GRANT SHOULD AID PORT IN NATURAL PROGRESSION

The announcement of a $1.2 million grant to the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority came with much pomp and circumstance last Friday. The good news came from no less than the vice president of the United States.

But the grant itself should not be looked upon as political pork. This federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant represents a orderly progression of development, achieved through years of planning and hard work for the port authority. A pre-application was filed in March, and a formal application was sent to the Department of Commerce in late May.

The grant is not only well deserved, but should provide a much-needed boost for regional employment. Alan Maki, the port's executive director, said the grant could eventually lead to 170 new jobs and a capital investment of more than $100 million from 10 different companies or operations.

With grant in hand, construction can begin on the final phase of the railroad spur. The first phase was completed last summer. If all goes well, the rail spur could be operational by the end of the year. The funds will also be used to extend water lines, purchase of a heavy-lift capacity crane at the dock, and other infrastructure improvements.

It takes time to develop a port authority. Slowly, but surely, progress has been made. The port authority was approved as a political subdivision in November of 1975. But for many years, development was stalled by lack of money to build critical infrastructure. That all changed with passage of the four-year, quarter cent sales tax in 1985.

Since that local infusion of dollars, port development has increased markedly. In fact, the port only became operational in April of 1990. Granted, the number of jobs realized is still relatively small about 43 at four industries. But with this latest grant, much of the infrastructure will soon be in place. In all, about $12 million has been expended to build an access road, water and utility systems, public dock, river harbor, railroad spur, and Nash Road improvements. This infrastructure should provide the springboard for real development of the port.

Financing of the port authority has come about through a real partnership of local, state and federal monies. Of the $12.5 million in capital projects completed so far at the port, 36 percent has come from the federal government. The bulk of the remainder has come from the local sales tax.

The on-going local commitment and support is a credit to the region, and part of the reason the federal government has given its financial backing. The four-year sales tax has gone a long way to demonstrating local support in securing federal money. The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority embodies the adage: Good things come to those who wait.