The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it will invest nearly $500 million to modernize the country’s port infrastructure, as part of the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program.
The program will fund 35 port projects across 19 states, delivering critical funding to keep the ports open and to help the supply chain keep moving, officials said. The grant program provides support to industry stakeholders in both rural and urban areas, including set-asides specifically allocated for small ports, and helps them expand their capacity, move freight reliably and drive local and regional growth.
“The strength of our nation’s economy is directly tied to the state of our ports,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said. “This nearly half-billion-dollar investment will deliver critical upgrades to ports across America so we can enhance supply chains, lower shipping costs, and create good-paying jobs for hardworking Americans.”
The grants including $50.5 million for the city of Whittier, Alaska to replace DeLong Dock; $30.7 million for Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to harden the liquid bulk terminal and widen the slip to accommodate larger ships, and $698,750 for Rockport Harbor in Rockport, Maine for a 20 x 30-foot fixed timber pier that will upgrade commercial seafood infrastructure.
“The President’s commitment to modernizing our port and maritime infrastructure has resulted in an unprecedented investment that will empower local port communities to modernize their operations, integrate innovative technologies, and create safer working environments,” MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel said.