PORT TO GET $3.075 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT

SCOTT CITY -- The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved a $3.075 million Economic Development Administration grant for the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.

Announcement of the grant was made Saturday by 8th District U.S. Rep Bill Emerson, who was joined at the port by a number of port-authority and local government officials and representatives of economic development agencies.

Emerson, R-Mo., said the federal money, combined with $838,000 in funding from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department and $187,000 anticipated from a Missouri Department of Economic Development grant, will lead to major infrastructure improvements.

The commerce department projected improvements will allow six companies at the port to retain 129 jobs and will create an additional 155 jobs.

Port Executive Director Dan Overbey praised Emerson's role as a partner with the port. "Every step along the way Congressman Emerson has been pushing for the port authority," said Overbey.

Overbey said the Corps of Engineers recently completed the dredging of 141,000 cubic yards of sand and silt that had accumulated in the slackwater harbor as a result of last year's flooding. Overbey said Emerson played a role in passing legislation that provided funds for the Corps to do annual maintenance on harbors like that at the port.

Emerson said the grant is probably the second biggest development in efforts to move the port authority forward. The biggest development came in the mid-1980s, when the Corps of Engineers changed its criteria for funding harbor projects and federal funding for the 1,800-foot-long harbor at the port was jeopardized.

Emerson, with the help of Woody Rushing, who at the time was chairman of the port board of commissioners, helped convince federal officials to keep the commitment made to the harbor project.

"These infrastructure improvements at the SEMO Port will directly translate into continued economic growth for Southeast Missouri and for our whole region," said Emerson.

Emerson said the port will combine all types of transportation, allowing it to service foreign markets and enabling it to reach its potential.

Six projects will be aided by the grant funding:

-- Construction of a small auxiliary dock that is above the 500-year flood elevation to serve the Coast Guard, Corps, and commercial haulers during flood emergencies.

-- Running the extension of Nash Road across port authority property.

-- Constructing a concrete street from the public dock area around the west end of the harbor and a gravel road to industrial tracts.

-- Construction of additional railroad spur tracks to serve industries. Tracks will be built above the 500-year flood elevation so they can be used during high water on the Mississippi River.

-- Construction of a sanitary sewer system to serve port industries.

-- Construction of a second, dredge disposal basin to relieve the existing 27-acre basin that is nearly full.

The port authority was formed in 1975 as a joint venture of the Cape Girardeau and Scott County commissions.