Port of Long Beach Returns To Sponsor Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
In 1911 – the same year Ray Harroun won the inaugural Indianapolis 500 – the first ship docked at the Port with a load of redwood lumber from Northern California and was unloaded by hand onto mule-drawn wagons!
The Port’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2011 includes its sponsorship of the 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will feature the cars and stars of the IZOD Indy Car Series….the same cars that will race in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 100th Anniversary race May 29. “It’s a unique tie-in, and another reason to celebrate how important the continuing support of the Port of Long Beach has been to us," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.
“We’re delighted to assist them in their 100th anniversary celebration."
And, like auto racing, the Port of Long Beach has grown by leaps and bounds since Harroun took that first Indy 500 checkered flag in his Marmon Wasp.
Last year, the Port moved more than $150 billion worth of cargo – vital goods for retailers, consumers, manufacturers, farmers and businesses in nearly every sector of the economy. That cargo supports tens of thousands of jobs in Long Beach and hundreds of thousands more throughout the nation.
“The history of the Port of Long Beach is more than moving cargo – it’s also a history of strong community partnerships," said Nick Sramek, President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “The Port has always had strong connections to the Long Beach community, and we’re proud to continue that tradition today with our support of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach." In the coming years, the Port will be investing nearly $4 billion on development projects to upgrade its facilities. These projects will support thousands of construction jobs and tens of thousands of additional goods-movement jobs.
And, as it grows, the Port will be growing green, guided by its award-winning Green Port Policy environmental programs.
For more information about the Port of Long Beach and its 100th anniversary, visit www.polb.com or www.polb.com/100years.