Posted on May 11, 2026
PORT HUENEME, CA – May 7, 2026 – The Port of Hueneme was awarded $11,250,000 in federal funding on April 28 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) as part of the competitive Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The investment brings needed wharf and berth upgrades to streamline operations at one of the nation’s leading hubs for fresh produce and automobiles.
“Strategic investments like this ensure the Port of Hueneme remains a reliable, forward-looking gateway for global trade,” said Jason Hodge, President of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Harbor Commissioners. “This funding will allow us to continue delivering economic value for our region while supporting a more resilient national supply chain.”
This project represents an important step forward for the Port, enhancing safety, adapting infrastructure to meet evolving maritime demands, and reinforcing its strategic role in national defense and economic vitality. It is a key component of the Port’s long-term capital development strategy and will leverage a previous $80 million award from the California State Transportation Agency’s (CalSTA) Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP).
The project’s wharf improvements will increase capacity, provide workforce development opportunities for the Ventura County community, and strengthen the Port’s resilience and competitiveness. An important dredging component will complete the Port’s 25-year harbor-wide deepening program, ensuring safe navigation for larger vessels and accommodating customer needs. This includes taking about 25,300 cubic yards of berth-side sand to help replenish the adjacent beach in the City of Port Hueneme.
The PIDP grant underscores ongoing efforts from local, state, and federal partners to strengthen California’s trade systems.
“We are grateful for the Administration’s investment in our Port which positions us to grow import/export opportunities and create good-paying jobs for our community. It takes a strong delegation of congressional leaders including U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, and U.S. Representatives Julia Brownley, Vince Fong, and John Garamendi to make these projects happen,” said Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director.
The Port of Hueneme plays a vital role in California’s economy; continued federal investment ensures the Port can meet increasing demand while maintaining its commitment to improve quality of life and catalyze prosperity for the local community.
About the Port of Hueneme
The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast. Five locally elected Port Commissioners govern the Port. The Port consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $2.8 billion in economic activity and creating 25,000 trade-related jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $236 million in direct and related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services. In 2017, the Port of Hueneme became the first port in California to become Green Marine certified and was voted the Greenest Port in the U.S. at the Green Shipping Summit.
