**Florida**: Transport officials advocate for increased funding to improve port infrastructure, aiming to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. With over $5 billion needed for upgrades, leaders emphasise the importance of robust supply chains in supporting economic growth as the legislature prepares to discuss the 2025 budget.
Florida port leaders are advocating for increased funding for transportation infrastructure as they address ongoing supply-chain challenges. The leaders presented their case on Thursday before the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee, emphasizing the urgency of improvements to fend off competition and mitigate future logistical disruptions.
Raul Alfonso, the Executive Vice President of Port Tampa Bay, highlighted that enhancing the efficiency of supply chains could lead to lower costs for communities across the region. “With our continued growth, the more efficient supply chains that we can create, the cheaper that we can get the products into our region, it benefits our communities,” he stated. This assertion underlines the broader goal of attracting more cargo companies to Florida, where a multifaceted approach to port upgrades is deemed necessary.
Officials are calling for not only deeper channels to accommodate larger vessels and improved dockside operations but also additional drydock storage and enhancements to rail and road systems to facilitate the movement of goods statewide. “We are growing. We are making an indent, but we’ve just started to scratch the surface,” Alfonso remarked. He stressed the importance of offering operational efficiency while outlining the competitive landscape with other states that can offer direct financial incentives to cargo companies.
The necessity of addressing potential bottlenecks in the movement of goods has gained traction among Florida’s transportation authorities since late 2021, particularly following extensive media coverage of cargo ships experiencing delays at California ports. In response to these challenges, the Florida Ports Council devised a five-year capital improvement plan for the state’s 15 ports, with projected investments exceeding $5 billion aimed at enhancing both cargo and cruise operations.
Hydi Webb, the Director of PortMiami, reiterated the strategic nature of port development. “We build based on need and based on commitments. We really don’t build on, if we build it, will they come. We know they’re coming when we build,” she explained. Webb noted that collaborations with various partners, both public and private, have significantly contributed to the infrastructure developments along the coast.
Currently, the state’s transportation five-year work program allocates less than $80 million in funding for ports, with an additional $35 million earmarked for debt servicing. Lawmakers are set to convene on March 4, marking the beginning of the 2025 legislative session, where they will negotiate a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1.
Rep. Chip LaMarca, a Republican from Lighthouse Point and chair of the Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee, has voiced his support for better funding for seaports. He indicated that the current allocation of $109.6 million from a total budget of over $15 billion translates to less than 1 percent of overall budget allocations. “I’m just putting my opinion on the record that we need to voice our support for these ports,” LaMarca noted.
Echoing this sentiment, Rep. Kim Berfield, also a Republican and a subcommittee member, pointed out the necessity for a strategic overhaul in establishing a robust supply chain framework, stating, “In my humble opinion, I can see the need for our state to start really thinking more strategically about how we are establishing a very robust and comprehensive supply chain.”
In the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Governor Ron DeSantis has recommended $120.7 million for enhancing seaport infrastructure, aiming to sustain Florida’s port capacity amid national supply chain challenges. The governor has also put forth a recommendation for an additional $25 million focused on fostering supply-chain innovations that include a variety of transportation modalities.
According to the Florida Ports Council, the cargo and cruise sectors generate substantial economic benefit, accounting for 1.2 million jobs across the state, contributing $196 billion to the economy, and yielding approximately $7.4 billion in state and local taxes. Just a decade ago, under the administration of former Governor Rick Scott, the ports were projected to support around 900,000 jobs, with a $117.6 billion economic impact and over $4.2 billion in tax revenue.
Michael Rubin, president of the ports council, expressed optimism for continued growth despite current international trade challenges, indicating that the sectors involved are poised for expansion. “Even though there are some trade issues going on right now internationally, we expect that those (numbers) will continue to grow,” he said. As the discussions on funding and infrastructure improvements continue, the stakes are high for Florida’s critical role in national supply chain logistics.
Source: Noah Wire Services
