Delta Democrat Times (Greenville, MS)
Nearly $1M in fed money going to port
By Catherine Kirk
The Port of Greenville should receive nearly $1 million in federal funds for next year's annual maintenance dredging efforts.
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, earlier this month voted to send President Donald Trump a bill providing critical funding for flood control, infrastructure and harbors in Mississippi.
The FY 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill received final Senate approval this month as part of a three-bill appropriations package (HR.5895), which will fund U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activities in Mississippi, as well as the Appalachian Regional C.ommission and Delta Regional Authority.
The bill appropriates $73.3 million for a total of 28 authorized Corps of Engineers projects in Mississippi; $77 million for Environmental Infrastructure nationwide, which would be available to assist communities in Mississippi with water and wastewater infrastructure projects; and $66 million for the Continuing Authorities Program to allow the Corps to undertake small, localized flood control and related projects.
In the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) account, $29.1 million is being allocated to 14 authorized flood control and navigation projects and activities within the Yazoo-Mississippi River basin, including $930,000 for Greenville Port.
The annual dredging, Hart said, is "critical" to the operation of the port as it helps keep the ports operating at full capacity during the low-water season in the fall, especially during the farm harvest season.
"It's a requirement for us to maintain navigation to our port. Without that funding, the channel into Lake Ferguson would silt in and we would lose our ability to navigate in and out of the port harbor, which would impact 19 terminals," Hart said.
To ensure they are able to continue those efforts, Hart said they work with Congress and the Corps of Engineers every year to remind them of the importance of continuing annual dredging. Each spring, Hart travels to Washington, D.C., to visit with the Mississippi Congressional Delegation to discuss the port's financial needs.
"We do this every year to try and show them the reasons why this is valuable to maintain operation, maintain our business activity here. We show them the jobs that would negatively impacted without it. Our delegation has always strongly supported this funding and has worked very hard within the system to ensure that funding is put in place," he said.
Although there are 29 businesses located at Greenville's port, Hart said there are more than 4,000 businesses in the Ark-La-Miss region that utilize the port's facilities for agricultural and industrial purposes.
The Port of Greenville is the 91st largest port in the nation that provides the area with access to the most efficient and cost-effective transportation possible and is responsible for millions of dollars in annual economic activity, including generating tax revenue to communities within a 100-mile radius.
Each year, millions of tons of cargo are transloaded at the Port of Greenville - and they'll soon double in size thanks to four new sites, which will attract more usable waterfront businesses by adding 134 acres.
Other funding
Hyde-Smith also worked to secure $44.3 million to benefit the operation and maintenance of 13 authorized projects in Mississippi, including $27.9 million for the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, $3.2 million for harbors at Gulfport, $6.1 million for Pascagoula, $1.74 million for Biloxi and $935,000 for Rosedale.
In addition, the Senate bill directs the Corps to allocate not less than $14.4 million in additional funding to continue construction on important Mississippi River and Tributaries projects not outlined in the budget request. These projects could include the Delta Headwaters, Upper Yazoo, Big Sunflower, and Yazoo Backwater projects, as well as continued operation and maintenance of the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum in Vicksburg.
"The importance of the Army Corps of Engineers to public safety and economic activity in Mississippi can't be understated. This bill will allow the state and our communities to continue working with the Corps to build, operate and maintain flood control and other infrastructure projects," Hyde-Smith said in a press release. "No bill is perfect, but this is a strong and positive measure for our state."