7 ports across Alaska receive combined $72M in federal grant funding
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Seven ports and harbors statewide will be receiving a combined $72 million in federal grant funding which will be used to repair and improve infrastructure associated with maritime activity in the state.
According to a joint release from Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be distributing roughly $72 million to towns around the state in an attempt to boost the economic production of marine ports by increasing job numbers and streamlining maritime workflow. The department said that over 2.3 billion short tons of domestic and international commerce in the United States moves via waterways.
The money is being funneled from the Port Infrastructure Development Program, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and is part of a larger $653 million project to fund 41 ports across the country.
The locations in Alaska that will receive funding include:
- $43.3 million for the Cold Bay Dock Infrastructure Replacement in the Aleutian Island town
- $11.2 million for the Arctic Deep Draft Project in Nome
- $8.9 million for the Yakutat Small Boat Harbor in Yakutat
- $3.4 million for the Metlakatla Port Improvements Project in the Metlakatla Indian Community
- $2.4 million for the Cape Blossom Port Planning Project in Kotzebue
- $2.3 million for the Jackolof Bay Dock Replacement Project in Seldovia
- $421,000 for the Deep Water Port Development project in Wrangell
Department of Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg said this week that as part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the money used for port infrastructure around the state and the country will help improve those supply chains, which he said were put under “enormous pressure” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The goal is not to get American supply chains back to what they looked like in 2019, which was adequate on a good day, but not able to handle a disruption,” Buttigieg said. “Our goal is to strengthen those supply chains in a durable fashion, while bringing them — more of them — home to America so that they are not just fairweather supply chains, but ones that are going to be able to withstand all of the challenges and surprises the future years can throw at us.”
Murkowski said in the release that money for port funding in places like Nome is “crucial” for not only economic development, but also an asset for geopolitical strength.
“It was great to get a call from [Department of Transportation] Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg today, sharing the good news about how Alaska fared in the competitive Port Infrastructure Development grants,” Murkowski said. “Coastal Alaska communities rely on ports and harbors for transportation, trade, and subsistence activities—and that’s why I fought to ensure funding for these projects in the bipartisan infrastructure law. Today’s grant announcements are the direct result of that work, funding planning, development, and construction activities as we seek to ensure that our rural ports can support the needs of Alaska communities.”
Sullivan pointed to Alaska’s thousands of miles of coastline as a critical priority in receiving funding for the state.
“As I often say, Alaska is a resource-rich but infrastructure-poor state,” Sullivan said. “With more coastline than the rest of the United States combined, maritime infrastructure is critical to our state. The large number of grants awarded to our coastal communities is a reflection of Alaska’s dependence on waterfronts and the great need we have across our state for infrastructure improvements.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information.
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