A total of $1.25 million will be invested in the Port of Davisville to expand the capacity for additional automobiles, project cargo, and offshore wind components.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) will award a new $625,000 federal grant for the expansion, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Quonset Development Corporation (QDC).
The funding will help pave and stripe Terminal 5, which covers over 13 acres. The additional paved space will provide more capacity and operational flexibility, particularly on days when two ships are in port. QDC estimates that the project will generate an estimated 30 jobs (direct, indirect, and induced) within five years.
This EDA funding comes on the heels of previous EDA investments in the port, including a $1.6 million project to install new marine hardware to allow the port to more fully utilize Terminals 4 and 5.
“I am proud to help deliver this federal grant to upgrade the Port of Davisville’s infrastructure so we can create jobs and increase the potential for future economic growth. I am committed to modernizing our port infrastructure and creating good-paying, sustainable jobs here in Rhode Island. We want to ensure our ports are well-positioned to compete, and this investment will help ensure Terminal 5 is ship shape, efficient, and ready to accommodate more vehicles and offshore wind business,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed , a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who wrote a letter in support of the QDC’s application.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse , who also wrote the letter in support of the QDC’s application, said: “Upgrading Quonset’s infrastructure will position local businesses to import more automobiles and capitalize on the growing offshore wind energy industry. The EDA has a track record of making smart investments in our state, and I’m grateful for their partnership as we continue to create jobs and grow our economy.”
“The Port of Davisville is a gateway for commerce and economic growth in Quonset and across Rhode Island, and this investment will make port infrastructure even more attractive to businesses looking to access the northeast and the entire eastern seaboard,” said U.S. Representative James Langevin . “In addition to the short-term construction jobs created from the project, this lays the foundation for further growth in Quonset, which continues to be a bright spot in Rhode Island’s economy.”
The Port of Davisville is a top ten port in North America for finished vehicle imports and is a gateway to markets throughout Southern New England. The Port is well positioned to increase capacity for small and medium commercial vessels, barges, offshore supply vessels and is a key location for the staging and transport of components for the offshore wind industry, according to a press release on Congressman Langevin’s website.