The Civil Works Review Board voted unanimously to send the Chief’s Report approving expansion of Port Everglades to state review late this afternoon. Attending the five hour hearing, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22), a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to swiftly approve the Port Everglades expansion which is needed for the port to remain competitive as larger and heavier loaded freight ships travel the waterways.

“The future of this  economic powerhouse depends on being able to keep up with Florida’s growing population, larger ships, and competition from international and domestic ports that are expanding and modernizing their infrastructure,” said Frankel. “Any delay to the expansion risks the new larger freight ships contracting with other ports, passing us by and taking thousands of jobs with them.”

With approval from the Civil Works Review Board, the Army Corps Chief’s Report for the Port Everglades expansion project can be finalized. Broward County would then be able to immediately move to the planning and design phase, and eventually to construction.

Port Everglades is considered a major economic engine for South Florida. It is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, the leading container port in Florida and among the most active cargo port in the United States. It is South Florida’s main seaport for receiving petroleum products including gasoline and jet fuel. Strategic infrastructure investments already made to better transport cargo from Port Everglades allow it to reach 70 percent of the nation within four days.

Port Everglades: By the Numbers

• The total value of economic activity at Port Everglades is approximately $27 billion. And, more than 202,000 Florida jobs are impacted by the port, including 11,433 people who work for companies that provide direct services to Port Everglades.


• It is expected that expansion would create 7,000 new direct jobs and an additional 135,000 indirect jobs, resulting in more than 31 million dollars each year in direct economic benefits.

###