The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the FY 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program, formerly known as BUILD or TIGER. The deadline to apply for 2024 RAISE grant funding is February 28.

The NOFO makes $1.5 billion in funding available for port, road, rail, and transit infrastructure capital construction and planning projects with impacts on local communities and national objectives. Capital projects include essentially any port infrastructure construction project, planning projects include environmental analysis, equity analysis, community engagement, feasibility studies, benefit-cost analysis, and other pre-construction activities. USDOT reminds applicants to “consider how their projects can address climate change, ensure racial equity, and remove barriers to opportunity.”

Legislation developed by AAPA to address overreach from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at port facilities was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in November. Congresswomen Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) are the lead sponsors of the CBP SPACE Act. The legislation provides CBP and its facilities with the resources it needs by setting up a sustainable funding mechanism via existing user fees it already collects. Further, it better defines the relationship between ports and CBP in the customs and inspections process.

This issue has been an area of uncertainty at America’s seaports for several years. AAPA raised this issue publicly before a Congressional hearing of the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations in January 2022.

Early bird rates end tomorrow for the 2024 Legislative Summit, AAPA's premiere port industry government affairs and advocacy forum held annually in Washington, D.C. The Summit brings together senior port executives from around the nation with Federal government leadership to discuss important issues critical to the port industry.

Additionally, AAPA manages one-on-one meetings with Congressional leadership for its port executives. In 2023, more than 220 port professionals and 40 ports participated in the Legislative Summit, adding significantly to the collective advocacy strength of the port industry. 

Register by December 15 for savings with early bird rates.

Strong Port Strategies is a strategic consulting services firm providing assistance with all modes of transportation for passengers and cargo movement including identifying the right Federal programs to help your capital expenditure plans, reviewing draft grant applications to maximize their competitiveness, and drafting public comments in response to Federal or State requests.

The UN Global Compact, in consultation with more than 300 stakeholders worldwide, has developed the Sustainable Ocean Principles. The purpose is to promote the well-being of the ocean for current and future generations, as well as to emphasize the shared responsibility of businesses to take necessary actions to secure a healthy and productive ocean.

Shippers continued to reposition cargo back to West Coast seaports in November, lifting trade for a third consecutive month at the Port of Long Beach. Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 731,033 TEUs last month, a 24.2% increase from November 2022. Imports rose 37% to 355,339 TEUs and exports declined 13% to 108,798 TEUs. For the fourth consecutive month, Port of Los Angeles cargo volume increased compared to the previous year. The port processed 763,262 TEUs in November, a 19% improvement compared to last year.

A newly certified cold treatment facility will boost fresh produce imports through North Carolina Ports year-round. Lewis Nursery and Farms and its subsidiary American Blueberries, LLC have officially opened a USDA APHIS certified cold treatment facility located in Rocky Point, N.C.

The Port of Oakland was honored with the Community Partner Award last Friday evening by the local non-profit, BRIDGEGOOD. The non-profit provides design education, equitable tech access, mentorship with working professionals and career-building resources to more than 1,300 students and women of color in Oakland and the broader Bay Area.

Infrastructure investments surpassing $1.1 million were recently completed at Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville through a yearlong series of road and rail projects by Ports of Indiana and MG Rail, the port’s rail switcher. Port capital projects included pavement work, milling and repaving nearly 94,500 square feet of dockside transload area – or an area greater than one-and-a-half football fields.

The Ports of Tacoma and Seattle joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in ceremonies marking design agreements for the Seattle Navigation Improvement Project and the Tacoma Harbor Navigation Improvement Project.  These projects are part of a comprehensive modernization initiative for The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway that began nearly a decade ago.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved the appointments of new directors for the Port of Long Beach’s Human Resources and Engineering Design divisions. Khristina Jason will become director of Human Resources and Clint Herrera will become director of Engineering Design. The Port of Oakland has appointed Jonathan Veach as Chief Real Estate Officer. He will manage the port’s Commercial Real Estate division and also the port’s land use and development.

Ports of Indiana issued a Request for Proposals for qualified consulting firms to provide engineering services on an on-call basis at various Ports of Indiana facilities. Proposals should include a Letter of Interest as outlined in the RFP Document and be emailed to bids@portsofindiana.com by 10:00 a.m. ET on December 22, 2023.

Port Engineer, Riviera Beach, Florida; Port of Palm Beach

Electronics Officer, U.S. Merchant Marine, Nationwide; American Radio Association