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Hueneme breaks ground on infrastructure project

Terminal paving is just part of a $28.7 million investment that will include wharf modernization and harbor deepening.

   Joined by community members and project stakeholders Friday, the Port of Hueneme celebrated the groundbreaking of the terminal paving improvement phase of its intermodal Infrastructure project. 
   The port said the project is possible in large part thanks to a $1.5 million grant awarded from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
   Congresswoman Julia Brownley, D-Calif., championed the port’s application for the EDA grant.
   “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,” Brownley said.
   This portion of the project resurfaces more than 13 acres of 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. 
   “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,” said Kristin Decas, CEO and port director. “Our slogan, ‘We Make Cargo Move,’ is indicative of our reputation among ports as one of the fastest throughput 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 every day by our customers and the port.”
   According to the port, the entire project will create more than 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.