Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) today announced a $2 million grant award to the Port of Newport. The funds were awarded by the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program.
In their application for this TIGER grant the Port of Newport stated that, without the award of this funding, it would likely take 15 or more years for them to accumulate the funding reserves necessary to complete construction of the export terminal. With this award, the Port now expects to be able to start shipments in early 2017.
“I’m pleased that the USDOT and I are in agreement that developing a shipping facility on the central Oregon coast will boost economic development statewide and throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said Schrader. “As our highways become more crowded in the mid-Willamette Valley, we need viable alternatives to get our agricultural, forestry and fishing products to markets. This much needed investment in the Port of Newport will bring greater economic growth to our communities.”
The Port of Newport International Terminal Shipping Facility Project will construct an international deep water marine terminal with intermodal access. The project includes the development of a wetlands mitigation site, grading of property, development of a 10-acre laydown area with asphalt, fencing, small work shack, a storm water collection system, transportation improvements to SE Bay Boulevard and the extension of water and sewer lines.
