Posted on November 27, 2018
This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) Work Plan with funds for several projects in the Sunshine State.
The Corps released its plan on Wednesday with funds going to projects across Florida. On top of the funds that President Donald Trump wanted for the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation, the Corps plans for an extra $66.4 million for a total of $162.4 million for that project to be finished by 2022. The Corps is also adding $37.1 million to Trump’s budget request on South Florida ecosystem restoration with that now totaling $104.5 million in federal funds. The Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Project will be getting $4 million.
Florida ports are also getting federal funds with $46 million to deepen the harbor in Jacksonville, $944,0000 to help Miami’s port and $4 million to Port Panama City’s harbor.
From his perch on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., helped steer that money to Florida.
“Floridians depend on the efforts of the Army Corps to study, construct, and maintain important water resources infrastructure across our state,” Rubio said. “These projects will provide important benefits for Florida, including funding to restore America’s Everglades, support water quality improvement projects, and prevent flooding in our communities. I’m especially pleased to have helped secure much-needed construction funding to complete Port Panama City’s new terminal berth which will be critical to the Panhandle’s recovery after Hurricane Michael.”
Freshman U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., applauded the funds, noting that plans to deepen the JAXPORT harbor could lead to 15,000 jobs on the First Coast.
Additional federal investment into the expansion at JAXPORT is another major victory for our region,” said Rutherford. “JAXPORT recently became the largest port by container volume in the state of Florida. As a driver of regional economic activity and a strategically important national security infrastructure asset, we must continue to build upon this tremendous growth by enhancing the international competitiveness of JAXPORT. Continued federal investment in the deep dredge project marks a significant step toward furthering JAXPORT’s substantial contributions to Northeast Florida and to our nation.”
Source: Florida Daily
