The Port of Wilmington and Diamond State Port Corp. received a $10 million federal grant from the United States Department of Transportation. It was another piece of good news from the port that recently saw an agreement with key customer, produce giant Dole.
Earlier in the year, the future of the port seemed to be in jeoparady when energy transporter Kinder Morgan walked away from negiotiations on taking over management of the port and making investments needed over the long term. The General Assembly this year agareed to funding for new cranes that are needed at the port.
This TIGER V grant award will fund a project to rehabilitate a wharf dating back to 1923 which serves two general cargo berths at the Port of Wilmington and is need of repair.
The cost of the project is $13.4 million, and the Diamond State Port Corporation, which owns and operates the Port, will fund the remaining $3.4 million.
Earlier this year, Gov. Jack Markell joined the Congressional Delegation in writing a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in support of this TIGER V grant request from the Diamond State Port Corporation. The Port of Wilmington is responsible for more than 4,300 direct jobs annually, as well as $360 million in business revenue and $34 million in state and local taxes. The grant application was selected for funding from more than 700 applications.
“The Port of Wilmington is vital to the economy of Delaware and the entire region,” said Sen. Tom Carper. “As America’s No. 1 seaport for fresh fruit imports, it supports thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue. The TIGER evaluation process recognized the strong economic value of investing in our port’s infrastructure and the TIGER program continues to offer a strong return for taxpayers on innovative infrastructure investments that help to support our ongoing economic recovery. “
“The Port of Wilmington and the region’s maritime infrastructure are critical to Delaware’s economic strength,” U.S. Sen. Christ Coons said. “With two ship berths in need of repair, the port’s ability to handle more and heavier cargo has been at risk, but this investment in the Port of Wilmington will keep hard-working Delawareans on the job and create new opportunities for urgently needed job growth.“
“We are delighted to receive this grant,” said Diamond State Port Corporation Executive Director Gene Bailey. “On behalf of our board, and the men and women who work at the Port of Wilmington, I would like to thank Governor Markell, Delaware’s Congressional Delegation and Delaware maritime community for their steadfast and enthusiastic support of our TIGER V application.”
