JAXPORT discusses port growth and plans for the future during sold-out State of the Port address

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Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Chief Executive Officer Eric Green and Chief Financial Officer Beth McCague discussed JAXPORT’s recent growth and plans for the future during the sold-out State of the Port address today. Topics included an update on major projects, cargo records set during fiscal year 2019, and emerging trends impacting the transportation and logistics industry.

State of the Port is hosted by the Propeller Club of the United States – Port of Jacksonville and included 450 transportation and logistics professionals in attendance. Jacksonville City Councilman and the port’s City Council Liaison Ron Salem moderated the discussion and Congressman John Rutherford provided opening remarks.

“The size of the crowd here today speaks to the importance this port has on our community,” said Green. “Deepening our harbor, investing in our facilities, and focusing on areas where we can capture more of the market share are all key parts of our strategy as we look to grow our port and create more jobs for our region and state.”

“Both Eric and the JAXPORT Board guide us in operating the port as a business with measurable goals and objectives,” said McCague. “Innovation in attracting business and forging strong partnerships are key goals that are contributing to our success.”

In fiscal year 2019, JAXPORT set new container, vehicle and general cargo volume records.

“When I went to Washington, D.C., one of my main goals was to see Northeast Florida become the logistics hub of the Southeast coast,” said Congressman Rutherford. “I could not have had a better partner and a better group to work with than Eric Green and his people.”

Last week, the federal government awarded JAXPORT $93 million for deepening the Jacksonville shipping channel from 40 to 47 feet, fully funding the government’s portion of the project through Blount Island.

With support from federal state and local partners, as well as private partner SSA Jacksonville, 5.5 miles will be deepened by next month, marking the halfway point for the 11-mile portion of the project through Blount Island. Harbor Deepening is on track to be completed by 2023, two years ahead of the original schedule.

JAXPORT is Florida’s largest container port complex and one of the nation’s busiest vehicle-handling ports.

An economic impact study finds that cargo moving through Jacksonville’s port generates 138,000 jobs in Florida and $31.1 billion in annual economic output for the region and state.