This morning, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $703 million in infrastructure grants to seaports in 23 states. Funds came from the Maritime Administration's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). Of the 41 projects funded, four were at Great Lakes ports. These projects (listed below) total $64.43 million, or 9 percent of the total distributed.
Port of Cleveland - $27.2 million for warehouse modernization, stormwater infrastructure, a maintenance facility, and port electrification.
Port of Green Bay - $10.13 million for site development work to convert a former power plant site into a new cargo handling facility.
Port of Monroe - $11.1 million for wharf redevelopment, sheet pile replacement, reconstruction of a slip and port electrification improvements.
Port of Detroit - $16 million for enhanced rail connections, dry-bulk storage areas, warehouse construction, dock repairs, liquid bulk storage facilities and a new fueling berth.
AGLPA has been a vocal supporter of the Port Infrastructure Development Program and has lobbied our federal legislators to enhance port infrastructure funding. Although the program is authorized at $750 million/year, annual Congressional appropriations have been approximately $230 million/year. Last year's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) added an additional $450 million/year between 2022-2026 - increasing annual funding to $680 million/year. The $703 million announced today included additional funds left over from last year's program that were unspent for various reasons.