilities inside the state. Well-situated and well-equipped ports and waterways in other nearby states and owners of substantial port and terminal facilities located inside and outside the state are advertising, promoting and developing their competing ports, waterways, harbors, and terminals through expenditure of large amounts of money without any audit or restriction on expenditure of the money. This activity or expenditure is thwarting and impeding the use, progress, and development of the ports, waterways, harbors, and terminals of this state. Continuation of this hardship and injustice can best be met and coped with by more liberal use of some relatively small fund set aside from the gross income from operations of the ports of this state to be used in the manner provided in this subchapter.
In accordance with Texas Water Code Section 60.201, the Port budgets part of its revenues to
- any activity or matter incidental to the advertising, development, or promotion of the district or its ports, waterways, harbors, or terminals;
- furthering the general welfare of the district and its facilities; or
- the betterment of the district’s relations with steamship and rail lines, shippers, consignees of freight, governmental officials, or others interested or sought to be interested in the ports, waterways, harbors, or terminals.
To ensure the proper and effective use of community funding dollars, Port of Corpus Christi Commissioners have adopted this Promotion and Development Policy (externally referred to as Community Funding) on how funds can be spent.
Promotion & Development Funding Budget
Commissioners will set a Promotion & Development Funding budget at the start of each year, January 1 through December 31. The Port’s Community Relations Department manages this budget.
Two‐Yearly Call Periods for Applications
The Port accepts funding requests twice per year during the following call periods:
October 1 – 31 (Fall)
- Sponsored events or programs for the October funding call should take place between January 1 and June 30 of the upcoming year.
April 1 – 30 (Spring)
- Sponsored events or programs for the April funding call should take place between July 1 and Dec 31 of the current year.
Application Procedures
Organizations seeking funding must submit an online request using the Port of Corpus Christi Sponsorship Request Application during the call for application periods (October 1 – 31 or April 1 – 30).
All applications will be reviewed by the Community Relations Department and considered by executive staff. Promotion & Development Funding requests in excess of $50,000 must be reviewed and approved by Port of Corpus Christi Commission or the Commission’s designee. Applications must be completed in full, with the required documentation before they will be considered by the Port.
Selection Criteria
The applicant must clearly demonstrate how Port funds will be used to:
- Support the Port of Corpus Christi Pillars of Success;
- Help inform and educate the public about the Port of Corpus Christi;
- Promote the Port’s maritime and commercial interest and development; and/or
- Encourage environmental stewardship
Restrictions
Funding will not be awarded to:
- Charitable organizations that have no direct relationship/benefit to the Port/maritime industry;
- Churches, and religious organizations when Port funds may be used for religious purposes;
- For‐profit entities; entities without Certificate of Fact and 501 C-3 status filing
- Individuals;
- Groups that discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation or national origin;
- Groups with which the Port is currently in litigation;
- Political campaigns/parties;
- At the sole discretion of the Port of Corpus Christi Commission, any organization who violates the Sponsorship Policy.
Approval
Funding should be approved by the Community Relations Department and applicants should be notified of approval within 60 days of the application closing date.
Disbursement of Funding
Approved funding will be distributed two weeks prior to the date requested on application. Funds will only be payable to the sponsorship applicant.
Unforeseen Circumstances
The award of Promotion & Development Funding from the Port of Corpus Christi is limited by this Promotion & Development Policy. If, due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances outside the reasonable control of the funding recipient (“unforeseen circumstance”), the funding recipient seeks to postpone or re‐imagine the funded event/program, the recipient must promptly notify the Community Relations Department to seek approval of such change.
Upon approval from the Community Relations Department, the recipient may retain previously issued Port funds to use for the postponed event, in which case the recipient cannot apply for a second Port sponsorship for the postponed event. To retain the funds, the recipient must notify the Community Relations Department of the new event date within 6 months of the original event date and the postponed event must occur within one year of the original event date. Recipients that fail to meet either of the aforementioned requirements, may be considered in violation of the Community Funding Procedures.
The Port may continue to fund events/programs that must be re‐imagined due to an unforeseen circumstance provided that the re‐imagined event still presents the opportunity for proper advertisement of the Port. To obtain approval of a re‐imagined event, the recipient must submit a written advertising and marketing plan that outlines the promotional benefits to the Port. The Community Relations Department will determine whether the Port’s advertising benefit from the re‐imagined event remains commensurate with the dollar amount of the original sponsorship award, or whether the sponsorship award must be reduced to align with the reduced advertising benefit.
Types of Sponsorships
Promotion & Development Funding may take a variety of forms including, but not limited, to:
- Purchasing of tickets, a table at a local event or sponsorship which includes combinations of tables, advertising, and on‐site acknowledgement.
- In‐kind assistance in the form of staff expertise, staff time, printing, photography, promotional items or other resources, as available and appropriate.
- Providing matching funds for a particular program or purpose.
- Participating in local community or business events at which the honoree is related to Port business as a customer, employee, or maritime industry leader.
- Hosting or sponsoring events/programs/conferences on topical issues, environmental concerns, trade trends, job opportunities or industry roundtables which serve to educate industry members and business groups regarding international trade or technical subjects.
- Support of educational or arts and cultural endeavors directly related to the Port and/or international trade curricula.
- Financial sponsorship of major community events intended to promote maritime tourism or the use of attractions on Port properties.
Questions
Please contact the Community Relations Department with any questions about the Promotion & Development/Community Funding application and process at sponsorships@pocca.com