The Port of Wilmington in Delaware, the US, has received a US$10m federal grant from the US Department of Transportation to carry out some much-needed repairs.
The facility, which ranks as the number one fresh fruit import hub in the US, will direct the Tiger V grant award towards rehabilitating a wharf that dates back to 1923.
The wharf, which is in urgent need of repair, serves two critical general cargo berths at the port and will cost more than US$13m.
The Diamond State Port Corporation, which owns and operates the Port of Wilmington, will fund the remaining US$3.4m cost of the project not covered by the grant.
The widening of cargo berths is apparently key to the state of Delaware’s agreement with fresh fruit multinational Dole to keep the company from moving its business to a neighbouring port in New Jersey.
The Port of Wilmington is critical to the entire region’s economy, and is responsible for more than 4,300 direct, indirect and induced jobs for about 12,500 related jobs annually, as well as US$360m in business revenue and US$34m in state and local taxes.
This capital investment will dramatically improve and extend the ability of the port to serve its many customers and ensure its continued role as an economic engine for the state and region, according to a press release from the State of Delaware.
“The investments we make in the Port will continue to be an integral part of our strategy to create jobs and grow Delaware’s economy,” said Governor Jack Markell.
The Port’s grant application was selected for funding from more than 700 applications through a competitive, merit-based evaluation process.
“The Port of Wilmington is vital to the economy of Delaware and the entire region,” added Senator 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.
“With this grant, which took an all-hands-on-desk effort to get, the port is well positioned for the future.”
