By Priyanka Ann Saini
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles celebrated the start of construction Monday, December 11, on the La Kretz Blue Economy Incubator, a key component of AltaSea’s ocean innovation campus.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Joe Buscaino, Port of L.A. executives and other community leaders and supporters participated in the event.
“The ocean is a frontier for new discoveries that can transform how we live, help us better understand our planet, and create green jobs that can drive our economic future,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This new campus will be a place where scientists, educators, policy makers, and entrepreneurs can work together to accelerate marine research that will set an example for the world to follow.”
Tours of current AltaSea tenant operations, and a performance by the Dana Middle School band were part of the morning’s festivities.
“Sustainable business incubation is crucial to our vision for creating the ocean-focused research, education and jobs that we need to evolve the Port of Los Angeles and neighbouring communities for the economy of the future,” said Jenny Krusoe, AltaSea’s executive director. “Today we celebrate the start of work on the La Kretz Blue Economy Incubator, which will find and nurture those sustainable, ocean-focused businesses.”
The incubator is substantially funded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Morton La Kretz, whose previous project support includes the La Kretz Innovation Campus in downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, headquartered at the downtown facility, is also a partner in running the Blue Economy Incubator.
“I strongly share AltaSea’s vision to create the infrastructure of science, education and business incubation that will help the Los Angeles region thrive in a fast-changing future,” said La Kretz. “The La Kretz Blue Economy Incubator will find and support entrepreneurs developing aquaculture, undersea mapping and other businesses vital to understanding the largely unexplored frontier at our doorstep.”
The La Kretz Blue Economy Incubator will be part of the future-forward ocean innovation campus that AltaSea is creating on 35 acres in one of the port’s oldest sections, on City Dock No. 1.
AltaSea partners include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles Harbor, Ocean Exploration Trust, Braid Theory, the Southern California Marine Institute, the City and Port of Los Angeles. Together, they are working to create a permanent home in the harbor for ocean-based science research and STEM education as well as sustainable business creation and development.
From Sea News www.seanews.co.uk, December 12