Washington, D.C. – On Monday, Port Everglades received a construction New Start designation in the Army Corps FY 2020 work plan. The designation provides the initial $29.1 million to begin the port deepening project.

Army Corps projects that are authorized by Congress need a New Start designation by the Corps in order to begin the funding stream. After that, funds are provided in the work plan for continued construction. The FY 2020 work plan also outlines how the Corps will spend $235 million in Everglades restoration and provides a $2 million boost to intracoastal waterways management.

“Port Everglades must modernize and expand, or new ships will pass us by - taking with them thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars of economic impact for South Florida each year,” said Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21). “Thanks to the hard work local leaders and the Florida Congressional delegation, this critical project can begin.”

Port Everglades, one of Florida's most important ports, will be expanded so that it may accept larger and heavier ships into its harbor. Expansion is expected to create thousands of new, good-paying jobs, and major economic impact in South Florida. The port generates nearly $34 billion in business annually and over 13,000 direct jobs in South Florida.

The New Start designation was possible thanks to years of work from the South Florida Congressional Delegation, including Reps. Alcee Hastings (FL-20), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), as well as local leaders from Port Everglades, the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the Broward Workshop, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance’s Port Everglades Action Team, and Broward County.

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