The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) notified Congress that it intends to award this funding through its Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) competitive Grant Program, which aims to advance the Biden Administration’s priorities to rebuild U.S. infrastructure through funding of multimodal freight and highway projects.
In addition to the $226 million INFRA Grant, USDOT recently awarded Port NOLA $73.77 million through its MEGA Grant program, totaling $300 million in federal grant dollars to support the first construction phase of the $1.8 billion container terminal. The recent federal awards are in addition to significant private industry partner commitments as well as the State of Louisiana and Port NOLA. LIT has also garnered support from more than a dozen ports in six states as well as major trade and agriculture associations throughout the heartland of America.
“This money to build a new terminal in the Port of New Orleans is good for commerce, good for jobs, and good for coastal communities,” U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. said. “Because I had a seat at the table for the infrastructure law, Louisiana is punching above its weight in the funding coming to our state.”
“This grant funding is a historic step towards transforming the economic landscape of Louisiana and solidifying our position as the premier international Gulf gateway," Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. said. "This additional investment will leverage Port NOLA's extensive connectivity to interstate systems, railroads, waterways, and hubs. This is yet another example of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law bringing critical investments to our great state, and I am proud to see the legislation I championed yield big results."
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The new container terminal, which will be located in Violet, Louisiana, will leverage Port NOLA’s connectivity via four critical interstate systems, six Class I railroads, 14,500 miles of inland waterways and 30-plus inland hubs to increase Louisiana’s import and export capacity and create opportunity.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this landmark grant award, which underscores decades of site and market analysis and reflects the recognition of our transformational project on a global scale,” Port NOLA President and CEO Brandy Christian said. “Not only is this the biggest economic development grant in Louisiana history, but also the largest federal investment in a new container terminal in USDOT history. We express our deepest appreciation to Louisiana’s federal delegation, state leadership, and the Biden Administration for their confidence in our vision and look forward to delivering on this investment.”
The LIT will be built through a historic $800 million public-private partnership between Port NOLA; one of North America’s largest marine terminal operators, New Jersey-based Ports America; and Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company through its terminal development and investment arm, Terminal Investment Limited.
Additionally, Louisiana lawmakers have already provided nearly $30 million toward early development costs for the LIT, which is currently in the federal permitting and design process. The state also committed $50 million for the design of the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor, which has been sought after for years by St. Bernard Parish leaders and residents and will connect the terminal to the interstate system.
The LIT is expected to generate 32,000 new jobs nationwide, 18,000 in Louisiana and 4,300 in St. Bernard Parish, as well as more than $1 billion in total new state and local tax revenue by 2050.
Construction on this multi-year, phased project is anticipated to begin in 2025, with the first ship wharf opening in 2028.
