The Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce (HAIC) is one of the most effective and respected industrial associations in the South Bay and Harbor areas of Southern California. In 1975, a group of South Bay business and industry leaders met to discuss the need for an organization that would serve as a united voice on such issues as energy, environmental and land-use regulations affecting the business community. The organization was also to be a source of information to its members on developments affecting them as well as providing a collective voice where statements of support or opposition were required.

Based on these concepts, the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce was born. Endorsing these platforms are 100 of the Southern California's leading corporations who represent in excess of 250,000 workers and an annual payroll exceeding $5 billion.

The HAIC is recognized as a Southern California business leader. In 1980, the Los Angeles Headquarters City Association honored the HAIC as the most outstanding Community Organization of the Year. When legislative support was needed to maintain U. S. Coast Guard offices in the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbors in 1983, the HAIC came to the rescue. The Coast Guard lauded the HAIC as one of its most ardent supporters on network television. Twice in the 1990's it spawned the "Maritime Coalition for Clean Air" (MCCA). MCCA took an advocacy position on behalf of maritime interests related to the development of the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) and the State Implementation Plan (SIP) and their proposed impacts on the maritime industry related to air quality management.

The HAIC performs its vital leadership role through committee networking. Standing committees monitor proposed governmental activities at all levels and report their recommendations to the 30 member Board of Directors. Legislative action through personal contact, group legislative tours, e-mail distribution lists, media statements and testimony at public hearings represent some of the support actions taken by the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce. The group is a non-profit (501.c.6) professional industrial organization formed to initiate, sponsor, promote and activate plans, policies and other such activities that will further the orderly development of commerce and industry in the Southland.

Since 1979, HAIC has honored an individual or business that has embraced the ideals of supporting the mission of the organization at its annual "Salute to Industry" awards banquet.

It is an organization that continues to work for our membership today.