Port Breaks Ground on Intermodal Infrastructure Project

On May 11, joined by community members and project stakeholders, the Port of Hueneme celebrated the groundbreaking of the Terminal Paving Improvement phase of their Intermodal Infrastructure Project. The project is possible in large part thank to a $1.5 million of grant awarded from the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA).

Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

Congresswoman Brownley championed the Port’s application for the EDA grant to fund this pivotal project. According to Brownley, “The Port of Hueneme plays a critical role in our region’s diverse economy. This project is a win for improving efficiency and safety at the Port, as well as creating and sustaining hundreds of jobs and increasing our area’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. I look forward to working with the Port of Hueneme as this project continues to develop.”

President Rooney of the Oxnard Harbor District shared, “We are grateful for the numerous partnerships that have made this project come to fruition, including those with Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Will Marshall of the EDA, the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme, EDC-VC, and VCTC. The project promises to yield significant economic growth for our community.”

Specifically, this portion of the project resurfaces over thirteen acres of Port terminal space, improves the concrete pad that supports two high performing harbor cranes, and provides significant improvements to the dock at the tip of the South Terminal. These improvements lay the foundation for the next phases of the Intermodal Infrastructure Project to take place over the next year. The combined investment supports wharf modernization and harbor deepening with a total price tag of $28.7 million of which $14 million comes from federal funding.

Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director explained, “The first stage of this project is the Terminal Paving Improvement phase which will enable our customers to work more efficiently in loading and unloading their cargo.” Decas continued, “Our slogan, We Make Cargo Move, is indicative of our reputation among Ports as one of the fastest through put ports in the nation. This project will allow us to continue to meet the needs of existing and new customers. It will also improve on-dock safety for all and reduce the wear and tear on the equipment utilized everyday by our customers and the Port.”

In its entirety, the project will create over 560 new local jobs, $28 million in new business revenue, $5.8 million in local purchases, and $4.6 million in state and local taxes. The EDA’s investment will provide funding needed to prepare for the deepening at the Port as well as make improvements to the wharf, which will provide access to larger capacity vessels. The Port of Hueneme is a hub of imports and exports for a variety of cargo including automobiles, tractors and heavy machinery, fresh fruit and produce, liquid fertilizer, and squid. According to the Department of Commerce, the project will assist the Port with increasing exports to various nations, including South American and Asian countries already trading at the Port.