$33.4 million in federal funds to support Port of Corpus Christi maintenance activities

Corpus Christi Caller Times

Katie Nickas | August 15, 2024

Recent legislation will provide about $33.4 million in federal funds to support operations and maintenance on the Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel in the 2025 fiscal year.

On July 22, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work on projects to improve ports, harbors and inland waterway navigation.

The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Aug. 1, provides a total of $10.34 billion in appropriations for the USACE to implement the funding.

The $33.425 million allocated for Port of Corpus Christi operations and maintenance includes $23 million in Community Project Funding to support the $10 million in federal dollars that have already been invested in the project.

On Tuesday, Port of Corpus Christi CEO Kent Britton joined Port of Corpus Christi Commissioners and U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Victoria, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, to discuss what the funding will mean for the port.

“This funding makes sure we’re able to keep the channel maintained, that newfound increased capability continues to be where it needs to be, and that we continue to be able to operate at the high level,” Cloud said.

Through the funding authorized by the WRDA, Cloud has also supported two new building projects in Corpus Christi—the Corpus Christi Joint Resident Office and the Regulatory Field Office.

The Ship Channel Improvement Project, which is currently underway to widen the channel to 530 feet and deepen it to 54 feet to increase the capacity for crude oil trade by providing space for Very Large Crude Carriers to navigate the channel, costs almost $681.6 million and includes joint funding from the federal government and the port, with the final tranche of funding allocated by Congress through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, according to a Sept. 26, 2023 Port of Corpus Christi news release.

The legislation is expected to pass this fall to be available in next year’s budget.