USDOT awards Port of Gulfport $11.25 million for infrastructure improvements

Posted by Admin May 1, 2026 Infra

USDOT awards Port of Gulfport .25 million for infrastructure improvements

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has awarded the Port of Gulfport $11.25 million in grant funds from the 2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program.

The port announced Friday that it received the award.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has awarded the Port of Gulfport $11.25 million in grant funds from the 2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program.(wlox)

The funds will go toward a $24.5 million project that strengthens the port’s role in national defense, supports intermodal and container growth and updates critical infrastructure.

Port Executive Director and CEO John Nass said the award and project are the result of a true partnership between the public and private sectors.

“With our stevedore Ports America contributing $9.5 million in private funding, MDOT contributing $2.6 million through a Strategic Multi-Modal Investment Fund grant and the $11.25 million PIDP award, we turned just over $1.2 million in port funding into more than $24.5 million in infrastructure improvements that strengthen our role as a Strategic Seaport, expand our intermodal capacity and improve resilience for the Gulf Coast supply chain.”

Ports America CEO Matt Leech said the organization is committed to helping drive long-term success for the city of Gulfport and the Coast.

“We are proud to partner with the Port of Gulfport on this important investment in the port’s future. This project strengthens infrastructure, improves efficiency and creates new opportunities for growth across the Gulf Coast.”

The funds will go toward a $24.5 million project that strengthens the port’s role in national... — The funds will go toward a $24.5 million project that strengthens the port’s role in national defense, supports intermodal and container growth and updates critical infrastructure.(wlox)

The grant funds will be used to improve rail infrastructure, including rails on terminal five and an intra-port rail between the East Pier and West Pier.

The award will also fund terminal four infrastructure improvements, including paving eight acres, reconfiguring utilities and high-mast poles, and equipping the terminal with 24 refrigerated container towers to increase the volume of perishable imports and exports that move through the port.

The funds will also help purchase a ship-to-shore crane transformer and a reach stacker. The port said the transformer will increase operational reliability during severe weather, and the reach stacker will support reefer tower operation at terminal four and intermodal operations at terminal five.

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