U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (left) and Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Port Tampa Bay, celebrate the facility receiving $10 million in federal funding on Thursday. Photos: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s office.
Florida’s largest port now has $10 million in federal funding to launch an ambitious project that enhances navigational safety, increases cargo capacity, and strengthens Tampa Bay’s economy.
Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced the grants on Thursday at Port Tampa Bay. She secured $3 million through a Community Priority Project Funding request to advance planning, engineering, and design work to deepen the harbor.
Castor also announced that the port will receive $7 million in general-use funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, thanks to the efforts of the Florida Congressional Delegation, which she led. Raul Alfonso, vice president of Port Tampa Bay, said the Tampa Harbor Navigation Improvement Project is the largest and most important endeavor in the facility’s history.
“This investment moves a generational project forward,” Alfonso said. “It’s one that will expand capacity, improve efficiency, and strengthen the supply chains that Florida’s economy depends on.”
The six-phased, $1.5 billion project will deepen the port’s 42-mile shipping channel to accommodate larger ships carrying additional cargo. Castor noted the amount of fuel, food, construction materials, and other goods needed to support a rapidly growing region.
Florida’s most cargo-diverse seaport generates $34.6 billion in annual economic value and supports over 192,000 jobs across Tampa Bay. Castor said the Iran war, and the country’s subsequent shuttering of the Strait of Hormuz, has highlighted the importance of “free navigation and free supply chains.”
Castor said port disruptions would exacerbate the region and nation’s ongoing affordability crisis. “We’re not going to let that happen,” she added.
“We’re going to continue to uplift this economy and make sure people can survive and thrive.”
From left: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor; Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Port Tampa Bay; Charles Klug, principal counsel for Port Tampa Bay; Ryan Fierst, vice president of legal affairs for Port Tampa Bay; Brian Giuliani, chief operating officer for Port Tampa Bay; Karl Strauch, vice president of marketing for Port Tampa Bay; and Thomas Hobbs, chief external affairs officer for Port Tampa Bay.
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