August 7, 2019
HANCOCK COUNTY , MS - The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission is slated to receive five grants, totaling over $2 Million to fund multiple projects across Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport.
Port Bienville is set to receive two grants for ongoing projects, improving operations for both the maritime port and short line railroad. One grant, in the amount of $382,500 has been awarded through the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) FY20 Ports Multi-modal Project, which is funded through MDOT’s Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Fund (MMTIF). The funds received through this grant program will be used to support the restoration and rehabilitation of the public dock facility.
A second grant, in the amount of $350,000, has been awarded to Port Bienville Railroad (PBRR) through MDOT’s FY20 Railroads Multi-modal Project, also funded through MMTIF. PBRR will utilize the funds received through this grant program for the planned Lower Bay Railyard Switches Upgrade Project.
We are very grateful for the State’s support through MDOT’s Multi-modal grant program” said Bill Cotter, Chief Operating Officer for HCPHC. “This funding enables Port Bienville Industrial Park to make necessary improvements and to continue providing top-notch service to our local industries”.
Stennis International Airport is slated to receive three grants for ongoing projects to improve operations at the airpark. One grant, in the amount of $345,800, has been awarded through MDOT’s Airport Multimodal Transportation Improvement Program to support construction of a multi-user aero landing strip. A second grant, in the amount of $699,061, has been awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The AIP grant is earmarked to rehabilitate the Stennis International Airport taxiway system. A third grant, in the amount of $250,000, has been awarded to Stennis Airport by the Mississippi Development Authority to assist with site development, including parcel sitting and wetlands mitigation, for the newly acquired 846-acre site.
Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission CEO, Bill Cork, said “Hancock County is experiencing significant industrial growth and we forecast this trend to continue. The State of Mississippi is a great partner; and these investments will help ensure our future success”.
About HCPHC
As the economic development authority for Hancock County, Mississippi, the Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission owns and operates Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport — in addition to fostering business investment for John C. Stennis Space Center, NASA’s premier rocket testing facility. For more information, visit www.portairspace.com.
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