Big Blow to Savannah Port Deepening Plan

President Barack Obama agreed to provide some funding to the deepening project, but not nearly the amount requested.

The President's proposal includes $600,000 for preconstruction engineering and design for the project, but includes no funding for construction.

The Executive Director of the GA Ports Authority, Curtis Foltz says he is disappointed, but not surprised by the funding decision.

The Georgia Ports Authority wants to deepen the harbor from the current 42 feet to 48 feet. 

The total cost is expected to be about $600 million, with one third coming from the state and the rest from the federal government.

Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, said at a news conference Monday afternoon that this wasn't a shock.

"Something we had hoped for but not unanticipated. So the delegation's going to work through the budget over the upcoming months and hopefully will continue their strong resolve to make sure that we've got construction money in this fiscal year," said Foltz.

However, if the final budget does not include construction money, it will set back dredging four to six months.

"It's going to happen because the nation deserves it. Customers need the deeper water  than the river today, the restrictions, it represents. We're confident the federal government understands the need for it. We just need them to start standing behind this desire to make our nation more competitive in the world marketplace," he said.

Senators Chambliss and Isakson, along with Congressmen Kingston and Barrow are vowing to remain united in their fight for the Expansion project.

“I will continue to fight, along with my Georgia colleagues, to fund the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project,” said Chambliss. “This is a vitally important endeavor to ensure Savannah is able to accommodate global shipping traffic once the expansion of the Panama Canal is complete in 2014. This would bring more jobs and businesses not just to Georgia, but to the entire Southeast.”

 “The Port of Savannah supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state and contributes billions in revenue and state and local taxes each year. In addition, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce, and that certainly includes our navigational waterways and our ports,” said Isakson. “It is critically important that we expand the harbor to ensure it continues to act as a gateway for business to Georgia and to the nation. I will work relentlessly alongside members of the Georgia delegation to protect and maintain the economic asset we have in the Port of Savannah.”

“While we would’ve liked to see more, this shows the Administration is still in support of the project,” said Congressman Kingston.  “Like us, they recognize that Savannah’s harbor is a growing economic engine for our region and the nation as a whole.  Combining that with Governor Deal’s enthusiastic support and our united bipartisan delegation, we’ve got great synergy to make this happen.”

"I'm disappointed that the President's budget dedicated such little funding to such an important project.  Times are tough, and we understand that tough choices have to be made.  But this is an example of a project that will do real good right now," said Barrow.  "Countless studies have concluded that expanding the Savannah Harbor will help create new local jobs and stimulate real economic growth for our country.  As the budget process moves forward, we look forward to working with the President and members of both parties to see that this project receives the funding it rightly deserves.”

Governor Nathan Deal also expressed his disappointment in a statement late Monday.

“We had obviously hoped for a much greater show of support from the president for this important project, but the good news is that the president obviously supports moving forward since he included $600,000 to complete the application process,” Deal said. “Georgia and the Southeast greatly need this project, and the federal government has a constitutional authority and responsibility to pay for waterways and ports. The state of Georgia has done its part. Our state taxpayers are a willing partner in this effort. Over the past two years, we have dedicated approximately $100 million in state money to put toward the deepening. Additionally, I have proposed $32 million for the Port in this year’s budget. However, recognizing the national importance of this project, the federal government needs to carry its weight here to strengthen American competitiveness, and I will work closely with our congressional delegation to get the funding we need to move forward.

“President Obama has said repeatedly that he wants to create good jobs for Americans. Deepening the harbor is exactly the sort of public sector effort that will jump-start massive job creation in the private sector. A deeper port will bring in more ships and larger ships, creating efficiencies that will lower the costs of commerce and increase our standard of living in Georgia. Just as important, it’ll create more jobs by making it easier to export Georgia peanuts, poultry, carpets, Kia autos, golf carts and the thousands of other products manufactured by Georgia businesses each day.”