WITH A $10.5 MILLION grant from the federal government, the Port of Providence will be able to buy two cranes that will expand its cargo handling capabilities. COURTESY PORT OF PROVIDENCE

By Chris Barrett
PBN Staff Writer

10/15/10

PROVIDENCE – Second time’s the charm for the Port of Providence. After rejecting an initial application, the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the port $10.5 million to replace outdated cranes, the state’s congressional delegation announced Friday.

The money will pay to replace two cranes built in 1979. The new cranes will expand the port’s ability to unload bulk material and, for the first time, allow the port to unload cargo containers. Currently, the Port of Boston is the only port in New England with such capability, according to elected officials. The delegation said that the project is estimated to remove on average of 1,000 trucks per week off the Northeast corridor highway system.

The money for Providence comes from the second round of Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery – or TIGER – grants.

Last year ProvPort Inc., a nonprofit organization that manages the city-owned port, applied for a $39.4 million TIGER grant to pay for new cranes as well as other upgrades, including the installation of a wind turbine and solar panels. The federal government rejected the request in February without publicly providing a reason. ProvPort resubmitted a similar request, asking again for the cranes and renewable energy installations.

And although the port received only a portion of its request, elected officials quickly hailed the award. Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline told Providence Business News that the cranes would help protect jobs and the port and could create up to 1,000 additional jobs regionally by expanding operations. About 550 of those jobs would be located in Rhode Island, he said.

“This is terrific,” he said, adding that the cranes would allow the port to become more competitive.

Elected officials in Washington, D.C., also quickly praised the award, expected to be officially announced next week. In a joint statement, the state’s entire congressional delegation said the investment in infrastructure would help grow Rhode Island’s economy.

“The expanded capacity made possible by this funding will ensure that Providence plays a central role in the New England economy,” said U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy. “Infrastructure investment is critical to Rhode Island’s economic recovery as it generates quality jobs now and lays the groundwork for sustainable future prosperity.”