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Ports Seek Money Amid Competition
Florida Ports Council President & CEO Mike Rubin is urging lawmakers to strengthen investments in ports this year to fend off $200 million in port projects in Texas and efforts by Georgia to centralize auto imports.
“We literally face a fork in the road decision,” Rubin said in a council newsletter posted Tuesday.
“We either make significant investments to allow Florida to seize the growing global trade opportunity, or we allow it to pass us by for states like California, Georgia and others on the Eastern seaboard, including New York and New Jersey.”
For more than a decade, Florida has provided about $135 million to $149 million annually for port projects, Rubin said.
In his proposed budget, Gov. Ron DeSantis recommended $109.6 million for port infrastructure improvements “to ensure Florida’s ports continue to have capacity while the rest of the nation struggles from supply chain backups at seaports.”
The governor’s proposal also included $75 million for grants “to enhance Florida’s supply chain and innovative delivery models,” with money available to such things as ports, airports and railroads.
Lawmakers will negotiate a budget in the coming weeks for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which will start July 1.
