Council members discussed a request from Maritime Blue for city capital support for a new innovation center at Fisherman’s Terminal. Calvin Chow and Chair Strauss said the Port is contributing $33 million to the project and had requested $800,000 from the city to close a remaining private-fundraising gap; the chair’s packet includes $400,000 to the project.

“Colleagues, all of us received this request after the amendment deadline. The request was for $800,000. The port is putting in $33,000,000, and they have a $4,000,000 hole to fill at this point,” Strauss said, describing the city contribution as partial support. Later staff listed a $400,000 entry for the Maritime Innovation Center in the Office of Economic Development section of the balancing package.

Council members asked whether the center would include training or academic components; Strauss said it is an innovation center and that port activities are often connected, and he offered to follow up with members offline for additional details.

The city’s contribution in the package is explicitly described as partial and capital in nature; staff said the Port and private fundraising are expected to cover the remainder of the facility’s cost.